God May Not Even Know Our Country's Name
Preaching
Shaking Wolves Out Of Cherry Trees
And 149 Other Sermon Ideas
Purpose Statement: We have a difficult time understanding that everyone is a child of God and consequently our brother or sister. This is about patriotism.
The book of Ruth is always interpreted in a personal, one-on-one kind of way. I have never heard it used as an analogy of international relations. Perhaps it is time. Ruth is willing to make a new home with her mother-in-law in a foreign land. The famous first chapter has the marvelous and oft-quoted line, "Your people will be my people." Ruth will adopt Naomi's Israel as her new country. It has nothing to do with turning her back on her own country. It has to do with people and human relationships being far more important than a country. This is a lesson we are far from learning. Colonial powers went into Africa and established "national" boundaries, but to the indigenous peoples those boundaries were artificial and meaningless. So also, the way we have divided up the world is of no consequence to God. The earth is one nation in God's eyes.
a. We separate ourselves from the rest of the world. They say there are two kinds of people in the world: those who divide the world up into two kinds of people and those who don't -- and very few of the latter. We create enemies every chance we get: "we versus them" situations. We create flags and make them sacred in an idolatrous way. This is our flag and it sends the message to the rest of the world that we stand apart as separate and even better people. There are two sides to the coin of patriotism. On the one hand, patriotism means we are united and loyal to each other. The other part of that is we become a clique unto ourselves, and see others as different and suspect. The cliché idea of coming together and becoming united usually means united against others.
b. Then we want God on our side. After the attack on the World Trade Center, everyone was flying the flag (apparently as a call to war and revenge), and the statement, "God bless America," was seen everywhere one looked. Someone asked the question, "Why aren't we saying, 'God bless the world'?" Because we want God on our side. God shouldn't bless our "enemies."
c. But God is not on our side. It is very difficult for us to understand that God loves everyone the same. God doesn't want anyone killing anyone else. God doesn't recognize flags or the boundaries of countries. We are children of God, and sisters and brothers to each other -- or should be.
The book of Ruth is always interpreted in a personal, one-on-one kind of way. I have never heard it used as an analogy of international relations. Perhaps it is time. Ruth is willing to make a new home with her mother-in-law in a foreign land. The famous first chapter has the marvelous and oft-quoted line, "Your people will be my people." Ruth will adopt Naomi's Israel as her new country. It has nothing to do with turning her back on her own country. It has to do with people and human relationships being far more important than a country. This is a lesson we are far from learning. Colonial powers went into Africa and established "national" boundaries, but to the indigenous peoples those boundaries were artificial and meaningless. So also, the way we have divided up the world is of no consequence to God. The earth is one nation in God's eyes.
a. We separate ourselves from the rest of the world. They say there are two kinds of people in the world: those who divide the world up into two kinds of people and those who don't -- and very few of the latter. We create enemies every chance we get: "we versus them" situations. We create flags and make them sacred in an idolatrous way. This is our flag and it sends the message to the rest of the world that we stand apart as separate and even better people. There are two sides to the coin of patriotism. On the one hand, patriotism means we are united and loyal to each other. The other part of that is we become a clique unto ourselves, and see others as different and suspect. The cliché idea of coming together and becoming united usually means united against others.
b. Then we want God on our side. After the attack on the World Trade Center, everyone was flying the flag (apparently as a call to war and revenge), and the statement, "God bless America," was seen everywhere one looked. Someone asked the question, "Why aren't we saying, 'God bless the world'?" Because we want God on our side. God shouldn't bless our "enemies."
c. But God is not on our side. It is very difficult for us to understand that God loves everyone the same. God doesn't want anyone killing anyone else. God doesn't recognize flags or the boundaries of countries. We are children of God, and sisters and brothers to each other -- or should be.
