“The Humility of Historical Privilege” Scripture Lesson: Psalm 97; John 17:20-26
A Sermon preached at Westminster Presbyterian Church, Durham, NC on May 20,2007 by The Reverend Paul Ransford, Jr.
What a great and wonderful country we live in! What a grand and glorious history we have to look back upon as a people. Since the last Great War, this nation has stood alone at the apotheosis of power. There are still great opportunities before us to be remembered as a great nation in the family of humankind. There is great power to be gained in the humble exercise of power when historical opportunity presents.
The Psalmist correctly judges that it is God alone who is king. In the second verse we read that God’s throne is supported by justice and fairness. The governance of God will be characterized by righteousness and justice. The purpose of God’s exercise of power is to bring about social transformation. The Psalmist draws no line between religion and politics. God’s agenda has something to say about our politics. Our opportunity then in history as a nation is to listen to the call for justice, liberation, and freedom. Our call as Christians is to stay active in the political process and informed about current events.
Several contemporary historians have noted that in the 21st century much of the developing world is now politically stirring. These peoples are very conscious of social injustice. They are resentful of the lack of personal dignity. The lament of the Psalmist is theirs. They await liberation as in verse 6 when it says “The Lord brings justice!” Everyone sees God’s glory. Our country speaks of freedom and democracy. The world community has come to expect nothing less from us since our founding fathers crafted the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights and our constitution guaranteed protection of these principles.
In this Psalm, God’s overarching concern for justice embraces, gender equality, and respect for our neighbors in the world community that takes seriously our differences in religion and culture. Repeatedly saying that, "If you are not with us you are against us,” has the effect of demonizing the neighbor and encouraging further resentment from potential allies. Declaring ourselves to be an empire (as one current politician has done) that creates its own reality could not be further from the humility of historical privilege being extended in our scriptures of the day. So, my friends, regardless of your politics, your voice for a change in our beloved country’s direction when we go astray and a critical assessment of her priorities must be heard.
I have, for example sixteen week's worth of Sunday school lessons for the Forum Class. Take each candidate running for the highest office of our country and then compare their public utterances and policy leanings with Micah 6:8. Wait, there’s more. Those seniors we celebrated a few weeks ago will be voting in the next presidential election. Invite them to your class so they can get lessons in politics and faith. The Psalmist will assist you. God’s kingship over the earth is a seed of incarnational faith. Though the Psalmist does not mention our Lord Jesus Christ explicitly in this ancient Psalm, the Prince of Peace looms over all of our history.
Christians cannot remain selectively silent in any time.
Supporting our troops is not the same as supporting a war. My generation learned this to our everlasting shame in the war in Vietnam where we gave no support to our brave soldiers. Upon their return home, we castigated them and vilified them because we were angry at the politicians who sent them to war. But our own patriots became victims of the war, and now we stick dollar bills in their hands at Garret Road and 15-501. They are broken men, who gave their best for us and did not get the thanks they deserved. This is a justice issue. Whether God judges a war just or not, the way we treat our troops is always under divine scrutiny. The best medical care for the wounded…full public honors when those flag draped caskets are brought home…adequate armor for those in the field are all doing kindness and using power with humility. You cannot sit out the process with constant criticism of current political leaders. Nor do you get a bye for uncritical support of current political leaders. We have a historical opportunity to change the direction of our world with our basic ideals and God’s direction. “If you obey and do right, a light will show you the way and fill you with happiness.”
During the last three presidential administrations in our country we have been silent in the face of genocides in Africa, and we were weak in our response to a newly belligerent Russia in the Chechen suppression. We have allowed for expansion of the nuclear club because of our lack of diplomatic pressures on repressive regimes that totally contradict the firm words of this Psalm. "Those who brag about the useless idols they worship are terribly ashamed, and all the false gods bow down to the Lord.” The Psalmist is not referring to little figurines here. Our idols are those values which diminish people and limit their humanness. The Great United States of America can still be a forceful referee in the ongoing confrontation between the Israeli’s and the Palestinians. We have people in this church who are active in lobbying for just such an exercise of our diplomatic muscle. Power, exercised with humility in the moment of historical opportunity to do the right thing.
Love the Lord and hate evil cries the poet. God protects his loyal people. It is time for sacrifice. It is time to take a humble look at our eroding image in the eyes of the world that so desperately needs us to lead. It is time for us to take a look at our life styles and what they cost the world. The world cannot support the weight of the five hundred pound gorilla that gobbles up resources while building a huge international debt. Sorry capitalists, it’s going to take more than more Walmarts and Chick Filets in China to reset our course.
As the greatest nation on earth, we did not participate in the Kyoto Protocols. The political crises in Iraq, Iran, and Syria and their mounting anger at the West is driven by our insatiable thirst for oil. There are other ways besides war to assure ourselves access to precious resources. Living high on the hog now and trying to hoard resources threatens the future of the babies we baptized this morning.
Okay, this is all pretty intense. My call to serve you is to teach your children and to lead them in the ways of the gospel. Your children are beautiful. They are gifted. I love your children. I am anxious, as any parent, as to what is around the corner. I have had a rich life in this country, and I want the same for them. I have been in foreign countries where I was welcomed and treated like royalty because of what my country had done in the great war. Now, the international reception is guarded. Our neighbors are nervous about our intentions. They need us to be the beacon. They too wish to say with the Psalmist, “You are the Lord’s people! So celebrate and praise the only God.” Amen.