Independence Day
July 4, 2010
2 Kings 5 and Luke 10
Happy Fourth of July! This is one of my favorite holidays of the year mostly because of how festive it is—flags flying, warm weather, parades, parties, and, of course, fireworks!
Because it is the Fourth of July, I thought it would be appropriate to be reminded of the content of one of our nation’s early documents.
Even though today we celebrate the adoption of the Declaration of Independence by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, it seems just as reasonable that we remember different a document that was created a few years later. Because it is this latter document, the Bill of Rights, which is most frequently cited in contemporary society when discussions of freedom and liberty arise. I wonder, can anyone here name the first ten amendments to our Constitution, known collectively as the Bill of Rights?
Amendment I
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
There is a long one and encompasses the freedoms of religion, press, speech, and assembly.
Amendment II
A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.
Amendment III
No soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.
Amendment IV
The right of the people…against unreasonable searches and seizures shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause…
Amendment V
No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a grand jury…nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.
Amendment VI
In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury…[and] to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the assistance of counsel for his defense.
Amendment VII
In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved…
Amendment VIII
Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
Amendment IX
The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.
Amendment X
The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.
Some of the rights listed in these ten amendments are quite familiar to us because they are frequently points of contention in our society—How exactly is the right to bear arms to be implemented? How is the free expression religion and faith to be protected by the government? Others are less familiar or are simply taken for granted—trial by jury and protection from cruel and unusual punishment are perhaps among these.
As I was writing this sermon, a World Cup soccer match between Paraguay and Spain was on TV in the background. It got me thinking about two things: uniqueness and similarity. The United States’ Bill of Rights, its Constitution and its Declaration of Independence are unique documents in the world. They speak to specific values held at a specific time by a specific group of people.
Yet at the same time, the majority of the other countries in the world, like Paraguay and Spain, have their own Constitutions that guarantee freedoms similar to those protected here. Though individual countries may define their citizens’ rights uniquely, globally there is an ever-growing recognition that all people of this world are entitled to fair treatment and specific inalienable rights. This sense today of universal human rights didn’t exist globally until the last hundred years or so, which means that right now a good time to be alive.
The reason I have spent so much time delineating the rights that exist today is because often we forget how different modern society is when compared with the time of Jesus in first century Palestine; and especially when compared with the Old Testament times three thousand years ago. For Christians the Bible is the document that is looked to for guidance and support. And it certainly provides beautiful passages and elegant testimony to the faithfulness and love of God.
But at the same time, many people within the cultures that existed when the Bible was written probably wouldn’t have been too fond of the freedoms that modern documents protect. The rights of women were minimal in biblical times. Slavery was a common and accepted practice. Marriage was dictated by family decisions and often involved girls who would be years below the legal age of consent today. A society structured to care for non-family members in their old in age, or those left abandoned, or those blind or lame or infirm was inconceivable at the time. The societies of the Old Testament were mainly clan based and their governments, even those of King Solomon and David, generally were extremely small and had very little power to enforce proper practices or protect the rights of others.
By the time of Jesus, political power was strongly held by Ancient Rome, a society that granted great power only to a few wealthy, male land-owners; furthermore, Rome’s strength was based mostly on the prowess of the military to exact taxes and tribute from local populations. Caring for orphans and widows, allowing common men and women to vote, prohibiting slavery would have been abominations to their order of governance.
Nevertheless, and despite this historical context, our passage from Luke speaks to the necessity of caring for all people in society. The seventy disciples that Jesus sends out into the world are given only one instruction—heal the people of the towns that welcome you. The healing the disciples provide not only shows the power of God in overcoming illness, but is also a declaration of rights, of sorts. By healing strangers, by helping people of a different clan or city, by caring for those who were cast out of society, the disciples and Jesus were declaring that all people have dignity and should be treated with respect. A pre-modern echo of our modern concept of human rights.
Elijah, in our passage from 2 Kings, provides a similar example when he cures Naaman. Naaman is a foreigner and someone who has insulted Elijah’s country and culture by trying to purchase healing with exorbitant amounts of wealth and despising Israel’s historic River Jordan as a petty stream. Despite Naaman’s arrogance, his conceit, his reliance on wealth and power to get what he wants, Elisha heals him, showing that God’s dignity and love extend even to those who may not seem deserving of it.
As we celebrate Independence Day today it would be helpful to keep in mind the examples set by Elisha and Jesus. Each of these people lived in a world that often excluded people, yet each one of them found ways to provide support, nurture and dignity to others. The question this should leave us with today is this: Even though, unlike much of the ancient world, our own society openly recognizes and guarantees fundamental human rights, what are the areas that still need improvement?
If Jesus were alive today, where would he send his seventy disciples? What wounds would they want to heal in our country? Where are we falling short in our promise to guarantee rights and dignity to all people.
Perhaps the forty million Americans living in poverty would grab the attention of Jesus an area where the right to live a whole and healthy life was not being protected. Or maybe the dangerous working conditions, unfair labor practices, and environmental pollution caused by some of our factories and industries would be points of concern. Or perhaps because we know today that a good education often helps people get out of poverty, Jesus would be wondering why schools in poor areas are often underfunded and underserved.
So as we celebrate all that is good in our country today—and there is so much good to celebrate—we must at the same time ask ourselves what can be improved upon and how can people be better cared for. Are the poor truly receiving the help and opportunities they need? Are the sick being healed regardless of wealth or status? Are we finding ways of peace and hope instead of violence and hatred? These are the questions our faith should encourage to think about this Independence Day. Amen.
