Friday's thoughts on Sunday's sermon

"Jefferson's Declaration; Our Rebuttal"

This sermon is one that will try to bridge the gap between religion and patriotism; the church and state. I am moving toward an understanding of Jefferson's idea of God. He was a deist in thinking. By that he understood God to be present in creation but having moved out of the universe that God set in motion. He believe in a God who is found in the order of nature and it is our task to build a world that conforms to the creator God.

His approach is a "my country tis of Thee" perspective. He took his religion and laid it into the "self-evident" aspects of what the human spirit should expect such as "inalienable right to life liberty and the pursuit of happiness".

Jefferson's declaration is a "Tis of Thee" document.

Communion Sunday brings to us a rebuttal to the "Tis of Thee" perspective when Jesus took the bread and broke it and took the cup and offered it he was asking "will you remember me"? The Biblical scholar Pelikan says there is that unique feature in the Christian faith that carries significant impact. Unlike other prophets who were the recipients of the Word of God and who simply passed it on, Jesus was seen as the incarnation of God and who lived it through. If we remember him, we are recalling what he was essentially.

"My country Tis of Thee" is put up against "Take this and Remember Me" and we have the tension and the cohabitation of religion and politics, church and state. They go together but they are not completely compatible together. They are in tension with each other and should always be.

"Remember me" confronts "tis of Thee" and we become Christian Americans rather than American Christians. It is an interesting and important tension.

This sermon has been recipient of the assistance of a local professor and expert on Thomas Jefferson. I was introduced to Dr. David McKibbin this week and have been in email conversation with him. I am grateful for his help.

If you would like a copy of a draft of the sermon email me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net or if you have thoughts about the subject I am pleased to receive your ideas. If you are willing to share your thoughts with the readers of this blog click on the 'comment's' box below.

I look forward to hearing from you.


Charles Schuster