"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."
"For My hand made all these things, Thus all these things came into being," declares the LORD "But to this one I will look, To him who is humble and contrite of spirit, and who trembles at My word. - Isaiah 66:2
The other day I went to the Revenue Office to get my tags renewed. While walking in, a nice elderly couple sitting outside in the shade said hello. I nodded back and said, "Hi, how are you doing today?"
They said, "Fine." And I walked on in and did my civic duty.
On the way back out, I walked past them again, but this time when I nodded in salutation, they asked me if I was a registered voter. I am and very proud to say that I am. They then asked me to sign a petition to allow medical marijuana on the next ballot.
I said no thank you. Not because I have feelings one way or the other about the issue, but because I generally don't sign petitions. One of them said, thank you and to have a good day and as I was walking off, the other called back at me and said, "Well how would you feel if your wife got cancer!!!"
Wow.
We just went from a shining example of how a democracy in action works to scare tactics in less than five seconds.
I'm not a fan of scare tactics.
I don't like it when people use God as a hammer to beat someone over the head when it comes to their sins or shortfalls. I don't like it when preachers tell people they're going to die tomorrow so they need God tonight. I don't like it when commercials on television show a tree about to fall on the bedroom of a sleeping child or a politician showing an image of a nuclear cloud.
I think instead of scaring someone we should develop compassion.
Instead of accusing, we should lead by example.
Instead of berating to win an argument, we should respect the person even though we disagree with the action.
On Jesus' last free day in this world, He set an example of how we should live. It was Christ's last miracle and it didn't mean anything to anyone, except for one man who Christ actually disagreed with. When the soldiers came to the garden to arrest Jesus, Peter drew his sword to defend Christ. Too often we draw our own swords to defend what we think is right. And that's all Peter was doing. What he thought was right.
Peter took an ear (literally) from someone who wasn't listening to him.
But Jesus, in grace and glory, restored it. Even though it wouldn't free Him from the soldiers. Even though He knew He would still go the cross. It meant nothing to anyone but to the man who lost his ear. It didn't change the argument. It didn't convince or convict others of their sin. All it did was heal a hurt.
Jesus showed us that in the midst of our arguments, God will take away our hurts and make us whole again if only we allow God in.
In every generation of our country we've had strife. There's been wars and rumors of wars. There has been brother fighting brother and innocent blood shed. There has been hate and discord and times when the very constitution of our democracy has been called into question.
It seems to be getting worse. We're getting more and more divided. More polarized and using scare tactics more often. But still, the times in which we live are really no different than that of our Founding Fathers. Except for one thing.
They recognized that God plays an important role in our lives.
It's right there. In black and white. "Our Creator."
We have the right to start petitions because of our Creator.
We have the right to disagree because of our Creator.
And we have a right to live free because of our Creator.
These are the "truths" because God is the Way, the Truth and the Life.
As we celebrate our democracy this Fourth of July, maybe we should learn to live more by the example of Christ and try more to heal the hurts, instead of scaring others to believe the way we do.
It worked for our Founding Fathers. It will work for us as well.
Let us pray.
Our Creator God. This day we lift up our country in prayer. We pray for our leaders, our servicemen and women and for those who protect us. We pray for our state, for Republicans, Democrats and Independents. We pray, dear God, because we have a right to do so. A right, endowed by you, and celebrated in our Independence. A right that still holds true today. We pray that the Holy Spirit will sweep through our communities and leave us with a sense of love for each other that knows no boundaries. And we pray these things because of your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.
PASTOR TROY CONRAD IS MINISTER OF THE FARMINGTON UNITED METHODIST CHURCH.
Religion on 07/01/2015