July 5, 2009

Goodness and Greatness

Luke 13:10-17

Luke 13:10-17 10On a Sabbath Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues, 11and a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all. 12When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, "Woman, you are set free from your infirmity." 13Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God. 14Indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, the synagogue ruler said to the people, "There are six days for work. So come and be healed on those days, not on the Sabbath." 15The Lord answered him, "You hypocrites! Doesn't each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or donkey from the stall and lead it out to give it water? 16Then should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free on the Sabbath day from what bound her?" 17When he said this, all his opponents were humiliated, but the people were delighted with all the wonderful things he was doing.

In 1831 French writer Alexis de Tocqueville came to America and wrote these now famous words:

I sought for the greatness of the United States in her commodious harbors, her ample rivers, her fertile fields, and boundless forests--and it was not there. I sought for it in her rich mines, her vast world commerce, her public school system, and in her institutions of higher learning--and it was not there. I looked for it in her democratic Congress and her matchless Constitution--and it was not there. Not until I went into the churches of America and heard her pulpits flame with righteousness did I understand the secret of her genius and power. America is great because America is good, and if America ever ceases to be good, America will cease to be great!

What do you think makes America good? Listen to the question. I did not ask you what makes America great. I don’t mean the size of our military or our leadership in the world. I asked what do you think makes America good? Let me answer the question for you. What makes America good is individual Americans. What 24/7 news fails to report is that we are good people. We are good people because we have a sense of community, we care about people we have never met. We are care about strangers because Christianity is written into the DNA of our nations' soul. Never underestimate the influence that Christianity has played in the America. The founding fathers knew the significance of Christianity on the nation. They knew there was a difference between “freedom of religion” and “freedom from religion.” Consider these three quotes.

George Washington in his farewell address to the nation said in 1796, “Do not let anyone claim the tribute of American patriotism if they ever attempt to remove religion from politics.”

Thomas Jefferson once said, “The First Amendment has erected a wall of separation between church and state, but that wall is a one directional wall; it keeps the government from running the church, but it makes sure that Christian principles will always stay in government.”

James Madison, considered to be the architect of the Constitution once said, ‘We have staked the whole future of American civilization not on the power of government, far from it. We have staked the future of all of our political institutions upon the capacity of each and all of us to govern ourselves according to the Ten Commandments of God.”

Our French visitor in 1831 was right! America isn’t just a great nation. America is good nation because Americans are good people. I am always moved when you care about complete strangers. That concern for other people is present not because of something in the drinking water or some new public service announcement. America is good because America was built on a Christian foundation. I love this weekend’s scripture text because it illustrates for us the difference the faith can have on society.

We found ourselves in the thirteenth chapter of Luke. It is the Sabbath and Jesus is teaching in the synagogue. Without an appointment a woman shows up with a problem. (Have you ever noticed the best opportunities for ministry appear at the most inconvenient times?) Her problem is not physical, relational or financial. Her problem is spiritual in nature. According to the text she has been doubled over for eighteen long years because of a spirit. In verse twelve we are told Jesus calls her forward and heals her. In verse thirteen we are told the woman immediately straightens up and begin to praise God. Isn’t it too bad the story doesn’t end at verse thirteen? Because verse fourteen tells us the synagogue ruler is protesting this healing because he broke one of the rules. Can it be any more clear? Jesus was concerned with the person and the ruler was concerned with the rules. America is not a good nation because we have a better way of enforcing the rules. America is a good nation because we are care about people, just like Jesus. And all of God’s people said, “Amen!”

My wife, Kathryn, has been working hard. It is time to bring Vlad back to America. He arrives on Tuesday! Do you remember his story? She first met Vlad in as a Russian orphan. He was in the orphanage system because he had no legs below the knees. He lost them in a rail yard when he was only twelve years old. In December of 2007 Vlad came to America for the first time. At the time he was seventeen years old. He lived in my home for three months. Vlad’s story is a resurrection story. He rolled into my home in a wheelchair just before Christmas and he walked out of my house during Holy Week. The generosity of this community was truly impressive. Thousands of dollars were raised, not counting free services and supplies. People didn’t know Vlad personally but they knew his story. They knew he was a young man in need. They wanted to be part of the project and insisted on doing something. He is returning to get his legs adjusted. The outpouring of love is beginning again. His story reminds me of one thing. America isn’t just a great nation, America is a good nation filled with good people, who have been influenced by the Good News of Jesus Christ.

The Christian faith is woven through the fabric of our land. Thomas Jefferson once said, “The reason that Christianity is the best friend of government is because Christianity is the only religion in the world that deals with the heart.” My challenge for you today is to do something for a stranger and show the world that Jesus has made a difference to you. And all of God’s people said, “Amen!” On this communion Sunday may we be thankfull that God cares for us!