For the Healing of the Nations
The following message was delivered Sunday, November 25, 2007 as a part of a sermon series, "Forty Days of Healing"
Texts: Isaiah 42:5-9
1 Peter 2:9-10
John 1:1-4
For the Healing of the Nations
It can be overwhelming
To consider the illness of the nations.
If the Butterfly Effect of Chaos is true – that is – if a Buttefly flaps its wings in China, the result is a tornado in Kansas –
Than so too today when one nation catches the flu,
the whole world contracts a virus.
But today I wish to address three of the symptoms of our global community crisis.
Consumerism may be the most easily recognizable.
A drive for more comes for some as a means to an end: More stuff brings with it a false sense of significance, security, self-worth.
One buys the newest and greatest gadget, car, appliance, home; only to crash on the consumer high when the need hits again for the next newest need.
Consumerism is driven by a market which convinces communities to want what is not needed.
When Ma Bell came out with the first, home-model telephone, the phone came in one color, black. The goal of the company was for every home in America to have a phone in the kitchen. It worked, sales went through the roof.
But once sales dropped off, how would the phone company convince families they needed another phone – most homes had one. The solution – new colors. Red, White, Yellow. And by the time I was a kid in the 70's the phones are bright orange and green, and most homes have several phones.
Today, most of us have phones in our pockets right now.
Consumerism.
It may look like this:
In Syracuse, NY a man arrived at the Best Buy store by 7pm on Thanksgiving evening in order to be prepared for the store's opening at 5am the following morning. His need was so great. And of course he wasn't alone, he was number 35 in line.
But consumerism is a global problem. Visiting Tanzania in 2005 we were given many beautiful gifts carved from the gorgeous wood of an Ebony tree. The sad news is that a member of our companion congregation in Tanga, Tanzania taught us that Ebony wood is being harvested so quickly, for the desire to sell to tourists, that the tree will not be seen in the region 50 years from now. You see it takes 50 years for the sapling to mature to a point where the wood may be used. This generation has no patience, no the desire to invest in the future, but only to make the sale today. The drive of consumerism will mean the end of Ebony.
Second Symptom: Global Crisis is Nationalism
Not talking about pride in a homeland
Not talking about being Thankful for living in a free and prosperous land.
Nationalism is what happens when patriotism is cranked up to a new level –
no matter who the nation is.
Nationalism is when a government becomes arrogant and ignorant towards the needs of the poor, the children, and the elderly;
While maintaining a sense of global imperialism.
Nationalism is an immigrant nation becoming fearful of the immigrant.
Nationalism is when a dictator holds the global economy hostage through the price of a barrel of oil.
Nationalism, like Consumerism is contagious.
While it may begin as political policy…
It quickly spreads into personal practice.
Third Symptom in Need of Global Healing is Classism
Our reaction to this submission may be that this is not a problem anymore.
That we are beyond such a thing as classism.
But today while we would say there is a shrinking middle class
It seems we have a growing intolerance of the poor, the infirmed, the incarcerated.
Our culture – our global culture
- is quicker to give up on those who can't help themselves
and discard those who have not lived up to our expectations.
In the U.S. Families living in poverty struggle to break free from higher costs of living than more affluent communities.
Poor neighborhoods endure higher food prices, diminished educational opportunities, and reduced community resources.
In India the Caste system is no longer legal. But practices of classism continue.
A Dalit - the name given to the outcast – is identified as soon as they step on a bus. They can not even afford shoes. And so, easily identified, they will not find a seat available, and may be harassed by unwelcome neighbors.
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And so what are we to say about all of this?
What is our response, as the people of God?
Where do we stand? Where do you stand?
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We read in Genesis that God made a promise to Abraham.
Do you know what that promise was?
That Abraham would be the Ancestor of Many Nations
– Abraham means = Ancestor to the Multitudes [Genesis 17]
So we see that God's promise was not a promise to one nation – but to all nations.
What is that Promise?
That the God who is the source of Light, the Creator of Life is with us graciously giving us all we need.
The Promise is that Christ; the Light of the World has come to us, to all the nations, and is now in us.
Hear this again from Isaiah
Thus says God, the Lord,
who created the heavens and stretched them out,
who spread out the earth and what comes from it,
who gives breath to the people upon it
and spirit to those who walk in it:
6 I am the Lord, I have called you in righteousness,
I have taken you by the hand and kept you;
I have given you as a covenant to the people,
a light to the nations,
7 to open the eyes that are blind,
to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon,
from the prison those who sit in darkness.
From this passage we experience who God is, who we are, and our role in the healing of the world.
We who believe – we are recipients of the Light – inheritors of Gracious Life!
And now we are called to carry the light – to bring forth the kingdom of God.
The Light brings healing as we are claimed CHILDREN of God.
As sons and daughters of our gracious God,
our view of the economy is different.
We do have enough, we are worthy, and we are significant.
A parent will teach a child when they have enough. It happens this time of year every time a child sees a commercial for a new toy and mom or dad or a grandparent says, "You don't need that toy, you have enough."
In experiencing God's grace through a relationship with God, we learn we have enough too.
We don't need to consume to satisfy; we are okay with who we are.
Because God cares for us and God gifts each of us;
we all have something to share.
As sons and daughters of the source of life
we are transformed from consumers, to stewards.
The Light brings healing
because we are called to be CITIZENS of the Kingdom of God
Now as Citizens of the Kingdom of God we can see that we are more than Americans or Mexicans, Russians or Chinese, French or Liberian;
we are siblings in one family.
In 1 Peter we see The Light of Christ unites us into one people, one holy nation.
So we see now that as the light has gone out to all nations,
In the light of Christ we become one people, one race, one body.
Because of the light we can see across borders
and are called to find just solutions and policies
which treat others as fellow citizens in the Kingdom of God.
Healing happens through us, by the light when this view intersects our politics.
Healing happens through us when this view influences our policies.
Finally, the Light brings healing because in the Light
ALL are welcome, ALL are invited, All gifts are valued.
To teach about Tanzania we've sometimes shown a panoramic map of the World at Night. If you can imagine this map in your mind you might see what you expect to see. Showing the lights of the world, you can see the developed nations clearly. The Northeast regions of the US and around Los Angeles are two of the brightest spots on the map. Western Europe is bright, parts of China…
Africa is noticeably dark.
When we landed at Kilimanjaro International Airport in Tanzania you couldn't see lights on the ground as you can flying into Philadelphia. As you get closer, the only light is a dim orange glow of charcoal fires on the road sides.
It might fool you.
For the continent is bright. The faith is strong. The church in Africa is growing faster than any other place in the world. The light of the World is present.
If we were to take a "Light of Christ" photograph of the world, Africa would be the brightest light on the map! Thanks be to God!
The Light is Bright – And its' glow brings healing to those who see it.
There is Healing for the Nations – The Light of Christ is in the world
– The Kingdom of God is Here
In you, in me, The Promise of God, for the Healing of the Nations.
Amen.
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