Declaration of Dependence

Zephyr United Methodist Church

Early First United Methodist Church

Rev. Eddie Smart

July 2, 2006

Psalm 37:1-9

Exhortation to Patience and Trust

 Of David.

Do not fret because of the wicked; do not be envious of wrongdoers,

 for they will soon fade like the grass, and wither like the green herb.

Trust in the LORD, and do good; so you will live in the land, and enjoy security.

Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act.

He will make your vindication shine like the light,

and the justice of your cause like the noonday.

Be still before the LORD, and wait patiently for him;

do not fret over those who prosper in their way, over those who carry out evil devices.

Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath. Do not fret--it leads only to evil.

For the wicked shall be cut off, but those who wait for the LORD shall inherit the land.

     July 4^th is just around the corner. For some of you this is a 4-day weekend. Some have already started celebrating. What is so special about July 4^th? It is the birthday of our nation. July 4, 1776 was THE day that marked the beginning of the United States of America.

      As I served First United Methodist of Moody, I looked and looked at that church’s history trying to determine the day that church was born. It wasn’t that easy. I read about meetings at this house and that, but I could not find a day that was without doubt the day that church was born.

      We know the birthday of our nation. We know the exact day because we have a document that is dated July 4, 1776. We call it the Declaration of Independence. Tuesday will be “Independence Day.” Now that is a day we can celebrate. We mortal beings like the sound of that word “independence.” We love to think that we are independent. Why that document signed 230 years ago tells us that our Creator made us to be independent! Or does it? Listen to the beginning of that historic declaration.

     When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

      They signed the document and the fireworks went off. The fireworks have been going off ever since. Independence is ours. God says we deserve it. – That’s what they wrote in the declaration. Didn’t they?

      What did King David write about this independence?

“Trust in the Lord.”

“Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.”

“Be still before the Lord, and wait patiently for him;...”

“...but those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land.”

      Well, that certainly sounds like God created us to be independent! How often do we independent minded people repeat the words we first said as a two year old. “Stop! I can do it my self.” We begin exercising our independence at a very early age and continue on.

      As I read Psalm 37 some days ago, I was immediately attracted to it. Probably because it echos a couple of other scriptures that I cling to.

      From the book of Proverbs,

⁵Trust in the Lord with all your heart

and lean not on your own understanding;

⁶in all your ways acknowledge him,

and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)

It also sounds a great deal like the words that come through the prophet Isaiah:

³¹but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength,

they shall mount up with wings like eagles,

they shall run and not be weary,

they shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31 (NRSV)

      Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee when he saw Peter and his brother Andrew cleaning their nets. He said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you fish for people." Matthew 4:19 (NRSV) There was no, “take the lead,” he said, “Follow me.” Does that sound like independence?

      ²⁴Then Jesus told his disciples, "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. Matthew 16:24 (NRSV)  

      Remember that rich young man that asked Jesus about what he could do to inherit eternal life? Remember Jesus’ final words to the young man? Jesus said to him, "If you wish to be perfect, go, sell your possessions, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me." Matthew 19:21 (NRSV) He chose to remain independently wealthy.

      But they called it the Declaration of Independence. Listen to how they finished that declaration.

      We, therefore, the Representatives of the United States of America, ...declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States, that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do.

      No wonder they called it the Declaration of Independence. But I want to suggest that it could be called the Declaration of Dependence. It continues with these words:

— And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.

      A firm reliance on God. Mutually pledge to each other. That sounds like dependence.

      King David, Soloman, Isaiah, Jesus–They all make it clear. It’s all about dependence, not independence.