With all the conversations and the news these days, the topic of the role or the absence of religion in the culture keeps coming up. There are so many ways to look at this issue and criticism of the role it plays is rightfully due, I'm afraid. But I would hold out for the right way of being faithful and devoted followers of Jesus Christ is what we really need to help us with what George Washington knew and declared at his Farewell Address as the first President of these United States.
"Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of men and citizens. The mere politician, equally with the pious man, ought to respect and to cherish them. A volume could not trace all their connections with private and public felicity. Let it simply be asked: Where is security for property, for reputation, for life, if the sense of religious obligation desert the oaths which are the instruments of investigation in courts of justice? And let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion. Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar structure, reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.".
George Washington's Farewell Address.
He could speak to this because he witnessed a great deal first hand, that is similar to our struggles and challenges of today. We need the morality, the obligation that is connected to the right way to do faith in culture.
He saw the beginnings of the struggle for independence. He participated in the grueling challenge to lead the army toward that independence. He was present for the arguments that led to our formulating what is, in principle, the best form of government in the world. He knows the difficulty of leading this country as it's primary leader, and with all that evidence in his life, he was determined to tell us that we need the influence in our culture of faith.
With the tragedies of innocent victims of terrorist attacks, we need faith to under-gird our responses to those who have done this. With the ugliness of racism, and class-ism, and the outrage expressed to people who are from other nations, we need the spirit of love and compassion of Jesus more than ever.
What I pray for is not a return to religion, but a growing sense of relationship to one another that is totally and completely influenced by the spirit of Jesus. If love of God helps us from a moralistic standpoint to behave properly in respect and in gratitude to God for the blessings we have, and the love of neighbor is what God would want from us, we need to embody the spirit and style of Jesus.
We are in a good place for that. Jesus reminded us before he returned to God, that his style, his love, his perspective on treating others, is available to each of us. My Spirit, I give to you, he said in John's record of his final conversation with his disciples. Don't worry about what to say the Spirit will give you the right words to speak, that will bring the right solution to our problems.
The tall order is that we pay attention to Jesus enough to adopt his style, his influence, his love for all of our circumstances. This will mean we must learn of him, study him, recognize his direction, so that his spirit might be available to influence us in the way we behave and treat each other. We can do some of this on our own. But it will be so much better for us and for our culture, our country, our community if we reinforce our understanding by being involved deeply in a community that does the same. If we study together, if we encourage each other, if we pray and support each other, we will be a powerful influence on our country when it needs it the most.
I don't want more religion, because that doesn't seem to help. I want more people living in the style of Jesus. We need more apprentices who follow Jesus' lead in what we say, how we speak out to others about what is going on in our country now. Especially as we approach this election season, we need to hear from that Spirit in a powerful way. Pray for it.
Blessings
Pastor Jeff
