Sermons
Proclaim Liberty and Let Freedom Ring
The Rev. Eric K. Hinds
Rector, St. Matthew's Episcopal Church
Sermon preached by The Reverend Eric Kimball Hinds at Saint Matthew’s Episcopal Church at the Friday, Fourth of July, Morning Prayer Service at 10:00am, 2008, using the text from the 1662 Book of Common Prayer. Lessons: Deut. 10:17-21; Psalm 145; Matthew 5:43-48.
“Proclaim liberty throughout the land to all the inhabitants thereof…” On this 4th of July weekend the command to proclaim liberty throughout the land may have a familiar ring to it---for if you have ever been to the city of Philadelphia, and have gone on the tour to see the Liberty Bell--there, inscribed around the top of the bell are the words “Proclaim liberty throughout the land to all the inhabitants thereof….” and few symbols of American independence and freedom are rendered more powerfully than the imagined ringing of this mighty bell, commissioned to be cast by the Pennsylvania Assembly, way back in 1752.
George Lippard is widely credited with spreading the fame of the Liberty Bell with the printing of an article where he tells of the bell ringer’s grandson bolting out of the State House on the 4th of July, 1776, directly from the meeting of the Continental Congress. He then shouts up to the steeple in the sky “Ring, Grandfather, ring” and the mighty bell tolls to proclaim Liberty and Freedom throughout the land. It is a compelling story, one that captures the mood and the excitement surrounding the signing of The Declaration of Independence, yet the story as related in the Saturday Courier magazine, 71 years later, in the year 1847, is most certainly a fiction—for although it is true that two hundred and thirty two years and two days ago, on July 2nd 1776, the thirteen colonies declared themselves independent, and that the Declaration of Independence, the written justification for declaring independence from England, was approved on the 4th of July, 1776; those treasonous meetings were held in secret. The public did not know about the actions of the Continental Congress until July 6th, when the text of the Declaration of Independence appeared in newspapers, and the bells of Philadelphia, including the Liberty Bell, were not rung until the 8th of July.
While this is an interesting historical chronology of events, some may be surprised by the fact that the Liberty Bell has and even stronger connection to our religious celebration of this national holiday. This connection can especially be appreciated by anyone who has followed the debates that wrestle with the principle of separation between Church and State. The Liberty Bell itself is witness to fact that there is not always an impenetrable wall where the influence of Church and State are shut off one from the other. If you look closely at the Liberty Bell you will find an interesting part of the inscription. It reads: Lev. XXV vs. X. The Lev. Stands for Leviticus, he Third Book of Moses, from our Old Testament. XXV stands for the number 25, Chapter 25, followed by a citation for verse 10 which reads Proclaim liberty, throughout all the land to the inhabitants, thereof….” And so it is that an American icon, The Liberty Bell, a symbol embracing our deepest beliefs, attitudes and yearnings, owes to organized religion the debt of Proclamation of a message ages old. Embraced previously by the people of Israel and inherited by the followers of Jesus. The command to proclaim liberty was adopted by the State assembly that commissioned the Liberty Bell, and has since been embraced by our nation as a credo--which to this day resounds and reverberates throughout our land.
Today we walk a fine line acknowledging some of the religious underpinnings of our common civic life, while at the same time being sensitive to the conscious and intentional structural elements of our government that protect against the establishment of a state religion and work to separate church and state. This was something unique to the new American nation for in England, our Mother country, this was not the case. Our Anglican roots trace back to a system of government that placed Church and State in direct conversation with one another.
In 16th century England, the rule of King and Queen was balanced by Parliament which represented the political interests of the people. The country was also united by the authority of The Church of England which attempted to gather the national community in prayer, a unity that was symbolized by the use of Book of Common Prayer, a version of which we are using for this morning’s service, the authorized prayer book for the worship of the nation. The issues important to the community of faith had a ready forum in the government. All bishops were members of the House of Lords and the idea of this model was that the communal values of worship had a political means to be transferred into the discussions of the state.
The negative sides of this arrangement are obvious to any student of English history. Rather than being an institutional forum for calm measured discussion, allowing Church and State to each strengthen the national interest, the opposing sides created a crucible from which violence was a frequent outcome as various parties vied for ultimate power. On the church side it was not until Elizabeth I, that the English settled upon a broad and inclusive church that set out a call to common worship, yet allowed for disagreement in the details of many issues
On this weekend dedicated to the celebration of our national independence I have ventured to talk a little about how the interests of Church and State are intertwined to remind us of two important functions, two important ways, in which our church contributes to our national interest. First, it is important to acknowledge that our Church collectively strives to bear witness to issues and concerns overlooked or inadequately addressed by government. Our lesson this morning from Deuteronomy reminds us For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords…who executes justice for the orphan and the widow, who loves the strangers, providing them food and clothing….. As a parish, and as a part of this Diocese, and as a part of the larger Episcopal Church, we are committed to a mission of service beyond merely the needs of our immediate members. We are challenged to provide assistance and funding to local shelters and soup kitchens, schools and child care centers, and to national and worldwide development and disaster relief efforts--to by example--bear witness to the Gospel of Jesus Christ--that others might be both served and inspired to participate in the building of a better world---what Christians call the establishment of God’s kingdom. This is integral to the call, work and mission of the church in the world.
The second major way in which our Church establishes contact with the state is in the daily interaction of each individual member with the world. The beliefs and values that we each work out in our own journey of faith--informed by scripture, tradition and reasoned discourse--can not help but to shape and form our outlook and action towards the rest of the world. The individual concerns of church members expressed through the political process can have an important impact in the setting of priorities for the State. These two major ways: the church as Prophetic witness, and individual faith put into action; both work to inform and shape our politics of State.
On this 4th of July weekend perhaps there can be no better symbol for the advancement of religious and political ideals than those embraced by the liberty bell. Though physically long silent, that bell still calls us to proclaim liberty throughout the land, that we may never lose sight of our religious and national duty in contributing to the common welfare. And so the Liberty Bell speaks to us still--ever with the message to proclaim liberty throughout the land, and to let freedom ring.
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