A United Methodist Pastor's Theological Reflections

"But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory (nikos) through our Lord Jesus Christ." - I Corinthians 15:57


Monday, July 5, 2021

Sermon (July 4) by Rev. Robert McDowell

 


    Several years ago, I read the book, “1776” by David McCullough.  It’s a book that focuses on that very important year when our colonies were fighting for independence from Britain. I’ve been thinking about that book with today being our nation’s Independence Day.

     This book reminded me of just how divided we were in our cause for freedom.  Sure, there were many who were tired and angry over British rule, but there were also many people who remained loyal to the British cause. Even beyond this major division, there was a lot diversity among the different colonies.  Each colony had its own identity, its own history, and its own needs and perspectives. It was quite a challenge for our founding fathers to bring us together as one united people.

     When it was time for our new nation to select a permanent location for our capitol, they didn’t choose Boston, Philadelphia, Richmond, or New York. Choosing any one of those cities would have been showing favoritism to one colony or region.  So they ended up creating a new city that would be a symbol of our new nation.  Washington D.C. became the wise political solution for promoting unity among so much diversity.

      Like our country’s founders, the leaders of Israel faced the same challenge in trying to unify a people of so many diversities and backgrounds.  Today’s appointed Old Testament reading from II Samuel is the story of David becoming King of both the southern and the northern tribes of Israel. 

     David had been serving as king of the southern part of Israel but the northern part was being ruled by a different king.  And these two regions of Israel were at constant war with each other.  This was not the unified Israel that God had intended for his people.  

     And this was the Prophet Samuel’s greatest fear when the people of Israel had first approached him about wanting to be like the other nations and have their own king.  This is one of those, “I told you so” moments. Thankfully, there are a couple of heroes in our passage of scripture today who were brave enough to step out in faith for the sake of bringing unity to a divided nation.

     The first hero was actually some of the leaders who belonged to the northern tribes of Israel.  They were somehow able to put aside their animosity with the southern tribes and make the journey into their territory to meet with David.  

     This was a very risky political move on the part of these northern leaders.  Their political approval ratings probably took a nose dive when this trip was first announced.  But they were more concerned with unity than they were with any political fall-out for doing such a thing.

     When they arrived to Hebron, they gave David credit for leading the people following Saul’s death.  And for the sake of unity, these northern leaders anointed David to be the king for both the northern as well as the southern tribes. 

     So, the first hero was this group of leaders who risked everything to acknowledge David as King.

     And the second hero in this story is David himself.  David could have continued his rule right there in the city of Hebron in the southern territory which would have been the easy thing for him to do.  But instead of alienating the northern territory, he strategically chose a neutral city, a Washington D.C. type of city to be the new capitol for a unified people, a city that had neither southern nor northern connections.  And that city was Jerusalem.

     But there was only one problem.  The city of Jerusalem was controlled by the Jebusites, which were a people that Israel had never been able to defeat.  Defeating the Jebusites and claiming Jerusalem as the new capitol of all of Israel would be a symbol of this new unity of Israel.  This is one of the reasons why David was such a great leader.  Not only was he a man after God’s own heart, he also had a heart for the unity of God’s people.

     But David’s brave decision to conquer Jerusalem would not be easy.  The Jebusites were a very confident people and they boasted that the walls of the city were so strong that the city could even be defended by the blind and the lame.

     David’s plan was to not enter by the walls but to out-smart them by entering through the water shaft which he and his privately paid soldiers ended up doing and they were successful.  And this is why the city of Jerusalem is also known as the City of David. 

     David, along with the leaders of the northern territory who put unity ahead of politics are the heroes of this story from II Samuel.  It was because of their heroic actions, that God’s people became a united people again.  They were now one nation under God.

     When I first noticed that July 4th would fall on a Sunday this year, my first thought was how many churches and pastors would be tempted to turn today into a political rally that promotes a particular political agenda. I’m pretty certain that later today when I go online to read the news that I will stumble upon churches and preachers who have used this day to promote one political party over another.

     When churches blur the distinction between their faith and patriotism, it’s called Christian Nationalism. And they also make it very clear which political party or political candidate Jesus endorses. 

     Several years ago, a clergy friend of mine who served in the same community where I was serving invited me to attend a National Day of Prayer breakfast in a nearby city. By the way, he was not United Methodist which may or may not be helpful for you to know as I tell you this story.

     And I thought to myself, “This will be really nice, to gather with other pastors from different denominations and community leaders and spend time in prayer for our communities, our nation, and our world.”

     What I didn’t realize was that this National Day of prayer gathering was more about a political rally than it was about joining together as one diverse community of pastors and leaders in prayer. I just wish they would have been upfront with their agenda.

     In a church I was serving, I went to the hospital to visit one of my older church members who was to have surgery that morning. When I saw her in the pre-op room, she had time to talk and she asked if I had seen an interesting news story on TV the other day. 

     And as she started to tell me about it, she stopped in mid-sentence, and she said, “Oh, you probably don’t watch that channel, do you?” She was referring to a certain cable news channel that she likes to watch. When she said that, a smile came to her face and we laughed. I said, “Opal, am I that obvious with my political leanings?” She gave me another smile and a wink and continued in her story.

     Here’s the reason I share this story. Even though Opal and I didn’t see eye to eye politically, that didn’t matter to her at all. She saw me as her pastor and she was so glad that I could be with her to have a prayer before her surgery that day. 

     I think it is so interesting that our appointed Old Testament scripture reading for today is this one about how David was able to bring two politically and very divisive factions together so that they would be one nation under God. This is a scripture that reminds us that just because we may not agree with each other politically, this is still a day where we can see ourselves as one.

     Last fall, as we were nearing the presidential election, I offered a holy hump day video in which I shared some thoughts about faith and politics. Here’s a brief recap of what I shared in that video this past October.

     The first thing I shared is for us to not confuse the theocracy form of government that we find in the Bible with our democratic form of government. In a theocracy, there is one God who rules over all. But in a democracy like we have here in our country, there is a lot of diversity. Our country is known as a melting pot where there are people who practice many different religious faiths and some, not at all. 

     I like to call it a “democracy of diversity.” And to me, this is what the American dream is all about; having people from many different backgrounds, experiences, and religious faiths and blending them together to be one united country. 

     So this is the first thing, is for us to not confuse the theocracy of the Bible with our democratic form of government. Christian nationalism which I spoke about earlier tries to makes these two forms of government the same. Here is a different approach. You can be a Christian whose ultimate allegiance is to Jesus Christ, and at the same time be respectful that we live in a democracy where there are people who represent other religious faiths, beliefs, and backgrounds.

     The second thing I mentioned in that video is that at the heart of the scriptures is God’s desire for their to be justice and righteousness throughout the land and this includes caring for those who are marginalized and most vulnerable. So, regardless of our political leanings, we are called to be aware of those who are often left behind and forgotten.

     The final thing that I mentioned in the video is that our faith calls upon us to exercise humility and to be servants of others. Jesus came to serve others and he died on a cross by emptying himself for the sake of others.

     As we reflect upon what it means to be patriotic on this July 4th, let’s remember that we live in a democracy of diversity, that we are called to seek justice and righteousness by remembering those who are most vulnerable, and we are called to have humble hearts and serve others like Jesus.

     Today is not a day to have a political rally. It’s a day to find unity in our diversity. That’s the American dream that I know and love.

The American Dream

Sermon Discussion Questions
II Samuel 5:1-5, 9-10
July 4, 2021

Today’s appointed Old Testament reading is appropriate for this July 4th Sunday because it describes how Israel became a united nation under the leadership of David. The two heroes in the story are leaders of the northern kingdom who were willing to accept David as their new King. The other hero in the story is David who wisely chose a neutral city to become the Capitol for this new united nation. This scripture reading reminds us that political systems work best when there is a willingness to set aside self interests for the good of the whole. 

Share an example of where you have seen a willingness to set aside self interests for the good of the whole. It doesn’t have to be related to politics. Maybe it was a delicate job situation or a fragile relationship.

Pastor Robert made the statement, “When churches blur the distinction between their faith and patriotism, it’s called Christian Nationalism.” This can be dangerous because our faith is meant to inform and critique nationalism. Rather than keeping our allegiance with God, Christian Nationalism can turn a political party or candidate into a god.

What helps you to keep your faith and your political leanings separate while also allowing your faith to critique your politics? Why do you think it can be easy to confuse the two?

Pastor Robert offers these three thoughts on living out the American Dream and how we might allow our faith to inform our politics rather than the other way around. These include 1) Remember that we live in a democracy and not a theocracy which means that we need to respect the diversity of opinions, backgrounds, and perspectives in our country. 2) Seek God’s justice and righteousness in your political conversations. And remember, that God’s justice and righteousness include a concern for those who are marginalized and most vulnerable. 3) Be humble and respectful of others. Jesus offers us the example of what it means to set aside our own interests for the sake of others. 

Discuss these three thoughts on living out the American Dream. What are some practical ways that we can live out these ideals as a people of faith?

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