July 5, 2009 Fifth Sunday after Pentecost, Independence Day Sunday
First Congregational Church in Thetford, Vermont, UCC
Psalm 123; Ezekiel 2:1-7; Mark 6:1-13
“Do not fret.” That is what we reminded ourselves in 2000 and 2004 after
the election of an American president who opposed much of what we say in our
Mission Statement. “Do not fret,” even though we knew that his administration
was against creating a society that is open to and affirming of people of all sexual
orientations; even though we knew that his administration would favor the strong
over the weak, the rich over the poor, the polluter over the earth, the ways of war
over the work of peace.
We said to ourselves, “Do not fret,” because really, our task had not
changed. No matter who got elected, we reasoned, our job was to work as hard as
we could for the ideal of establishing God’s realm on earth. Our task remained
the same, and though we could expect doors to be slammed shut against us, we
needed only to shake the dust off our feet like the first disciples Jesus sent out,
and keep on our journey, calling on all who would listen to repent and follow the
ways of peace and justice, mercy and love.
This Independence Day we can celebrate what feels like a miraculous
change in America. I hope it still gives you goose bumps and brings tears to your
eyes when you pause to remember the great days in November and January when
we saw a person of African descent elected and inaugurated president. It also
feels like a miraculous change for this church to have a president who not only
espouses ideals in harmony with our Mission Statement, but also comes from a
progressive United Church of Christ congregation, and is the most sincerely and
deeply religious president since Jimmy Carter.
But as we celebrate all the change that President Barack Hussein Obama
represents, we should not be complacent, because our task is still the same. And
as we see him compromise and seem to weaken his resolve to uphold some of the
ideals we share, we should not fret, because our task is still the same. Nor should
we lose sight of the most important change that has taken place, a change of huge
significance to our church’s mission. Where the doors of power were slammed
shut and locked tight at our approach for eight long years, now the doors are
open to us and we are invited inside.
A moving moment at General Synod this week came when an African
American woman, a UCC pastor, came to a microphone on the Synod floor to
report that she had just returned from the White House where she and many other
leaders had met with President Obama. He had invited them there to discuss his
polices regarding equality for people of all sexual orientations. He assured them
that he has not abandoned his ideals and would act on their behalf.
Another inspiring Synod event was a talk given by the leading progressive
Christian voice of our day, the Reverend Jim Wallis. He told of a meeting he
attended in the White House with other progressive leaders where the President
said to them, “I need you to disagree with me and to do it publicly, because I
need that kind of discourse.”
As Jim Wallis pointed out, this attitude is truly remarkable coming from
any politician, let alone the president. Obama really believes in the political
process of give and take, in civic discourse. But there is a warning to us in his
words, and that warning is, “Do not be complacent.” He is under escalating
pressure from those who oppose the ideals expressed in our Mission Statement.
Politics is the art of compromise, and President Obama is telling us that public
discourse will influence how his compromises are crafted. As an experienced
community organizer, he is saying to us, do not be complacent, and do not fret;
just get out there and organize and speak up and put pressure on Washington to
do the right thing.
As Jim Wallis said, this is how change usually comes to a democratic
society. It comes when strong social movements push against open doors. As the
Methodist theologian John Cobb has said, this is the United Church of Christ’s
moment. We have an American president right now who embraces much that we
stand for, who would have voted right along with us in resolution after resolution
at Synod this week, and this president is saying that what he needs from us is that
we rise up and push against his open door.
This Fourth of July the stage is set for a great, nonviolent revolution in
America, a change from a nation that tortures to a nation that returns to its
historic values and vehemently repudiates torture once and for all; from a nation
with an immoral, cold-hearted willingness to let tens of thousands of children
and adults suffer and even die for the want of health insurance to a nation that
insures health care for all; from a nation that shrugs it shoulders as the planet we
depend on for our existence is destroyed by our own polluting, to a nation that
leads the world toward a green, sustainable way of living; from a nation that lies
to its people in order to launch unjust, un-ethical preemptive wars, to a nation
that leads toward disarmament and the mercy, justice and Christ-like love that
make for peace.
We have this opportunity, but only if we do the one task that we have that
does not change, whether doors be open or shut against us. We have the task that
Jesus gave the disciples, to go out together into the world around us and call on
people to repent, and cast out the demons that afflict this land and help God bring
healing to it.
We have the task that God gave Ezekiel at his calling. God said, “ O
Mortal, stand on your feet,” and when Ezekiel heard God’s voice the Spirit
entered into him and set him on his feet. God told Ezekiel to go out into a
“nation of rebels who have rebelled against me…Do not be afraid of their words
or dismayed by their looks, though briars and thorns surround you and you live
among scorpions, do not be afraid—you shall speak my words whether the
people hear or refuse to hear.” This is the task God gave Ezekiel and Christ gave
us. It is to let the Spirit set us on our feet when we hear the still-speaking God,
and to go forth proclaiming God’s word by our actions as well as our speech, so
that whether people hear or refuse to hear, they shall know that there has been a
prophet among them.
That is what God needs of us. That’s all. Just to see the light and hear the
word God is speaking in our hearts, and to bring out that inner truth, in word and
action. So what is it that you see and hear? What is moving you, making you feel
the Spirit lifting you to your feet? When you read or listen to the news these
days, when you look at the world around you, what makes you angry or sad or
inspired? What lights a fire in your belly or moves your heart with compassion?
This is not just me asking, this is God asking: what do your hear the Spirit saying
to you?
Whatever it is, your task is to rise up and act so that the people will know
that a prophet has been among them.
Now maybe you are thinking, I am no prophet. And maybe that is true.
There may be few or even no Ezekiels among us. Yet it is very clear if you read
our Mission Statement that we feel called to be a prophetic church. A prophetic
church does not need one great prophet in it, it needs everyone in it to do their
small part and contribute that part to the whole so that the church itself can rise
up strong and be prophetic.
That is exactly what we are hoping you will do two Sundays from now on
July 19th. We are asking every member of this church community to listen to
your deepest, truest response to the world today, and simply come and share
what concerns you most in one or two words or one or two sentences. Then we
will ask you, along with all the others who share your concern, if there is one
small thing that you could do to bring this issue into the life of this church in the
coming months. If we each contribute our small part in these ways, some
measure of prophetic life-changing, world changing power will keep flowing
through us as a body, and together we will do our part to establish God’s realm
on earth as it is in heaven. Please come on July 19th and do your part so that this
church can do its part so that President Obama can do his part.
Not that we will succeed in transforming all the earth. Even Jesus was
amazed at how limited his powers were when he brought forth the deepest, truest
voice of the Spirit within him. The world will slam its doors, hearts will remain
closed and there is nothing we can do to open them except what the 123rd Psalm
recommends. It says, “Our soul has had more than its fill of the scorn of those
who are at ease, and its fill of the contempt of the proud.” But in response, rather
that despairing, the Psalm says, “Our eyes look to…God, until God has mercy on
us.” Our task is not to succeed, but, trusting in God’s mercy, to keep looking and
listening to God, and whether they hear or refuse to hear, to speak and act and
serve so that people will know that there has been a prophet among them.
It is not too late. Friday night many of us watched the 1939 Frank Capra
movie, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, as part of our annual July 3rd midnight
bell ringing ritual. In the movie a good, honest man named Jefferson Smith tries
to uphold the noblest American ideals. He is appointed to fill a vacant Senate
seat and quickly comes into conflict with corruption. The vested interests try
with all their wealth and power first to seduce him and then to crush him. In the
end, moved by love, he fights on the Senate floor for his ideals, and he says some
beautiful things. He says, “There is no compromise with truth…And it’s not too
late…Great principles don’t get lost once they come to light. They’re right here.
You just have to see them again.”
When it appears that Jefferson Smith has been defeated and is near
physical collapse, he makes one more impassioned speech on the Senate floor.
He says, “Lost causes are the only causes worth fighting for…because of just one
plain simple rule: love thy neighbor…You fight for lost causes harder than any
other. Yes, you even die for them.” Jefferson Smith goes on fighting until he
collapses, betrayed and crucified. His last words are, “Somebody will listen to
me.” And he is right.
If we do our part, we, too, can have that faith, even when we feel too small,
too few, too weak, even when we seem to have failed. If people know that there
has been a prophetic church among them, some will listen, because it is God’s
voice that speaks through the prophets, not their own. It is the same voice that
speaks most deeply and truly in every heart. Because it is God’s voice, some will
hear it and repent. Miraculously doors will open and the stones of tombs will roll
away and the light of great principles will shine forth again, and change will
come. And all we need to do is our part.
Let us pray in silence, listening for the Spirit’s voice within us, moving us
to feel and say and do what is true. Let us pray…
Hymn:
We Follow Prophets God Has Sent
tune: Duke Street (NCH#300) L.M.
We follow prophets God has sent
Through faithless lands to cry, “Repent!”
They were not silenced by their fear
Of those in power who would not hear.
Some are too proud, some too at ease
To see the wrong the prophet sees.
Some are so threatened by truth’s word
They curse the God the prophet heard.
We who obey God’s calling voice,
Like those of old, proclaim the choice
To set rebellious will above,
Or humbly choose, God’s laws of love.
Fear not when forces will not sway,
Or when all heed the lies they say.
Fret not when good souls compromise
Or when all scorn your warning cries.
Entrust to God’s strong, guiding hand
All of your hope to save this land.
Give, serve and speak to do your part,
Bold in Christ’s love, with peace of heart.
Copyright 2009 Thomas Cary Kinder
Sermon 07/05/2009