Freedom Express

Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel to Ramah, and said to him, "You are old and your sons do not follow your ways; appoint for us, then, a king to govern us, like other nations." 1 Samuel 8:4-6a

I am not sure I could live in a monarch system. One of the many things I love about being a citizen of the United States of America is that anyone can become president. In order to be qualified to run for president you simply need to be 35 and a natural born citizen. It's the beauty of America: a poor child in the Appalachian mountains has the same qualification to run for president as a wealthy child in Cape Cod. In fact when I turn 35 if I wish, I could put together a campaign to run for president. I would be the first person ever to run who's mom was the only to one to vote for them. I like that we don't have royal families. I like that we are not born into a system that says one family is ordained by God above all others. I truly do, it fits nicely into my Baptist heritage. Without getting into all the heaviness of it, the beauty of the election of a president is that anyone has the right to run for president meeting the qualifications. In fact this Tuesday, we all have the opportunity to vote in both the Democratic and Republican primaries. It's a pretty cool freedom.

I also like our freedom of religion and freedom of speech. I have feeling if we lived in a monarch system or in a government in which it could be considered treason to speak against the crown, I would have seen the inside of a prison more times than Charlie Sheen. Reading this passage for this morning I found myself being grateful for the freedom to practice two of our most important freedoms. Every Sunday I have the privilege of practicing free speech and free religion. It really is a fantastic honor, one that simply asks that I not abuse it. It's a beautiful thing.

I'm also grateful to be a Baptist. I am grateful because I have the freedom to stand up practice our four freedoms. I practice soul freedom: the ability to make my own decisions in the matters of faith without coercion by any larger religious or civil body. We practice church freedom: the ability of the local church to govern and teach as they wish without outside interference. I practice bible freedom (as do you) as I freely interpret the scriptures and as you freely interpret the scriptures for yourself. And finally, we practice religious freedom: the individual is free to choose whether to practice their religion, another religion, or no religion. Every Sunday, I get to practice those four freedoms along with several other freedoms that we often take for granted.

The thing about freedom though is that it comes with responsibility. It is true that I am free to interpret and preach whatever I wish. I am free for the next 15-45 minutes (no worries it's not 45 minutes) to stand up here and preach whatever I wish. Of course you have the freedom to take a nap or get up and leave or throw tomatoes. The freedom we have though is a freedom that comes with some responsibility. While I may have the freedom stand here and preach about how George Lucas ruined Indiana Jones or why I believe Batman is the better hero to examine on a personal level, to do such does nothing to advance the Gospel message. They would just be a rant and a misuse of a fragile freedom and misuse of a freedom I am entrusted me with. And you using your freedom of throwing tomatoes would be a waste of good produce.

Isn't it amazing how much trust goes into a Sunday morning worship service? You place trust in the deacons, the choir, Jim, and myself to lead you appropriately in worship. You place your trust in me that I have spent time wrestling with the scriptures and have come prepared to preach. I place my trust in you to be good receivers and active participants in the service. I place my trust in you to give of your time and your money in your tithes to support the church and all it's activities. So much trust is given every time we gather together and a part of being a good steward is to not abuse that trust. So I will save my Indiana Jones and Batman rants for Facebook.

Our scripture passage has to do with trust and loyalty. The people trusted Samuel and he judged Israel all the days of his life. There was even peace between Israel and the Amorites. He administered justice to Israel and built an alter to the Lord. The people also trusted his sons; but his sons did not follow in his ways and abused the trust of the people by taking bribes and perverting justice. Because of this abuse Israel requests to be like the other nations and have a king. Samuel feels rejected to say the least. He is hurt by Israel's collective decision to move from a priestly system to a monarch and their desire to be like the other nations. But like a good priest, Samuel prays to the Lord on their behalf.

If we did not know this story or you're not familiar with this story we would think that God would not grant such a request but God does: “Listen to the voice of the people in all that they say to you” (1Samuel 8:7a NRSV). Of course God doesn't just answer the request. God tells Samuel, “They have not reject you but they have rejected me as their king. Just as they have done since I brought them out of Egypt to this days, forsaking me and serving other gods, so also they are doing to you. Now then, listen to their voice; only you shall solemnly warn them, and show them the ways of the king who shall reign over them.” (vv.7b-9 NRSV).

While God agrees to appointing someone king, God gives a serious warning of it means to be ruled by a king: “He (Samuel) said, “These will be the ways of the king who will reign over you: he will take your sons and appoint them to his chariots and to be his horsemen, and to run before his chariots; and he will appoint for himself commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and some to plow his ground and to reap his harvest, and to make his implements of war and the equipment of his chariots. He will take your daughter to be perfumers and cooks and bakers. He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive orchards and give them to his courtiers. He will take one-tenth of your grain and of you vineyards and give it to his officers and his courtiers. He will take your male and female slaves, and the best of your cattle, and donkeys, and put them to his work, and you will be his slaves.” (vv9-17).

God foresees what a king will do. God knows the price the people will pay in order to have a king. God knows that power can corrupt even the best of people. Having a king will enslave the people and God knows that their loyalties will be divided and they will find themselves serving the king instead of God. Notice the distinctions between God and the king. The king will not ask for things but simply take what he pleases. The king is not about loving his people and doing what is just. The king is going to only be concerned about himself and his power. While they were freed by God, they will be slaves to the new king. Kings enslave while God sets free.

While a king may, at first, have the best of intentions and be of a good heart, I believe God recognizes what happens when good men and women abuse their power and the trust of the people. I do not think this warning is one in which God is punishing the people of Israel for wanting a king to rule. I truly believe this warning is showcasing the difference between kingly power and Godly power. This warning is not just a warning for Israel. I do believe this warning serves well for us today.

It is difficult being a Christian in America. I'm going to just let that sit out there for a second and let you think on it for just a moment before I explain.

A few years ago, I took a trip to Buenos Aires, Argentina as part of a credit of seminary. We were gathered outside a bank while some of the students withdrew money from the ATM. I realized that all I had was American cash and needed to exchange it for Argentine pesos. I went inside the bank and in my very bad Spanish asked the bank host if she spoke English. She shook her head no and we both stared at one another wide eyed and scared. It was at that moment that I felt very lost. I felt that I was being judged because I was a United States citizen and because I couldn’t speak Spanish. That wasn’t the case though, I wasn’t being judged by this girl or by everyone there. When I left the bank, lost and confused I realized that my issue has nothing to do with not being able to exchange money, instead my issue had to do with who did I belong to? What was more important: my nationality as a US citizen or my Christianity? I wrestled with that question the rest of the trip. At each turn I felt Christ poke me and ask, “Which will you serve? Will you serve the place you live and their rulers? Or will you serve me, your creator, your sustainer, your redeemer, your savior, your Lord?”

You might be thinking, “The answer's easy: both.”

Yes, that is the easy answer and the safest answer to give you. But is it the truth? Is it truly possible to be loyal to both the United Sates of America and to the one true God?

Did you know that the American flag code states that when displayed from a staff in a church or public auditorium, the flag of the United States of America should hold the position of superior prominence, in advance of the audience, and in the position of honor at the clergy's or speakers right as they face the audience? Any other flag displayed should be placed on the left of the clergy or speaker or to the right of the audience. Except for the Christian flag during church services. When the Christian flag is displayed with the American flag and/or other flags: The American flag and/or other flags may be placed symmetrically on the opposite side of the sanctuary and on the same level as the Christian flag. If desired, it is also proper to place the Christian and national flags side-by-side wherever stationed in the church, thus symbolizing both the spiritual and patriotic loyalties of the congregation. Did you know it was placed side-by-side with the American flag by German Lutheran churches to show their solidarity with America during World War II so not to be thought of as Nazi spies or sympathizers? I never knew any of it until I looked it up. But it compels me to ask a tough question: Is it truly possible to be loyal both to God and to country? To which does our identity belong too?

The truth is the question is a difficult question to answer because governments demand absolute loyalty. The flag code's insistence that the American flag and Christian flag stand at the same level shows that even in faith, country should be considered equal. But God is warning Israel that the two are not equal. There is a difference between God and king and this difference is not a subtle difference but a strong difference. A king, a president, a congressman, a senator, a governor will abuse their powers because the taste of power can corrupt even the best of us. Country will sometimes require us to make sacrifices in the name of loyalty and in our pledges of allegiance. There will be times when what the government asks of us goes against what God asks of us. Some times we have to choose between country and God.

In the movie Chariots of Fire, Eric Liddell (a devout Christian Scotsman), discovering that the Olympic 100 meter heats were on Sunday, refused to run and withdrew from the race. In a chilling moment he is confronted for his decision before the Prince of Wales. Surrounded by British Lords and Dukes and Princes, Liddell is forced to defend his choice of not running on the Sabbath. Liddell says, “God made countries, God makes kings, and the rules by which they govern. And those rules say that the Sabbath is his. And I for one intend to keep that way.” The Prince of Wales, the future king of England, replies, “There are times when we are asked to make sacrifices in the name of loyalty. And without them our allegiance is worthless. As I see it, for you, this is such a time.” Liddell responds, “Sir, God knows I love my country. But I can't make that sacrifice.”

During the wonderful struggle and formation of our country one of the most difficult discussions revolved around religion. Patrick Henry and Thomas Jefferson were often at odds with one another over the issue of religious freedom. Both were for religious freedom but Jefferson and Madison believed in a wall of separation of church and state. Henry believed that anyone should have the freedom to attend any denomination they wished; however he believed it should be required that they attend and pay taxes in support of that denomination. Henry supported a bill that stated, “The people of the commonwealth have a right to invest their legislature with power to authorize and require, and the legislature shall, from time to time, authorize and require, the several towns, parishes, precincts, and other bodies politic, or religious societies, to make suitable provision, at their own expense, for the institution of the public Protestant teachers of piety, religion and morality, in all cases where such provision shall not be made voluntarily.”

Jefferson understood this to mean, in practice, that the decision of who was taxable for a particular religion rested in the hands of selectmen, this system was open to abuse. Jefferson understood the temptation to force a faithful follower to abandon their conscience and their beliefs for greater good of the country or whoever was in charge at the time. The beauty of Jefferson and Henry's struggle is that both wrestled with their identity, were they Christian? Were they Americans? Were they both?

In a letter to his daughter Henry writes, “Amongst other strange things said of me, I hear it said by the deists that I am one of the number; and indeed, that some good people think I am no Christian. This thought gives me much more pain than the appellation of Tory; because I think religion of infinitely higher importance than politics; and I find much cause to reproach myself that I have lived so long, and have given no decided and public proofs of my being a Christian. But indeed, my dear child, this is the character which I prize far above all this world has, or can boast.”

I have asked a tough question. I have asked a question that I feel our scripture asks us to ask. Kings and Governments demand our allegiance. God demands our allegiance. Is truly possible to serve them both? For the courage to answer that question I am thankful for our 1^st Amendment rights and I am thankful of our Baptist freedoms and our Baptist heritage because I am free to say that if I died today above everything someone would have to say of me is, “Joseph Ferrell Kendrick served the Lord God of Christ Jesus above all other allegiances and loyalties.” That's what I want to said above all else. Because whatever else will be said of me afterward will have been possible by that truth.

Let this be a our prayer: May we be a people of the Spirit, a people who are grateful for the country we live in and those who serve to protect it and those who serve to keep it running. May we be people of the Spirit, a people who, when the time comes, chooses to serve their God before their country. May we be people of the Spirit, people of God who has no equal. Amen.