I Pledge Allegiance Nehemiah 10: Back in my day (I used to despise those words from my folks), when I was a kid in

Transcription

1 I Pledge Allegiance Nehemiah 10:28-39 Back in my day (I used to despise those words from my folks), when I was a kid in school each morning we would stand, face the stars and stripes, and say the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag. That flag represented the nation in which we lived, the United States of America. So when we pledge allegiance to the flag, we pledge allegiance to our country. The Viet Nam war was in progress and then brought to a close. It was not a popular war, as if any are, but this war seemed to be the fuel for an anti-america movement that even called for an end to the mandatory saying of the Pledge in schools. The sentiment was that it is wrong to force people who are not US citizens or who do not agree with US policy to voice allegiance to the US. Sadly, many schools stopped the practice of saying the Pledge of Allegiance, along with many other regular practices. I say sadly, because I believe that giving into the attitudes that caused these practices to cease also spurred the attitudes of disrespect and mistrust, not only of the country but also towards one another that we experience around our country and in our own community today. I am happy to see that the reciting of the Pledge is now returning to many elementary schools again. In our search to find what it means to truly start over, we have drawn understanding from Nehemiah and Israel s starting over after returning from exile, rebuilding the wall around Jerusalem, and re-establishing who they are as a people. In the process they recognized the need to start over with God and sought to understand what that means. They spent many days listening to the Law, the Bible as they knew it, discussing it, learning not only the what but also the why and, more importantly, the Who of God s Word. They reflected on their past to better understand their present and how to step into their future and in the process realized that, while past decisions and actions had consequences, God never left them and God s love always prevailed. 1

2 With the understanding of God s standards for a strong relationship with God, with fellow Israelites, and with all people, and with the realization that through it all, the good, the bad, and the ugly, God remained faithful, they now realized the need to pledge their allegiance to God. Listen closely as [reader] shares with us their pledge there will be a quiz. Question 1: Who made the pledge? (Seek answers.) As the Israelites did we, too, are to come, men and women, sons and daughters, white collar and blue collar, clergy and laypeople, to pledge our allegiance to God. I think there are people in our nation who believe that only the government officials should take, and live into, a pledge or an oath of office. It s as if they want to take advantage of all the rights and privileges of being a part of a country without being held accountable to the responsibilities of being a citizen. The same occurs in the church where many feel only the clergy and other key leaders should vow their allegiance to God and the Kingdom. So many accept Jesus as their Savior to secure their ticket to heaven, but are unwilling to accept Jesus as Lord of their life. What s really sad is that these folks will go through life on this earth missing the awesome blessing of what following Jesus really gives and may well also miss the blessing of heaven, too. Jesus himself said that many will come to him saying, Lord, Lord and he will respond, I don t know you (Lk.13:22-27). Just because you live in a garage doesn t mean you become a car. It s not enough to be in the church, we are to be the church, pledged by oath in allegiance to God. Question 2: What did the people of Israel pledge? (Seek answers.) They pledged themselves to many varied activities. But I submit to you that their pledge to God was manifest in their commitment to the temple, the house of our God. Why there? The temple was, until just before the exile, the place where God s presence was. This is not to say that God is limited to a certain 2

3 space and time. But for the Nation of Israel, God promised his presence would be first in the Tabernacle, the RV temple that could be moved from place to place, and then in the Temple in Jerusalem that Solomon built. In both places, as they were dedicated, God flooded them with his Glory. So the temple was God s Place on earth. Their allegiance to God was in all their life s activities and most noticeable to one another and to those around them by how they cared for and served at the Temple. The same is true today. Our allegiance to God is to be evident in all our activities and most noticeable to one another and to those around us in how we care for and serve the Temple, for God s Temple is still his place on earth. However, God s temple is not made of cloth and poles, though it is very mobile. Nor is God s Temple made of stone, timber, and precious metals, though it is so permanent the gates of Hell will not over come it (Mt.16:18), and so precious Jesus paid for it with his very life. Paul tells us in his first letter to the Corinthians that where the Holy Spirit lives is where God s Temple is and that this residence is two-fold. In 3:16-17 Paul asks his readers, Do you not know that you yourselves (PL) are God s Temple (SG) and that the Holy Spirit lives in you? God s Temple is sacred and you are that Temple and in 6:19-20 he again asks, Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought with a price. Therefore honor God with your body. God s Temple is you and me and all believers together; AND God s Temple is each of us individually. If our allegiance to God is real, then it will show in our care and service to one another individually and collectively and in how we conduct ourselves in and outside the company of other believers. Our text is a guide. 3

4 The Israelites begin pledging not to intermarry. This is not a racial thing, a cultural thing, or a class thing. It is a God thing. To intermarry was to align with others who believed in and served someone or something other than the one true God; it was to compromise their allegiance. In what ways do we compromise our allegiance to God? What do others see in our lives? Is it God? Or is it someone or something else? They commit to the Sabbath. The focus is not simply for worship, though it is that. But they commit to the intent of Sabbath as a time to focus on God, to trust in God, and to step aside from our own striving and so believe in and serve ourselves, instead of God. How well do we do at letting go of one day, knowing that God is in control; of fallow time (sabbaticals), knowing that God will provide; and of debts, not just financial but also grudges, hurts, and anger, knowing that God can heal broken hearts and torn relationships? They also assume responsibility to provide for the Temple through tithes, offerings, and first fruits. Your financial commitment to the church provides for the ongoing work and programming necessary to help make disciples. Are you giving in a way that reflects your allegiance? But it s more than that. We should assume responsibility to provide for the house of our God where the Holy Spirit lives. Are we taking care of one another (the temple) only as need arises or are we willingly and excitedly looking ahead, giving of the very first and very best so that the house is well stocked? Are we loading up on God s Word and building our relationship with God in prayer so that we will be ready when the storms of life assail us or are we frantically looking for God and one another at the last minute? Will we assume responsibility for caring for God s Temple? As Paul counseled in Galatians, Let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers (6:10) and in so doing we boast to each other and the world about our awesome God. 4

5 Who or what has your allegiance? If recent news reports are any indication, and I believe they are, then we can know that we cannot and should not put our trust and loyalty into people, investments, or even our selves. Sooner or later they will all let us down and disappoint us. But there is One who never has and never will. He has been and will be with us all the way. To that end, I invite you to join me and pledge your allegiance to God and to the Lamb who was slain and lives using the Covenant Prayer from Wesley s Service of Covenant Renewal. Covenant Prayer from Wesley s Service of Covenant Renewal (on screen) Let us humble ourselves, lift our hands toward heaven, and open our hearts to the Lord as we renew covenant with God in prayer: O righteous God, for the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, accept my humble prayer. I confess I have not faithfully kept your commandments nor followed your will. Please forgive me, for you have promised mercy to me if I turn to you with my whole heart. God requires that we put away all our idols. From the bottom of my heart I renounce all idols. Against your will, I have turned my love toward the world. My own righteousness is riddled with sin; I am unable to stand before you. In your power I will resist all temptations that would lead me away from you and I covenant with you that no known sin shall be allowed in my life. Through Christ, God has offered to be our God again if we would let Him. Before all heaven and earth, I will profess you alone as my Lord and God. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, I vow to give up myself, body and soul, as your servant, to serve you in holiness and righteousness all the days of my life. God has given the Lord Jesus Christ as the only way and means of coming to God. O blessed Jesus, on bended knee I accept you as the Way, the Truth, and the Life and acknowledge that I cannot come to the Father except through you. I come to you hungry, sinful, miserable, blind, and naked, unworthy even to wash the feet of your servants. Laying down all that I have and all that I am I accept you as my Lord and Master. I relinquish any claim to worthiness, and vow that you are the Lord, my righteousness. I surrender my own wisdom, and take you for my only guide. I give up my will, and take your will as my law. Christ Jesus has told us that we must suffer with Him. I covenant with You, Lord Jesus, to take my lot with you as it may fall. By your grace I promise that neither life nor death shall separate me from you. God has given holy laws as the rule of our lives. I willingly take your yoke upon me. Teach me to carry your burden. All your laws are holy, just, and good. So, I will take them as the rule for my words, thoughts, and actions and 5

6 promise that I will strive to order my whole life according to your direction, not wanting to neglect anything I know to be my duty. The Almighty God searches and knows our hearts. Lord God, it is my truest desire to make this covenant with you today with no reluctance or deceit. Search me, O God, point out anything that offends you, and lead me into what is right. Glory be to you, O God the Father. You created me and adopted me to be your very own. Glory be to you, O God the Son. You have loved me and washed me from my sins by your own blood, and now are my Savior and Redeemer. Glory be to you, O God the Holy Spirit. By your almighty power you have turned my heart from sin to God. O Mighty God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, you have now become our Covenant Friend. And we, through your infinite grace, have become your covenant servant. So may it be. Let the covenant we have made on earth be ratified in heaven. Amen. 6