Independence Day Celebrations & Christianity
Sometimes SSCSJ offers a special journal for what our denomination calls, “Special Sundays.” Examples are Thanksgiving, Advent, All Saints Day, and yes, the Sunday nearest the July 4th Independence Day celebrations. This special journal is republished here at length as it was made available to subscribers. It’s important to note that these words are my own and though my companion edited a first draft back in 2010, I made some revisions morning that she has not seen, and may not represent her point of view, which is why I removed her name from this special journal. The scripture texts were chosen rather than following the Lectionary.
My guess is that many ministers struggle with how to honor our civic holidays, like July 4th, and embody good news that is not nationalistic. Many ministers, mainline or otherwise, don’t talk about their inner conversations and struggle with this holiday nor there discomfort or comfort with having an American Flag or Christian Flag in the sanctuary or worship space. I understand both sides of the issue and why most ministers don’t choose to “fight” this battle. This special journal is not trying to sway anyone’s political opinion, nor comment specifically on the flags or patriotic hymns on the Sunday nearest July 4th, which this year is this Sunday. Rather, I trust the journal raises issues that people who claim Christianity and discipleship are willing to wrestle with as they consider spending time on the sacred steps with the children in their midst.
Sacred Steps: Children’s Sermon Journal
July 4, 2012
By Rev. Michael Davison
Psalm 130 and Mark 12:28-34
National Civic Holidays and the Nature of the Church?
There is no doubt that our nation’s history is sprinkled with leaders and thinkers who were Theists, Deists, Agnostics, professed Christians, orthodox Christians, and non-believers. Arguments abound in our politically and economically divided context about whether this is a “Christian” nation and these arguments only distract us from the problems that can be solved when Americans work together no matter our race, creed, religious piety, unbelief, or economic status. A portion of our Nation’s legislatures is currently caught in a loop of “if I can’t have it my way then nobody can” fueled by Super-Pacs and some religious leaders whose Christianity has more to do with authoritative power than “love your neighbor as yourself.”
The July 4th celebration, Independence Day, is a stumbling block for Christianity, as we attempt to honor the legends of Independence to be in the world (proud of our country), but not transformed by the world. A visit to the National Museum of the American Indian will demonstrate how the Puritans and other historic explorers, some might say invaders, transformed this land and its Native Peoples. That aside, the strength of our Nation, and what has made it a beacon on a hill, is the ideal of liberty, freedom, personal responsibility within community, and a government that ensures access and fairness for every citizen. The United States represents a melting pot of persons, religions, and histories. The Unites States is an incubator of ideas and possibilities. The Unites States style of government, though an old idea, is still pragmatically in late adolescence testing limits, learning from past mistakes, learning from failure, and maturing.
When Christians gather for worship it is important to remember that the very things that Jesus preached about and taught the crowds in his context, originally aimed as counter-cultural to the Romans and those in secular and religious leadership, could be dropped on the steps of any State legislature, the Congress, or worship space today. It is for this reason that we encourage you to carefully consider how you will remember or celebrate July 4th in your congregation and with the children on the sacred steps. Prayers that our Nation would be strong, work to cure disease, end poverty and hunger, or be a force for peace and justice are suggested. Prayers for family and friends deployed in military service are important, but often can become an “us and them” that dehumanizes children of God. Remember, that praying for God to keep one nation’s military personnel safe in battle necessarily means asking God to take a side in the conflict and in the killing. So, prayers that families will be reunited and that peace can break out as easily as war are suggested. Talking with the children about how your congregation participates in charity and works to create a more just and fair society could be helpful. Charity maintains the status quo and distributive justice(1) and reconciliation requires changing systems and behavior.
Can you imagine Jesus asking the disciples to “Pledge Allegiance” to a flag during the Last Supper? Why would we do that in our worship experiences? Hymns and flags that claim God’s providence or some special blessing for our Nation over and against another are problematic and reinforce a clan or tribal understanding of God that reconciles by force through conquering violence. Today, that violence also takes the form of economics and given the overt voter suppression laws recently enacted in some states as a way to stop voter fraud, after the first African American President was elected, the ballot box is becoming a place of segregation, again. Is belief in a Savior subverting our discipleship to follow Jesus of Nazareth who is said to have taught, “love God and love your neighbor as yourself.” Which do you want the children to embrace on the sacred steps? The myth of the Puritans or the ways of Jesus?
Two suggested readings, as you prepare for the July 4th celebration in your home and in your community of faith to help you ponder the meaning of our National celebrations and how persons of any faith, but specifically Christians, can participate and practice the ways of Jesus.
The Declaration of Independence and “The Identity and Purpose of the Church.”
This origin in God’s redemptive act of deliverance precludes every self-serving definition of the community of faith. The church’s purpose is not its own. The church is present in the world on behalf of the God by whose grace it has been called into existence. Thus, at the heart of the church’s act of self-definition is a basic theological question: What is the nature of God’s presence in the world? When one considers the whole sweep of Scripture, the answer seems clear: God’s presence is creative and redemptive in nature. Where there is chaos, whether in the natural or social realm, God is present to create harmony. Where there is bondage God is active to redeem the enslaved. Where there are walls dividing humans into privileged and deprived classes, God seeks to remove oppressive divisions through judgment and release. Where there is brokenness, loneliness, and sickness, God is present to heal.(2)
As the 2012 election for President of these United States gets closer I’ve been remembering the debate scene from the film, “Head of State.” This Chris Rock film can be offensive and contains stereotypes of both parties and of all races that are unfair. But, like another favorite film, “Blazing Saddles,” there are nuggets of Truth in the midst satire and comedy that contains profanity and stereotypes. In “Head of State,” there is an interesting twist of the phrase, “God bless America” that I find provocative and genuine for a Nation who has the Statue of Liberty as its symbol of welcome in New York harbor. In the debate scene(3) the candidate for the Republican party quips at the end of his closing statement, “I’m Brian Lewis, and I’m your last chance. God bless American and no place else.” Mays Gilliam, (Rock’s character) provides some Truth in the midst of his stereotype laden, sexists closing statement that challenges the idea that God can only bless America. As an aside, this scene also portrays, for me, what the white, wealthy patriarchy and plutocrats of this Nation are doing in Congress and in State legislatures, right now, all across our Republic out of fear of loosing control in the name of Conservatism.
So, if I were talking with children on the sacred steps this Sunday, I might consider revisiting the phrase, the idea, “God bless America” and include, “and everybody else.” I would choose to celebrate the Independence of this Republic by noting how we have been blessed, are a blessing, and can be a blessing for other Nations. I would pray for God’s blessing for all the nations of the world and even those we call our enemies.
May God continue to bless your work and journey with children of all ages in your congregation.
Peace . . .Michael D
Notes
1. Marcus Borg and John Dominic Crossan provide a good discussion and insight about “distributive justice” in the work and preaching of the Apostle Paul. The First Paul: Reclaiming the Radical Visionary Behind the Church’s Conservative Icon, HarperOne, 2009.
2. Paul D. Hansen, “The Identity and Purpose of the Church”, Theology Today, 1985.
3. Click here to watch the debate scene on Youtube. It is 9:04 long and remember, it may offend, but do your best to stick around until the end.