Freedom from Fear

Fear seems to be everywhere these days, especially in our national conversations. Oh, it may be focused on immigration and terrorism and gun laws, but all of those topics have their basis in fears that we have. I'm convinced that we Christians have something to add to those conversations, especially as we celebrate our independence; and I discuss it in this week's sermon.

The Fourth of July has rolled around again! If you haven’t already enjoyed fireworks bursting in midair, and heard “The Stars and Stripes Forever,” you probably will very soon. Tomorrow we’ll mark the anniversary of 240 years as an independent nation; and we’ll celebrate all the good that has happened during those 240 years. Personally, I plan to eat grilled hamburgers and homemade potato salad and watermelon and wash it all down with ice cream; and I’m guessing that some of you will do the very same thing.

But we haven’t gotten to tomorrow yet. Today is Sunday: the day that we worship as Christians. How should we worship on the Sunday that falls nearest to the Fourth of July? Independence Day, after all, isn’t a holiday that appears on the church calendar like Christmas and Easter. It is a national holiday, not a religious holiday. So what should we do in Christian worship on this Sunday that is so close to our national holiday? How do we balance being Christians with being Americans? On the one hand, we can’t ignore Jesus Christ and focus exclusively on our country (although many congregations seem to do just that). On the other hand, I don’t want to ignore our national heritage, either. It seems to me that we can be both faithful to Jesus Christ and respectful of our national identity by considering what we can add to the national conversation as we express our Christian faith.

We Christian Americans have something to say in these days; and our voices are not always heard. We speak of justice, for example, in a society that oppresses many folks who are at the bottom of the ladder, while celebrating those who are at the top, no matter what they have done to get there. We Christians value sacrifice in the midst of a society that teaches us to take care of ourselves at all costs, even if it means walking all over other people. We preach love and tolerance in a culture where hate is acceptable, and violence is often answered with violence. We say something else, too; and it might be a more radical statement than any of these other things. We say clearly and boldly, “Don’t be afraid.”

Now, that’s a very odd statement to make in a time when everyone is afraid of something! American Christians are afraid of Muslims; and American Muslims are afraid of non-Muslims. Many people are afraid of gays and lesbians; and the GLBTQ community is just as afraid of the people who hate them. Democrats are afraid of Republicans; and Republicans are afraid of Democrats. Some people are afraid of one of the presidential candidates; and some people are afraid of the other one. Young folks are afraid that they won’t ever be able to find gainful employment; and older folks are afraid that they won’t ever be able to retire. Lots of us are afraid that the stock market might go into free fall and wipe out all our investments. And nearly everybody is afraid of the international terrorism that seems to be creeping closer and closer to our own shores. Fear is everywhere! Why, we’re practically drowning in it! So how in the world can we say with such confidence, “Don’t be afraid”?

The answer is that we Christians believe that God is with us, and that God will care for us in both good times and bad – maybe especially in the bad. We remember all those times in both Old and New Testaments when things were bad, and God sent a messenger to reassure the people. The very first thing that messenger usually said was, “Don’t be afraid!” When the Israelites were caught on the shore of the Red Sea with the Egyptian army hot on their heels, what did Moses say to them? “Don’t be afraid!” When Gabriel showed up while Mary was getting lunch ready and told her that she would be the mother of the Messiah, what did he say to her? “Don’t be afraid!” And when the women came weeping to Jesus’ tomb to anoint his body, only to find that he wasn’t there, what did the angel tell them? “Don’t be afraid!” When big changes are in the wind, God tends to show up and say, “Quit hiding under the bed. You don’t need to be afraid!”

So, the question is: How do we respond when God tells us, “Don’t be afraid”? Here’s what the psalmist says in Psalm 46 (this morning’s scripture reading): “The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.” And Psalm 46 describes a much worse situation than two unpopular presidential candidates or endlessly squabbling political parties. Psalm 46 shows us creation itself falling apart at the seams! As the psalm begins, the foundations of the earth have snapped like matchsticks, and the mountains are crumbling like sand castles when the surf hits them. The sea is drowning the world in its chaos; and the monsters who live there are taking over. There is no place to hide; no place to escape. But even in the midst of the chaos and confusion, the psalmist bravely states, “We will not be afraid!” In fact, the psalm even shakes a chiding finger at us as it reminds us what God can do: God can cart our swords and spears off to the dump, and build a bonfire with our shields. And if that isn’t enough, God himself shows up, declaring: “Be quiet! Remember that I am God, the one who holds everything in the palm of my hand.” Oh, yes… the Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.”

Don’t you think that’s something that our country needs to hear right now? I’m convinced that much of the violence that we see right now, both in our country and around the world, is rooted in fear – fear of other people, fear of the future, and fear of change. Maybe we American Christians need to serve as reminders that God is greater than anything we are afraid of. God is greater than Congress; greater than the presidential candidates; greater than the stock market; and even greater than global terrorism! No matter what kind of mess we humans get ourselves into – and we do get ourselves into some nasty messes – God can handle it. As we share Holy Communion this morning, remember that Jesus first shared that meal with his friends during a night that was filled with fear. Jesus was about to be arrested, put through a rigged trial, and executed; and the world of the disciples was about to be turned upside down. There were lots of things to be afraid of on that night: the Romans, the Jewish authorities, the crowds who turned against Jesus, even their friend Judas. But the fear that gripped the disciples on Thursday, and the horror that they experienced on Good Friday turned into overwhelming joy on Easter morning! “Don’t be afraid!” Jesus said it to his disciples, and he says it to us today. “Don’t be afraid!” God’s got it covered! Yes, indeed, the psalmist knew what he was talking about. “The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress!"