Seeing Gray in a World of Black and White:
3. What Would Jesus Say to America?
The Church of the Wayfarer
Dr. Norm Mowery, Pastor
September 11, 2011
Jeremiah 9:24; 22:3-5
Today is the 10th anniversary of 9/11.
It is also the first day of NFL Sunday afternoon football.
This morning I am not up to the task of giving you words that will address the horror of 9/11 in any way that is consoling. Along with many of you I watched the reading of the names in New York this morning and a flood of emotions came over me.
As we struggle to find images and stories that might reveal the depth of our emotions on this tenth anniversary we can connect with some of those feelings by holding hands and watching a football game.
The first four televised games of this year’s NFL season were specifically chosen to commemorate the events of 9/11. I find this to be interesting because some have felt that we should not have fun today but rather use our time reflecting.
*At 1 p.m. there is a game between Pittsburgh and Baltimore — midway between those two cities is Shanksville, PA, the site of the crash of flight 93.
*Later in the afternoon there is a game between the New York Giants and the Washington Redskins, played only a few miles from the site of the Pentagon plane attack.
*This afternoon there is a game between Carolina and Arizona, which will feature ceremonies honoring Pat Tillmon, the Cardinals player who left a lucrative pro-football career to join the military after the 9/11 attacks and who was killed in action in Iraq.
*Finally the Dallas Cowboys will play the New York Jets just across the Hudson River in full view of where the Twin Towers fell.
Today is a good day to hold hands with your loved ones as you enjoy the simple act of being together and watch a football game.
Some of us will choose to attend the Peace Fest at Carmel High School others will reflect quietly.
There is only one way to get through the horror of an event like 9/11: it is day by day. “Twelve Step” recovery programs, like Alcoholics Anonymous, all emphasize that recovery is a day-by-day journey.
Since 9/11 we have all been on a “day-by-day” journey of recovery.
Recovery from horror.
Recovery from hatred.
Recovery from the realization that the world does not love us. Recovery from a fear of the future.
Recovery from vengeance.
Recovery from grief and despair.
It has been said that the opposite of faith is not doubt, but fear. Has this been a decade of fear?
I started planning this service several months ago. At that time I sent letters to two leaders of our country who live locally and invited them be here today—Defense Secretary, Leon Panetta and Representative Sam Farr. Leon Panetta said he had previous commitments and Sam Farr said he was needed in Washington.
I just about sent him a note back to say, “I agree. You need to be there more than here!”
In preparation for this message I sent emails to numerous persons in our church family asking if they thought that the attacks on 9/11 were motivated by anger or the desire to control the world with a certain ideology. Here are some of their responses.
One person said, “I think the hijackers on 9/11 were motivated by both: anger at western capitalism, and also their overall ideology of wanting world wide control. I am still angry. I will never forgive them.”
One said, “They were Saudi's and they didn't like the USA relationship with their sheik rulers. I believe that the hijackers look at us like we are the Hitler, not because they want to take over the world.”
One was brutally honest when he wrote back saying, “I think they were ignorant people, misinformed, dominated and controlled by a group of fanatics who were probably so ignorant they did not even know who Hitler was. Try and work that into a sermon!” Well, I just did.
Bill Shewchuk sent a most thoughtful response, “Al-Qaida’s long standing goal is to repel the invading (and now occupying) Americans from Muslim lands.
The current aims of the global jihadists and al-Qaida are to:
Cause the US, their enemy, to reach a state of security exhaustion. Create political confusion—the American public is for the most part tired of war.
Result in economic failure—the cost of the war is a drain on resources at a time of intense fiscal austerity.
It seems that jihadists need only bide their time to achieve mission success.”
I couldn’t believe the level of feeling in some of the responses like this one who said, “Holy crap, Norm! I think it was a display of power. I don't believe they ever thought they could control us. I think it was a matter of blind submission to superiors and the belief that they would be rewarded in heaven.”
Another said, “I feel very conflicted as to my feelings about this anniversary. I think hard questions need to be asked about how our country has acted since 9/11.”
“I think it is important that we now look to the future. Let us as Christians be a light in the darkness of terror, of fear, of retribution. Our message is one of love for all, especially for those whose light of love has become extinguished and turned to hate,” said another.
From these responses we see the broad spectrum of feelings represented here this morning.
This message is the third in a series titled, “Seeing Gray in a World of Black and White.” Today I ask, “What would Jesus say to America?”
To begin the discussion, I would like to introduce three words that are prevalent in Old Testament discussions about Israel’s system of government. These words identify three things that God expected of Israel’s leaders. These words define who God is in the Old Testament. Jesus lived and taught these words.
1. Justice
Justice in the Old Testament is doing the right thing by all people. It is making sure that everyone receives what is fair, right and equitable including those who are not in power.
2. Righteousness
Generally Old Testament references to righteousness refer to
doing the right thing
at the right time
in the right place
for the right reason.
Seeking righteousness is asking in every situation, “What is the thing that would please God?”
Another way of thinking about righteousness is that it is doing
the good or right or caring thing
even when the law does not obligate you to do so—for example, not because there is a police officer waiting to write you a ticket!
3. Mercy
Mercy is not a feeling. It is an action. Whether or not you feel love for someone else, you choose to do love toward the person. You act with kindness, even when the other person does not deserve it. It is doing the kind thing even though others may be unloving or uncaring.
Mercy is a defining characteristic of God. God continually shows us mercy despite the fact that we do not deserve it.
Micah 6:8 sums up all three words.
“What does the Lord require of you
but to do justice,
and to love kindness
and to walk humbly with your God?”
All three words also come together in Jeremiah 9:24.
“I act with mercy, justice, and righteousness in the earth,
for in these things I delight, says the Lord.”
Justice, righteousness and mercy define God. They define what God expects of us in our relationships with one another.
Justice, righteousness and mercy also define the ideals of our country.
This ideal is captured in a great symbol of our nation, the Stature of Liberty in the New York Harbor not far from ground zero.
Lady Liberty holds in her hand a torch of light as a reminder that America is a beacon of light to the nations.
There is a poem called, “The New Colossus,” written by Emma Lazarus inscribed on her. Lady Liberty proclaims (say it with me),
“Give me your tired, your poor
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched effuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”
We long as a nation to be a force for good. Yet there is a difference between what we long to be and the way other countries perceive us.
The question we must ask is this: How far have we strayed from these ideals in the policies of our nation?
What would Jesus say if he actually came to America today?
If he walked among us, what would he say to us?
I picture him standing in the Lincoln Memorial addressing our nation. What would he say?
When we read Jesus’ words in the Gospels, we read statements such as, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled”
In other words, blessed are those who do
the right thing
in the right place
at the right time
for the right reason.
Likewise, Jesus said, “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy”. That is, those who show kindness, even when someone else does not deserve it, will be shown kindness and mercy.
I believe that if Jesus were here today he would remind us that true greatness is not defined by our gross domestic product.
I believe that he would tell us that true greatness is seen in humility, and servant hood.
I think he would remind us of the things children around the world pray about each night—food, clothes and shelter.
Jesus says,
“I was hungry. Some of you gave me something to eat, and some of you did not.
I was thirsty. Some of you stopped to give me a drink while some of you walked right on by.
I was naked and sick and in prison. Some of you helped, and some pretended not to see.
Inasmuch as you pretended not to see, you will not be seen in the kingdom of heaven.”
As we Americans pursue this common vision of justice, righteousness and mercy I hope we can say, “We may disagree, but I still want to listen to you because you’re my brother or sister.
It is my prayer that we will be people who offer our opinions with humility, recognizing that we might be wrong on some points;
people who listen to one another;
and people who try to work together toward common goals.
My prayer is that we will be people who pursue justice and righteousness and mercy.
As I think about 9/11 I am reminded:
"God hath not promised
Skies ever blue,
Flower-strewn pathways
All our lives through;
God hath not promised
Skies without rain,
Joy without sorrow,
Peace without pain.
"But God hath promised
Strength for the day,
Rest for the labor,
Light for the way,
Grace for the trials,
Help from above,
Unfailing sympathy,
Undying love." - Annie-Johnson Flint
Pastoral Prayer
Today on the 10th Anniversary of the attacks of 9/11.
I know that you remember where you were when you first heard the news.
I know that you remember how you felt as the towers collapsed.
I also know that we all have feelings today as we remember that day.
Some of us have feelings of overwhelming anger. Someone told me last Sunday, “I am so angry. I will never forgive.”
Some of us have feelings of fear. Newsweek Magazine has called the past 10 years, “The decade of fear.”
Some of us have feelings of guilt.
Some of us have feelings of grief.
It is my prayer today that we will find—
Hope…..for the future of our world.
Faith…..that the best is yet to come.
Peace…..that passes all understanding.
And Love….for all humankind.
This is my prayer.
Let us pray (Silence).
