July 26, 2024
Owning Up
A myth is a story that may or may not be historically “true,” but contains truths about a people group, such as their values and their views of themselves and their world. One of our nation’s earliest myths is that of George Washington “owning up” to cutting down a cherry tree. That story speaks of the values of honesty and taking responsibility; qualities of not just our first president, but what we expect from all our presidents.
Or is it? Maybe we have become jaded and cynical and have much different expectations now. Maybe Nobel Laureate Bob Dylan’s observation four decades ago was more accurate,
They say that patriotism is the last refuge
To which a scoundrel clings;
Steal a little and they throw you in jail,
Steal a lot and they make you king.
(from “Sweetheart Like You” 1983)
If we scratch the paint on our optimism about the quality of the character of our public servants, we might find some skepticism—if not sarcasm—underneath. I wonder if we might need to own up to contributing to such a malaise?
In light of the surrender of Japan to the Allied forces in World War II, Emperor Hirohito made an Imperial Declaration on January 1, 1946, that he was not in fact a deity, or in any way divine. He was simply a human being. Japanese soldiers gave their lives, sometimes in Kamikazi, or suicide missions, thinking it would earn them divine favor. Kamikazi literally means “divine wind”; they were acting on behalf of a divine command. It is hard to admit you are not the person you once were, let alone not the person you and others thought you were. I cannot imagine how hard that must have been for the emperor to own up to the truth of his humanity.
Our President might know. This week our President owned up that he might not be the best candidate for his party. Think what you may of our President or of his written and oral explanations of his choice—he owned up. I wonder how much our President’s Christian faith, and in particular his Roman Catholic practices, informed both his decision and the way he communicated it? After all, the Rite of Reconciliation (often referred to as “Confession”) is the act of not only owning up to what one did (sins of commission) or did not do (sins of omission), but is also taking the responsibility for fixing the problems that sin created. In Christianity the end is not confession and forgiveness, but of reconciliation.
I wonder how much Christian churches would recover the respect we have lost in the broader culture if we approached our lives with humility and a willingness to both own up to what we have done or not done, and to roll up our sleeves and set out to fix what we have damaged or broken? I wonder what it might mean for us as a congregation? To that end, I invite you to join me in reading 2 Corinthians 5:11-21each day for the next few days and ask yourself, “What would it look like if we at First Covenant Church saw ourselves first and foremost as ambassadors of Christ’s reconciliation in the world?”
Whatever it is that the Spirit might be saying to us in this season, I pray we might own up to the responsibility that goes with it. Feel free to send me your thoughts, questions, and reflections on that text. I look forward to your insights.
With confidence in Christ,
~ Pastor Todd
P.S. Next week I will have a “staycation.” I am going to spend the week finally unpacking and organizing my offices, both at home and at church. I am not making appointments next week, but am available for any urgent or important matters. Prayers for success in my efforts would be greatly appreciated—it has been a long time coming!