Revolutionary Theology

OPENING SONG

This Land is Your Land

 Spiritual Experiences (Buss) n. 3786
3786. THAT ONE IS LESS FREE IN PROPORTION AS HE THINKS HIMSELF FREE.
It was perceived and noted from former experience that spirits, while they speak or think through another, infuse largely their cupidities and persuasions into the other spirit, from whence he supposes that he speaks and thinks from himself; for whoever acts from cupidity and persuasion, he thinks he does it from himself and in freedom. From experience also [it was evident] that spirits speaking through another consider that other through whom they speak as nothing. Hence it appears that he who supposes that he thinks and speaks from himself, and is thus in entire freedom, is then in fact in the deepest bondage, and in the eyes of other spirits is as nothing, scarcely even a slave, for they can use him as a mere lifeless instrument. But still spirits are indignant and angry that this should be said, being willing indeed to be deemed by others viler than slaves, provided that they are their own masters in their own eyes wherefore he is in a much better state who perceives that others induce upon him thoughts and discourse.


 

MESSAGE

Revolutionary Theology

On July 4^th 1970, I was visiting London.  I saw an ad for “1776: A New Musical from the Colonies.”   I was intrigued, and had to see it!  It was the account of the events leading up to the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4^th.  I was amazed at how entertaining these debates became when depicted as a musical comedy.   I laughed throughout the production, and loved that I was watching it with a British audience.  As I chatted with some Brits afterwards, they joked about how much tea had been wasted at the Boston Tea Party!

In addition to being entertained, I was also deeply moved.  These men were brought to life.  We could see the human beings who debated and struggled with the concept of a revolution.  After Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration, there was intense debate that changed many words.  Jefferson consented to the changes until one man wanted to remove the word “tyrant” in reference to King George.  Jefferson finally said “no;” he would not accept the change.  The King was a tyrant.  John Adams, the central figure of the play, said with dry humor:  “Look, this is a revolution.  We’re going to offend somebody.”

I wanted to see the movie version this week-end as I pondered the events we were celebrating.  I downloaded the movie 1776 and watched it yesterday.  Again, I was deeply moved as I had been 40 years ago watching the play in London.

I was struck by how God works through human beings.  The concept of independence for the United States is now a sacred concept.  In 1776, the issues were confusing and muddled.   Decisions were often made by personal egos.  Men wrestled with the reality of young men dying on the battlefield, and the deeply contentious question of slavery in the midst of a fight for freedom.

The representatives got irritated with each other in the heat and discouraged by the letters arriving from George Washington about the deplorable conditions on the battlefield.  Here is a video clip from U Tube of a short segment.  A letter has just arrived from George Washington.  After hearing it, John Adams sings about the loneliness of his position in “Is Anybody there?  Does Anybody Care?”  The words to the song are below.

 

 

 

[lyrics to "Is Anybody There"

Adams:
Is anybody there?
Does anybody care?
Does anybody see what I see?

They want to me to quit; they say
John, give up the fight
Still to England I say
Good night, forever, good night!
For I have crossed the Rubicon
Let the bridge be burned behind me
Come what may, come what may

Commitment!

The croakers all say we'll rue the day
There'll be hell to pay in fiery purgatory
Through all the gloom, through all the gloom
I see the rays of ravishing light and glory!

Is anybody there? Does anybody care?
Does anybody see what I see?

I see fireworks! I see the pagaent and
Pomp and parade
I hear the bells ringing out
I hear the cannons roar
I see Americans - all Americans
Free forever more

How quiet, how quiet the chamber is
How silent, how silent the chamber is

Is anybody there? Does anybody care?
Does anybody see what I see?]

 

Swedenborg tells us that God gives free will to humanity.  Without it, we could not learn from our experiences.  The decision for independence was filled with people wrestling with their free will.  Is independence worth a terrible death for so many?  Can freedom be real if some are enslaved?  Does a representative to a congress vote the wishes of the people or his/her own perspective?

In 2010, it is easy to take for granted the decisions made in 1776 to become an independent nation.  But human beings wrestled with every aspect of the debate back then.  The war could have ended very differently if France and other nations hadn’t come to join us in the battle.  John Adams and the others could have written into history as traitors to the king instead of patriots in a new nation.  History could see the Declaration of Independence as a foolish mistake instead of a courageous act.

Our struggles in the present are filled with fear and uncertainty, just as the decisions were in 1776.  We don’t know the consequences of our free will decisions.  We make our choices with a mixture of courage and fear; lofty ideals and ego desires.   It is our connection with the Divine that brings meaning to the chaotic events in the present moment.  The signers of the Declaration had the same uncertainty, fear, and ego desires that we struggle with today.  We have the same kind of vision and ideals that guided them in 1776.

If you live in the United States, this will be a day of parades, barbeques, and fireworks.   Wherever you are, bring God into your day and allow the Divine to guide you through the confusing issues in human life.

 

 

 CLOSING SONG
For the Beauty of the Earth



Extinguish your candle

Close the Bible

  Go forth; trusting in God's revolutionary guidance.

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