In the past, on the 4th of July, I have reflected on the actual Declaration of Independence. This year, I chose the Constitution. I am struck by the stated reasons/motive/purpose for engaging in this grand experiment. “We the People” are called to:
FORM A MORE PERFECT UNION
As a Wesleyan Christian, the idea of perfection is compelling. Wesley was writing about this at the same time and there are connections. Perfection, in this context, is not about flawlessness. It is about wholeness. It is about unity and harmony. It is about love expressed with patience, kindness, and a humility that does not insist on its own way. Methodists are among those who are optimistic about this possibility – even in this life, by the grace of God. It may be one reason that we grew to be the largest Protestant denomination in the land within 50 years of the signing of this document. I wonder: Have we lost some of this optimistic commitment? What would renewal of this hope look like? How might we lead the way?
ESTABLISH JUSTICE
I like the distinction (or the spectrum) between retributive justice and restorative justice – with one concerned with accountability and punishment, and the other concerned with restoration and transformation. Can there be a “more perfect union” if we lean too far one way?
Justice has multi-dimensions. At one level justice is about protection of society and holding each other accountable. At another level, it is about being “just” and treating one another with the honor and respect of being equals. And at a deeper level, justice is the proactive work of lifting others up and cultivating conditions where all have opportunities to thrive. I love the line in our Book of Discipline that calls us to create social structures that are consistent with the gospel. That’s the work of justice. (It might help to think about justified words on a page. What would happen if the words where out of alignment, in terms of balance, harmony, and meaning?).
INSURE DOMESTIC TRANQUILITY
This sounds so nice – and so needed. How might we work towards this kind of peace? Too often peace is perverted into division. “You stay on your side; I’ll stay on mind; then we will have peace.” In the minds of the framers of the constitution and among people of faith, peace is more about coming together in harmony, not bubbled monotony; in unity, not uniformity. May we be instruments of peace.
PROVIDE FOR THE COMMON DEFENSE
With those who actively promote a posture of war rather than defense, I wonder if this needs some serious rethinking among “we the people.” I’ll just leave that there.
PROMOTE THE GENERAL WELFARE
A primary purpose of our shared ordering of things is to cultivate the welfare of all. In my mind, this involves working together to insure the meeting of basic needs. I want the people with whom I interact on a daily basis to be able to go to a doctor and to have eaten – for starters.
AND SECURE THE BLESSINGS OF LIBERTY TO OURSELVES AND OUR POSTERITY
I love the word blessings here, and the favor and goodness that comes from freedom. On this 250th anniversary, I also love the idea that we actively work for these blessings not only for ourselves but for those who will come after us.
In the context of defining freedom, we read in the scriptures: “If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.” That is what happens when we use our freedom for selfish indulgence, rather than to serve one another. We fall back into bondage (See Galatians 5:1, 13-15).
The Preamble to the Constitution gives us a beautiful outline of a much better way to use the freedom with which we have been blessed.
Happy Fourth of July!
Connected In Christ 