September 4, 2005

Only In America

Acts 17:22-28

Opening Words: The first amendment of the United States constitution says: 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. Only in America will you find such words. Those words have made America a special place! This is my question for you on this Labor Day weekend. As a disciple of Jesus Christ, what is your response to our polytheistic society?

Introduction

Rita Steely was a parishioner of mine in the Cleveland area. When I knew her she was a good United Methodist. However, she was raised Roman Catholic. As a child the Methodist Church in her neighborhood stood between her home and her school. Her mother made it clear: never go into that Methodist Church! We are Catholic! If you go into that Methodist Church you will have committed a sin and you may go to hell. Little Rita heard and believed those words. One day on her way home from first grade a thunder storm hit and she had to make a difficult decision. She could walk into that Methodist Church and be safe and dry or she could face the wrath of that storm and not sin. Little Rita remembered the words of her mother and faced that storm with tears in her eyes.

Can anyone here relate to that story? The world is changing and not all the changes are bad. Were you raised in a world that told you to distrust the Roman Catholics or the Orthodox? Were you taught that Methodists, Presbyterians, Lutherans and Baptists were all different? Every one of those denominations still holds a certain stereotype. The world has changed and we live in a time of ecumenicalism. While every denomination has different traditions and structure, we all worship the same Jesus. I am glad that we no longer emphasize the differences within the great Christian movement. I am glad that we celebrate our common love for Jesus. If you are thankful that we have made a little progress in that area say, “Amen!”

Body

We are instructed today from the seventeenth chapter of Acts. Paul finds himself in the city of Athens. In this chapter he is waiting for two other evangelists, Silas and Timothy, to arrive. As he waits he experiences the culture of that famous city of Greece. It was rich in the philosophical tradition inherited from Socrates, Plato and Aristotle. Paul should have been happy but Paul was disturbed. With his own eyes he sees all the idols to all the false gods. Athens believed in freedom of religion too! It is for that reason that this scripture comes to life for us! The great evangelist is confronted with the same question that I asked you today. As a disciple of Jesus Christ, what is your response to our polytheistic society?

Paul, himself, helps us answer this question by being the perfect model for our polytheist society. I am going to talk about three quick guidelines for disciples in our polytheist society. First, we need to wake up. The times are changing and Christianity is not the only show in town. Second, we need to show up. We need to show the world that Jesus has had a positive impact on our lives. Third, we need to speak up. We must be able to articulate our faith. So if you are ready to look at there three things say, “Amen!”

Wake Up The constitution of the United States is a good thing. It protects our basic freedoms, including the freedom of religion. That freedom is much wider than protecting your right of being a Methodist or a Presbyterian. It says that anyone can worship in the way that they wish. The first amendment protects the right of the Jews and those of the Muslim faith. It protects the New Age folks and the Scientologists, like Tom Cruise. On this Labor Day Weekend I don’t have to tell you but I will. The times are changing! Our country is changing! There are new Christian groups being formed everyday in our land. America is not a place where we all believe in Jesus anymore. We are a polytheistic society. Americans worship many gods. We need to wake up to that fact. As a disciple of Jesus Christ, what is your response to our polytheistic society?

Paul was standing in Athens and he knew he was in the middle of none believers. He saw the idols to false gods and he was not happy. The first amendment to the constitution is a good thing and many religious groups are protected by it. If you are a little disturbed by this proclamation say, “Amen!” We need to wake up to our new country. As disciples of Jesus, we also need to show up.

Show Up There are many false gods being worshiped today in America. We need to show people that Jesus has made a difference in our lives. The Archbishop of Canterbury William Temple once said, “Go into the world and preach the gospel and use words only when absolutely necessary.” In other words, we need to show the world that Jesus has made a difference in our lives. We need to show up on the gulf coast. We need to show up at hospitals and orphanages. We need to show up at the nursing home and the food bank. We need to show up to tell the world that we are sincere people that Jesus has made a difference in our lives.

The Apostle Paul stood there in the middle of Athens. He saw the idols. He was in the middle of a polytheistic society. They worshipped many gods! Paul lived a life that showed the world that he was sincere. Jesus made a difference in his life and he wanted the world to know that fact. Does the world know that Jesus has made a difference in your life? We need to show up! As a disciple of Jesus Christ, what is your response to our polytheistic society?

Speak Up We need to know and tell the world what we believe. You can not always go and get the preacher. You need to know what you believe. I do not expect you to have a well developed theology like Paul but you need to know that the cornerstone of our faith is the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is the one thing that separates Christianity from the other religions of the world.

In just one week we will observe the forth anniversary of September 11. We had a special prayer service here at Western Reserve. We were not alone. Many church and ecumenical groups had special services. In New York City, itself, there were countless services. Tom Tewell of the Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church was involved in one of those services. In his service he was the only Christian present. When the parts were assigned he noticed he was asked to give the benediction. The rabbi was to read scripture. The imam, representing the Muslim, said a prayer. A politician said a few words. Tewell was interested in why he was assigned the benediction so he asked. The organizer said, “Of all the faiths and philosophies represented Christianity is the only one that offers the most hope. You believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. You have a living Savior. The rest of the founders are dead!”

Would you say on this Labor Day weekend our country needs a little hope? We are at war in Iraq. The gulf coast looks like and is acting like a third world nation. The price of gas is speeding toward $4.00 a gallon. Would you say on this Labor Day weekend our country needs a little hope? It is that hope that makes all the other religions in our polytheistic society look so frail. We need to speak up and tell the world we believe in a risen Savior. As a disciple of Jesus Christ, what is your response to our polytheistic society?

Conclusion

Let me end with a quick story. Desmond Tutu was at a meeting with the minister of law and order in South Africa. He took that opportunity to talk about the Gospel and how Apartheid went again the Gospel. The minister of law and order didn’t want Tutu to wake up, show up or speak up. He wanted Tutu to shut up. However, Tutu refused to stop talking. He said, “Mr. Minister, with all respect, you are a man and not God. You are nothing more than a scribble in the pages of world history but Jesus Christ will live forever!” Desmund Tutu was right. Someday every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord. But until that day comes we need to wake up, show up and speak up. 

The first amendment of the United States constitution says: 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. Only in America will you find those words. As a disciple of Jesus Christ, what is your response to our polytheistic society? My God bless America! And all of God’s people said, “Amen!”