Sermons for the Month
Thankful For Freedom
DATE: July 4, 2004
SERVICE: Fifth Sunday After Pentecost
TEXT: Reflection: "Why I Am Thankful To Live In the United States"“To all of you Saints here this morning, grace and peace to you from God our Father, from His Son, Jesus Christ and His Holy Spirit. AMEN
As we gather for worship today, and celebrate Independence Day, we are veering from our usual Biblical focus for the sermon in order to reflect on this statement: "Why I am thankful to live in the United States." I am going to begin by sharing my thoughts on this topic, then I will invite three people forward who are prepared to share their reflections, and, finally, if any of you would like to make a brief statement of thanks, you will have the opportunity to do so.
Our Creator has given us a universe that is too vast and beautiful for us to grasp. Our world is blessed with places and people as varied as the stars of heaven, and God's love, grace and mercy touches them all. We who live in the United States have many reasons to be thankful.
I rejoice in the natural beauty that can be found in every corner of our land, having traveled to all but three states. I am grateful for the opportunities that have been afforded me for education and self-sufficiency that might not have been possible in another setting.
The list of reasons to give thanks is long, but the one that immediately came to mind as I considered this subject is in the first amendment of the United States constitution and states that, "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."
I value this ideal. I cherish the ability to freely express my religious beliefs, and my opinions in general, without fear of censorship or punishment. While our country has sometimes fallen short in granting this freedom to all, it is a principle that cannot be taken for granted. Not only do I have the right to live out and express my faith, but others with whom I may not agree have the right to do so as well (as long as we act within legal guidelines and do not cause harm to others).
Last summer when I visited Williamsburg I was privileged to experience an overwhelmingly realistic portrayal of Thomas Jefferson, the author of the Declaration of Independence. I was moved by his eloquent pleas for the ability to freely and openly express one's beliefs, particularly about religion.
It seems that one of the reasons there was such an emphasis on freedom of expression in our founding documents is that, by all accounts, Thomas Jefferson was a free-thinker when it came to religious matters. He was not a Christian and believed that the Bible was purely a product of human effort and that Jesus was a great man but not divine. He did believe in God, a supreme Creator, but also that God did not continue to intervene in the affairs of the creations. Ironically it was because he did not want to be, to quote him, "compelled to frequent or support any religious worship", that Thomas Jefferson became the champion of religious freedom. He staunchly defended the rights of others, like you and I, to hold beliefs that differed from his and to say so.
Thomas Jefferson is even quoted as saying that, "The constitutional freedom of religion is the most inalienable and sacred of all human rights." In another quote he proclaims that no authority had been given him, as President of the United States, to direct the religious exercises of the citizens.
This freedom to express faith - all faiths, or even the lack of faith - is one of the many reasons I am thankful to live in this country. Such freedom opens up the door for the grace of God to touch our lives, and for us become followers of Jesus Christ, not because we are compelled to do so but because the Holy Spirit is at work and we are free to respond. This freedom of religion creates an atmosphere in which our faith can be something we treasure rather than a requirement of citizenship. For that I am thankful to live in this country.
Now, I would like to invite you forward to share why you are thankful to live in the United States. AMEN