Three Temptations to Think About on the Fourth!

Sermon Notes:  July 5, 2009

Rev. Jim O’Neal, Senior Pastor

Sun Lakes United Methodist Church, 9248 E. Riggs Road, Sun Lakes, Arizona 85248 - (480) 895-8766

1 Peter 2:13-17 NRSV

13For the Lord’s sake accept the authority of every human institution, whether of the emperor as supreme, 14or of governors, as sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right.  15For it is God’s will that by doing right you should silence the ignorance of the foolish.  16As servants of God, live as free people, yet do not use your freedom as a pretext for evil.  17Honor everyone.  Love the family of believers.  Fear God.  Honor the emperor.

A.  Introduction

    1.  Betsy Ross

        a.  A few years ago in the Editorial page of the newspaper there was a political cartoon showing Betsy Ross sewing the first flag.  The caption read:  “Time to check our stitches.”

        b.  Now I know the historical purists are thinking, “There’s no real proof that Betsy Ross made the first American flag with stars and stripes.”  But nonetheless the editorial cartoon reminds us that freedom is both a privilege and a responsibility.  It is good that we love our country.  That love compels us in our freedom to look inward as a nation and to acknowledge that America is a wonderful work in progress and that there are always areas where we need to grow and improve.  This week following the Fourth of July, I encourage each of us to pray for our nation and to seek to find positive ways in which we can make this the greatest nation even better.  Specifically, I call each of us to examine our own behavior as citizens of the United States of America.  And to each of us I ask, “If you were to give yourself a grade for your performance as a citizen, what would that be?”

    2.  Today’s Scripture:  1 Peter 2:16

        a.  In today’s Scripture Peter says:  “As servants of God, live as free people, yet do not use your freedom as a pretext for evil.” (1 Peter 2:16 NRSV)

        b.  Peter is calling us to be good, responsible and faithful citizens.  Is there something you or I should be doing differently?  This morning I call each of us to avoid stumbling blocks that could keep us as individuals or a nation from being that “light on the hill” that God calls us to be.  This morning I lift up three temptations that you and I should avoid.

 

B.  Avoid the temptation of enjoying the fruits of citizenship without cultivating the tree of liberty.

    1.  Parking on another man’s nickel

        a.  Some years ago the great preacher Harry Emerson Fosdick gave a sermon entitled:  PARKING ON ANOTHER MAN’S NICKEL.  As you see it was some time ago.  As we all know, it costs a lot more than a nickel to park downtown today, but the illustration is still valid.  We’ve all for various reasons gone downtown to park be it Phoenix, L.A., Chicago or Atlanta.  In the congested areas of these big cities you have to either park in a parking garage of use a parking meter on the street.  And we all know the frustration of that.  Many times you can’t find a place to park or you don’t have enough change.  But once in awhile there’s a space and you pull in and low and behold, there’s still time on the meter and you get to park for free!  That is, of course, what it means to park on another man’s nickel.

        b.  Now in this country, you and I are parking on a lot of people’s nickels.  We owe a debt to those patriots who went before us who won independence for our nation.  We owe a debt to along line of service people who past and present fought to defend our country.  We’re parking on their “nickel” of freedom.  And in that time of great national crisis that was the Civil War we owe a debt to those who gave their lives to keep our nation one.  Then there are those who put their lives on the line to settle the wilderness, and in later times those who stood up and said that segregation and discrimination are wrong.  You and I are the recipients of all their efforts.  Let us thank these and the many others who sacrificed that we might be free or have better lives.

    2.  Yakov Smirnoff and “The Spirit of 1776”

        a.  Recent immigrant and comedian Yakov Smirnoff once commented about decorating his new home in America.  One of his first purchases was a print for his wall of the famous patriotic painting called, “THE SPIRIT OF 1776.”  He said, “You know the painting.  There are three men in it:  One with a flute, one with a drum, and one with a headache!”

        b.  We love the flute, we love the drum, we love the joyous celebrations, and we love the freedom we enjoy.  But too often we don’t like the “headache” part of citizenship.  We have to choose between candidates and sometimes that is a major mental headache!  We need to do more than complain.  We need to do our part to keep this a great nation.  You could volunteer to be an election worker, you could help tutor students at a school, volunteer at the homeless shelter, work with a civic group, or serve with our Mission Committee.  You may not be called to put you life on the line in defense of your nation, but everyone here is called to do their part, to put their nickel in the meter, to guarantee that those who follow will have the freedom and liberty that we enjoy.  The first temptation to avoid is to enjoy citizenship without responsibility.

 

C.  Avoid the temptation to have capitalism without compassion.

    1.  Bumper Sticker

        a.  The second temptation is to have capitalism without compassion.  I saw a bumper sticker on a car.  It said, “Honk if I’m paying your mortgage!”  The greed of individuals, companies, and even our government has gotten us into this current economic mess.  Now to many people it seems that the worst offenders are the very ones getting the bail out money, and because of that there is a lot of frustration in our country today.  We are in this mess because too many folks practiced capitalism without compassion.

        b.  The solution that some see is to do away with our free enterprise system  I know a fellow United Methodist Pastor who would like to turn the country into one great big Home Owners Association.  He would socialize not only medicine and health care, but transportation, home ownership, and closely control the size of each person’s so called “carbon footprint.”

    2.  Milton Friedman  (from an interview with Phil Donahue)

        a.  I disagree with my brother in the clergy.  And while I did not agree with everything he said or did, I believe that economist Milton Friedman said it well:  “The only cases in which the masses escaped grudging poverty are where they have had capitalism and free trade.  The record of history is absolutely crystal clear that there is no alternative way so far discovered of improving the lot of the ordinary people that can hold a candle to the productive activities that are unleashed by the free enterprise system.”

        b.  This is my opinion concerning capitalism.  The old Soviet model was a failure.  Without the incentive to work and improve oneself too many people will let others do the work.  In socialistic systems a few choose for the rest and the system fosters nepotism, cronyism, and poor goods and services.  Whereas a free enterprise system encourages industry, hard work, creativity and freedom of choice.  You may disagree, though my guess is that most here will not.  You have worked hard all your life and have been blessed by the fruits of your labor in this free enterprise system.

    3.  License Plate

        a.  Perhaps your concern and frustrations are with those who don’t have your work ethic.  Some of you will identify with the father who had a son in college on the six year plan for a bachelor’s degree.  Dad got a bit tired of his son’s goofing off, but mother kept indulging the boy.  Mom went out and bought the son a car.  Dad was not happy, but mother insisted.  Finally, dad said that he would take care of transferring the title and driving the car down to the college.  Dad went to the Department of Motor Vehicles and took care of everything including the purchase of a custom plate.  When dad delivered the car to his son the license plate expressed dad’s opinion:  GET A JOB. 

        b.  You, the people of our Church know the value of hard work and a good work ethic.  You worked hard all of your life, even survived the Great Depression, and earned what you now have in retirement.  However, we know that there are those in our country who will not “make it” financially unless some things are changed or someone gives them a “hand up.”  There are people caught in the cycle of poverty.  There are many children and youth living in the inner city that will never get a chance for a better life unless you, I or somebody gives them a break.  We know that there are widows in our society, even our community, on fixed incomes that are barely scraping along.  There are mentally and physically challenged people that unless society gives them some compassion cannot compete.

    4.  George Bernard Shaw

        a.  George Bernard Shaw once said, “The greatest sin to our fellow creatures is not to hate them, but to be indifferent to them.”  Christ compels us to never be indifferent and to have compassion.

        b.  One of the reasons that capitalism has worked in this nation is because people of faith and especially Christians have stood up and insisted that capitalism be wed to compassion.  God calls us to be concerned for our fellow human beings as individuals and as a society.  It’s great to compete and try to do your very best as long as you remember that there are those who need help.  I have friend who is a dentist who understands this, and I will share his story in the next point.

 

D.  Avoid the temptation to have Christianity without commitment.

    1.  Dr. Kevin Peck

        a.  Doctor Kevin Peck has been my dentist since I was his pastor at North Scottsdale United Methodist Church.  He recently capped my front teeth, and I might add at well below the market price.  After he prepared my teeth for the caps, I took a short break.  His wife, also, a dentist asked, “How does it look now?”  I laughed, smiled big showing my awful looking ground down teeth, and forgive me made some remark about looking like a homeless person. 

        b.  This led us into a conversation about Dr. Kevin and a group of dentist he works with in a volunteer mission group.  These dentists who are businessmen and Christians are truly believers who put their faith into action.  They without charge go to several of our homeless shelters in town and give free dental care.  They also at their own expense travel twice a year to Central America giving their services and treatment free of charge to impoverished people.  Dr. Kevin Peck is a committed Christian.  How about you?  What are you doing to show God’s love to others?

    2.  Holy Bible

        a.  The Bible is clear about this.  In today’s scripture, Peter tells us:  “Honor everyone.  Love the family of believers.”  (1 Peter 2:17a NRSV)  Jesus says:  “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” (John 15:12 NRSV)  Further, James tells us:  “Faith without works is dead.” (James 2:26b NKJV)

        b.  True Christians are committed to the Lord and committed to sharing his love.  The best way for us to be good citizens is for us to be compassionate people individually and as a nation.  Many, if not most of you are just that.  In the months ahead, find a way to serve others.  Join our Mission Committee, serve on our Health Ministries Team, become a Stephen Minister, volunteer to tutor at a school, regularly visit a shut-in, or find some other way to share Jesus’ love.  Christians are committed followers of Jesus.

 

E.  Conclusion:  Recap.  As we honor and celebrate our nation this weekend, and as we remember our freedom and God’s blessings to our country, let us be good citizens who avoid these three temptations:

    1.  Avoid the temptation of enjoying the fruits of citizenship without cultivating the tree of liberty.

    2.  Avoid the temptation to have capitalism without compassion.

    3.  Avoid the temptation to have Christianity without commitment.

Three Temptations to Think About on the Fourth!

 

  1.  Avoid the temptation of enjoying the fruits of citizenship

                                                                        without cultivating the tree of liberty.

 

  2.  Avoid the temptation to have capitalism without compassion.

 

  3.  Avoid the temptation to have Christianity without commitment.

 

1 Peter 2:13-17 NRSV

13For the Lord’s sake accept the authority of every human institution, whether of the emperor as supreme, 14or of governors, as sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right.  15For it is God’s will that by doing right you should silence the ignorance of the foolish.  16As servants of God, live as free people, yet do not use your freedom as a pretext for evil.  17Honor everyone.  Love the family of believers.  Fear God.  Honor the emperor.