Thought for Today
Genesis 2:17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall die."
1 Kings 11:6 So Solomon did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, and did not completely follow the LORD, as his father David had done.
Matthew 6:13 And do not bring us to the time of trial, but rescue us from the evil one.
Matthew 16:8 And becoming aware of it, Jesus said, "You of little faith, why are you talking about having no bread? 9 Do you still not perceive? Do you not remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many baskets you gathered?
I have used the word ‘remember’ 250 times this year in these Thoughts, most recently on Tuesday of this week. In February, I quoted, “It is the policy of the United States, and a purpose of this order, to provide a grand celebration worthy of the momentous occasion of the 250th anniversary of American Independence on July 4, 2026. It is also the purpose of this order to take other actions to honor the history of our great Nation.” (Presidential Executive Order, signed January 29, 2025)
I have had recourse to remember that Presidential Executive Order repeatedly since, in large part because of the various reenactments taking place this year, especially here in New England. I have even written previously about one in which First Parish Church of Newbury will play an important role. This month I quoted, “In September 1775, early in the American Revolutionary War, Colonel Benedict Arnold led a force of 1,100 Continental Army troops on an expedition from Cambridge in the Province of Massachusetts Bay to the gates of Quebec City.” (en.wikipedia.org)
This morning, I am thinking about another, recently signed, Presidential Executive Order. “Executive Order 14253, titled Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History, is an executive order signed by Donald Trump on March 31, 2025.” (en.wikipedia.org) This Executive Order has been much in our national news recently. I am not going to comment on the appropriateness of this Executive Order or any of the partisan political rhetoric surrounding the order or its execution.
What interests me in the whole debate over this and over our country’s ‘celebration’ of our 250th anniversary is one of the most unusual characteristics of our nation on the world’s stage. It is a characteristic I also find somewhat unique about Judaism and Christianity. That characteristic is our willingness to confront who and what we are, what we believe and what we actually employ in our conduct. Americans are willing to look in a mirror and to acknowledge what we see. We confront and openly discuss our virtues and our vices. Sometimes it is uncomfortable. Sometimes it can be a bit self-laudatory.
Our newspapers, our internet news feeds, our national television network news are all full of stories criticizing our conduct, our leaders and our people. We confront the reality that we do not all agree . . . sometimes seemingly on any subject! We will find reminders of our willingness to confront ‘the powers that be’ repeatedly in the events and occurrences we commemorate this year and next. Challenge and disagreement are integrally woven into our national identity.
Whether you agree or disagree with the President’s Smithsonian Executive Order . . . or any other of this or any President’s Executive Orders, as an American you have the constitutionally guaranteed right to openly support or disagree. Newspapers will carry editorials on both sides. New talk shows will offer debates. Friends will discuss, agree, disagree and still be friends.
This willingness to honestly confront and acknowledge virtue and vice, obedience and disobedience is one of the unique characteristics of Judaism and Christianity. Our holy scriptures even tell us of the clay feet of our heroes. Abraham, the father of our faith, was flawed. He lied to Pharoah about Sarah. David, Israel’s idealized king, was an admitted adulterer. Paul persecuted Christians prior to traveling the road to Damascus. Christians pray, “Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.” But, we also confront our failure to forgive. We know and acknowledge the truth of “Hebrews 12:1 every weight and the sin that clings so closely,” while we pray, ”and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us.” We know the love of God because we know God’s Son. We can be honest in who we are and pray with that tax collector, “Luke 18:13 'God, be merciful to me, a sinner!'” We can sing, “Jesus loves me, this I know . . .”
Stay safe, be honest with yourself and with God, trust God,
Pastor Ray