IN GOD WE TRUST
Matthew 12:15-21
(The second in a sermon series from Matthew 12 called “Words We Live By”)*
Sermon Objective: The only way America will ever once again be defined by the words “In God We Trust” is for the people of God to choose to live out their Biblical Faith in society -- in front of other people.
Supporting Scripture: Matthew 5:13; Mathew 6:9-13; Isaiah 42:1-9;
Preface
We are continuing a sermon series from Matthew 12 called “Words We Live By.” Many creeds, pledges, and mottoes have shaped our country, as well as its individual citizens. In many instances the words convey uplifting and presumably timeless messages. They play an important role in creating a national identity -- in shaping a national consciousness – an ethos. They operate behind the scenes as a moral compass and a driving force.
In our last sermon we looked at the statement on the Statue of Liberty: “GIVE ME YOUR TIRED, YOUR POOR, YOUR HUDDLED MASSES YEARNING TO BREATHE FREE, THE WRETCHED REFUSE OF YOUR TEEMING SHORE. SEND THESE, THE HOMELESS, TEMPEST-TOST TO ME, I LIFT MY LAMP BESIDE THE GOLDEN DOOR!” We saw that the Church embodies those words in our spirit of mercy and compassion just as Jesus suggested in Matthew 12:7; “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.”
You are familiar with these “Words We Live By.” They are found on monuments, federal buildings, official documents, and currency the nation over. Some, which we will not be able to look at are:
• “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.” (The Preamble of the Declaration of Independence)
• “I believe in the United States of America as a government of the people, by the people, and for the people; . . . a democracy and a republic; a sovereign nation of many sovereign states; a perfect union, … established on the principles of freedom, equality, justice, and humanity for which American patriots sacrificed their lives and fortunes. (The American Creed. Adopted by the House of Representatives On April 3, 1918)
• “The salvation of the state is the watchfulness of the people.” (The Nebraska State Capitol)
There are others I’ll mention in coming weeks.
Speaking of coming weeks. Two that give light to the words of Jesus in Matthew 12, and which we will look at in the next two weeks are:
• “Till Death Do Us Part” (vv. 33-37 )
• “E Pluribus Unum” (vv. 46-50 )
All of these are “Words We Live By” which can illuminate the “WORDS we live by” -- namely Jesus Christ’s.
Today we will find “Words We Live By” from Matthew 12:15-21.
The Text
15 Aware of this, Jesus withdrew from that place. Many followed him, and he healed all their sick,
16 warning them not to tell who he was.
17 This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah:
18 “Here is my servant whom I have chosen, the one I love, in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations.
19 He will not quarrel or cry out; no one will hear his voice in the streets.
20 A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out, till he leads justice to victory.
21 In his name the nations will put their hope.”
Sermon
If you were to look at any of the paper or coined money you just threw into the offering plate you would no doubt see the words, “In God We Trust” – our national motto.
“In God We Trust” did not appear on paper money until long after it appeared on coins. It wasn’t until the 1950’s when a wave of religious fervor swept the country in response to communism that it began to find a place on paper currency. In 1953 while attending a church service Sir Matthew Rothert, Sr. realized that it was our paper currency which circulated globally and it was only our paper currency which could effectively spread this important message/motto and thus define the American people. So, in 84th congress the bill was passed and President Eisenhower signed it into law in July of 1955. It was during this same era (1954) that the Pledge of Allegiance was amended and the words “under God” were added.
One small step for a country -- one giant illustration of God’s desire for every country.
18 he will proclaim justice to the nations.
20 he leads justice to victory.
21 In his name the nations will put their hope.”
• “In God We Trust”
• “One nation, under God”
The desire of God is for society to operate from Biblical faith. "In his name the nations will put their hope.” Throughout our nation’s history the church has recognized that her influence is to reach beyond her walls and into the culture. The Gospel is intended to infiltrate, influence and change society.
SO WHAT HAPPENED? Why do we see entire movements, major decisions, and national policies formed on falsehood and godless myths? Why do the leading cultural indicators suggest we are moving further and further from being a nation that puts their hope in His name?
• More women get abortions every year than get college degrees.
• 1/3 of all American births are to unwed mothers.
• There are eleven alcohol related deaths each hour.
• Every six seconds a teen-ager gets drunk.
• There is a recorded case of domestic violence every 9 seconds
• There are 166,000 pornographic videos rented each day -- 609 million a year.
• In the last 5 years violent crime among teen boys has increased 264%.
• America is more illiterate Biblically that at any time in her history.
These and other anomalies force us to agree with sociologists from all spectrums who now refer to the United States of America as a “post-Christian nation.”
BUT THE PLAN OF GOD IS FOR YOUR FAITH TO EFFECT CULTURE AND SOCIETY. "In his name the nations will put their hope.” When faith is present society is definitely influenced positively.
Only 11% of alcoholics say they attended church in their youth.
Those who find Christ while in prison are 66% more likely to not return to a life of crime and to prison.
So what can we do? How can you and I affect our nation? Many suggest the answer is to become socially active.
To vote.
To run for office.
To hold public figures accountable.
To campaign for reforms.
We can do those things; but the first century church, the one that its critics said turn the world upside down, chose another approach … THEY PREACHED JESUS.
They lived like Jesus at any cost … and at a cost.
Maybe Matthew 12:15-21 can give us some insight on this approach.
1. Show Them A Savior With Compassion (15, 20)
15 Aware of this, Jesus withdrew from that place. Many followed him, and he healed all their sick,
20 A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out, till he leads justice to victory.
Our world needs a Savior who loves.
He says he’s is not here to impose shame and guilt but rather to remove shame and guilt!
2. Show Them A Savior With Substance (19)
19 He will not quarrel or cry out; no one will hear his voice in the streets.
Jesus was quietly effective in His ministry. He was not trying to parade around and prove anything.
Jesus was not boisterous, obnoxious, or ostentatious … he just went about doing good and the “common people heard him gladly” (Mark 12:37).
The only way America can be defined by the words “In God We Trust” is for the People of God to choose to live out their faith in society -- in front of other people. THIS HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY TO SPREAD TRUST IN GOD.
What am I challenging you to do this morning?
(1) I am challenging you to take your faith with you to work and to play.
(2) I am challenging you to model trust in your daily lives.
(3) I am challenging you to fall on your face before a holy God andconfess any complacency as you repent of luke-warmness.
(4) I am challenging you to call on God to empower you to live holy lives in all places and at all times regardless of the circumstances.
(5) I am challenging you to prayer form a national revival. It has worked before!
(6) I am challenging you to practice what you profess.
“Trust” is a verb -- it is in itself a demand for action.
Jesus Christ said, “But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.” (Matthew 5:13).
YOU possess more influence for the Kingdom than you could ever imagine -- seize the moment.
I think Jimmy Carter summed it up well:
I have one life and one chance to make it count for something ... I am free to choose what that something is, and the something I’ve chosen is my faith. Now, my faith goes beyond theology and religion and requires considerable work and effort. My faith demands - this is not optional - my faith demands that I do whatever I can, whenever I can, for as long as I can, with whatever I have to try and make a difference.
(New York Times Magazine)
21 In his name the nations will put their hope.”
Those of us who have ears to hear
Let us hear.
* The idea and secular data for this series comes from Brian Burrell’s Book, Words We Live By (1997, The Free Press).
This Sermon is provided by Dr. Kenneth Pell
Potsdam Church of the Nazarene
Potsdam, New York
www.potsdam-naz.org
