Rethinking Independence Day

NYC street

Rev. Molly F. James

DFMS Noonday Prayer via Zoom

July 2, 2020 (Propers for Independence Day)

May God’s Word be spoken. May God’s Word be heard. And may that point us to the living Word who is Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

If any of you are friends with Byron Rushing on Facebook or are members of the big Episcopal groups on Facebook, you know that he makes an annual reminder during this week of the year that we ought to think carefully about how we pray on Independence Day. If you look at the Collect for today, it talks about the founders winning freedom for “us.”

It says, “Lord God Almighty, in whose Name the founders of this country won liberty for themselves and for us, and lit the torch of freedom for nations then unborn: Grant that we and all the people of this land may have grace to maintain our liberties in righteousness and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.  Amen.”

Byron rightly reminds us that the Collect seems to just gloss over and skip the fact that when the founders won liberty, there was a huge portion of the population who were still in bondage. The Collect neglects to mention the fact that at the same time those “founders” won their freedom from England, they also decided that every slave in America only counted as ⅗ of a person. That fraction ought to horrify us. There is no way to spin that to make it okay. No way to say, “Well, what they meant was . . .” Think back to your basic math lessons or when you use a measuring cup in cooking. There is no way that ⅗ is equal to one whole. No way whatsoever. 

But actually keeping our focus on condemning our founders for their inadequate actions by our standards is not helpful. It is not helpful, because we cannot go back and rewrite history. And even more so, it is not helpful because it makes it easy for us to focus on the failings of the past, rather than the problems of the present. If we focus on the past, we might even try to pretend that the realities of freedom and liberty have been won, and there is no work for us to do now.

Well, my friends, if any of us who are white had fooled ourselves into thinking that the realities of liberty and freedom that we know so well were indeed universal among American citizens, I don’t know how we could still think that. The events of recent weeks have shown us that the “progress” of the Civil Rights era or the fact that a black man has held the highest office in the land do not mean that our work is done. Not at all. The truth has been laid bare that we have so far to go. We can see how we have failed, and we can see how much work we have ahead of us. 

So what do we do with this reality as we remember Independence Day this year? It is worth noting that Independence Day is not just a secular, national holiday. It is also a Church holiday. 

This is because the founding of this nation and the founding of the Episcopal Church are inextricably linked. As the American Colonies fought and declared independence from Britain, so too did our Church. In fact, many of the democratic principles that govern our own national government - the principle of checks and balances, the principle of elected leadership, the principle that says the average person gets to have a say in how they are governed - are all principles that our also present in the Constitution and rules that govern the Episcopal Church.  Just the way that no one gets to be a Senator or President without a lot of people thinking its a good idea - neither does someone get to be a bishop in the Episcopal Church without a lot of people thinking it is a good idea!  The democratic ideals held sacred by the founders were also enshrined in the governance of the Episcopal Church. 

I wonder if we might find some hope in those principles and ideals. While we who represent the power and privilege of institutions and structures that have perpetuated the realities of white privilege have to repent of the past and chart a new course for the present and the future, that course does not mean condemning all that has come before us. The principles that guide the governance of our Church (and our nation) are holy and good ones. The problem is not with the principles themselves, it is that we have failed to ensure that they are universally applied.

There is a lesson for us in all of this.  Not only are we to hold on to the love of freedom and liberty that lies at the core of this nation and our Church.  We are to hold on to the call - in our history and in our faith - to never weary of doing what is right.  We do not shy away from speaking the Truth or from speaking up and amplifying the voices of those who have spent far too long on the margins of our Church and our society. If we encounter resistance, we do not give up.  We shake the dust off our feet, and we move on.  We keep on trying.  We keep on speaking up until the message is heard. 

Those immortal words about the God given rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness were penned 244 years ago, and we know that there are still many places in our Church, in our communities, in our country, and in our world, where the light of liberty does not shine.  Far too many voices have gone unheard by those in power.  We cannot keep silent, and we cannot grow weary.  We are asked to do what is right.  We are asked to stand up for what we believe in - even in the face of any adversity.  We are asked to speak up when we see injustice. We are asked to notice who is not at the table where important decisions are made and how we might change that reality.  This may mean taking political action to work for a cause that is dear to your heart and our faith.  It may mean big and loud actions.  But it may also mean the simple act of not being afraid to speak up when someone makes a comment that is insulting to another person or group.  Being a voice for freedom, for liberty, for justice doesn’t necessarily have to mean speaking to a national audience.  There is great value in remembering and reminding others that we Christians are called to seek and serve Christ in all persons.  The principle of equality that is a part of this nation is also at the heart of our faith. 

So as we celebrate Independence Day, may we honor the principles we have inherited, and commit ourselves to using the gifts we have been given to work toward ensuring that the ideals of freedom and liberty are not limited to the few, but universally applied to all people. May we use our voice and whatever power we have to build a future that realizes God’s dream, God’s kingdom for all.  AMEN.