How many of you know what important world history
anniversary took place yesterday? It may not be as important to us this side of
the pond as it is across the Atlantic, but yesterday, June 28, 1914 marked the
day that is considered to be the starting point of World War I-the
assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of the Austro-Hungarian empire. He
and his wife Sophie were visiting Sarajevo in Serbia, to inspect the troops. A
show of strength to the Serbians whose territory had recently become a part of
the Empire. Franz Ferdinand was visiting on just about the worst day possible-
June 28 was the anniversary of the Battle of Kosovo- a major symbolic show of
Serbian resistance, and a rallying point for freedom fighters. During the
motorcade, one of several potential assassins that day tried to kill the
Archduke with a bomb. It missed his car and hit another, killing one of the
Archduke’s officers. Which might have been a moment to think about the whole
event. But instead, it was decided to re-route the drive. But the driver hadn’t
been given the new route. And while he was trying to put the car in
reverse-Shots were fired and the world changed.
And it all could have turned out differently, but
it didn’t.
And Lots of neighbors could have responded
differently but because they didn’t, what we now know as history began a whole
new chapter of life as we know it. Within 37 days, war had been declared by the
major European players, and horror on a whole new scale unfolded.
I’d like to take a moment and look at a very broad
overview of what happened and how all of the 10 Commandments came into play.
Let’s see if we get them all in. Serbia was trying to engage in expansionism
which is another way of saying- I want what you have- which I think fits the
coveting of the stuff of others ( #10). Arguably the very nature of empire
building of the Austro Hungarians means that words like annexation are just a
cover for taking what is not yours- stealing. (#7) Once the Archduke was
assassinated, and everyone was trying to posture, most people would have told
you that assassinations were pretty typical- they didn’t lead to war, unless
what you really wanted to do was fight. But Franz Ferdinand’s killing was a
good excuse to kill others. (That is a whole lot of #5). And while we’re at it,
let’s say that it was pretty universal that war was a god to some- the thing
from which you most expect what you want and where you take refuge in distress.
Clearly for the leaders of the empires,
but also ultimately for others. While there were socialist movements in most of
the Europeans countries that were pretty vibrant, and while the workers could
claim that workers of the world should unite, and while these movements
threatened strike and claimed war was insane, in the end, they believed the
claim that war was in the country’s best interest. (#1). And at least for
Germany, Kaiser Wilhelm believed that God had predestined the Germans for
greatness- assuming we know what God ordains. #2.
The French encouraged the Russians to be
aggressive, probably exaggerating the truth about their neighbors, and rumors
ran in every direction-#8. This could have been avoided except that the most
peace oriented member of the French government had earlier been forced to
resign because he was having an affair with a mistress that created public
scandal- #6 and #9.
And in the midst of this Britain, scared, pretty
much assumed the “not my problem” approach- not my neighbors.
I think I probably didn’t exactly fit in the 3rd
or 4th commandments- but surely war took no Sabbath, and doing what
seemed to be right, robbed a lot of people of the sons who should be tending
the land- and who were no longer there to care for elders as almost an entire
generation was lost. And it could have all turned out differently. But no one
was thinking of their neighbors. They were thinking about themselves.
There are whole libraries full of deciding whose
actions or inactions mattered most in World War I starting- but so many points
of change passed by it’s easy to decide that it was too big to stop.
And sometimes I wonder when we so easily say we
should love our neighbors, don’t we deep down think that God’s call to turn
toward our neighbors in love is it just too big?
In our world that continues to spiral toward
aggression and nation building globally, and in our nation and city facing
profound challenges. As we approach the anniversary of a day celebrating OUR
freedom, are we thinking about our neighbors?
That’s what God wants to know. And what the
Commandments show.
One writer has suggested that the 10 Commandments show how a freed people can
live. Freed from the powers of sin and the world. A new life, if not perfectly
seen, is still possible. Some today suggest we don’t know what freedom really
is or we don’t appreciate it. I agree. But I am not so convinced we ever did as
humans. After all World War 1 was supposed to the “War to End All Wars.”
"Freedom is often seen I think as an end to itself.
It means unlimited choices, keeping options open for one’s self." We can look in
history, or ponder how others we know today have it all wrong, in the end, God
is speaking to us here today and asking what we think it means to live free.
The commandments are “words for life.” They show what a life of freedom looks
like.
"It is not when the powerful take what they want-
but when we all respect the property of others, and we do our best to help them
take care of it and hold onto it. It is not when the strong dominate the weak,
but when the bodies and lives of all are protected and their rights respected-
the young, the elderly, the impoverished, the handicapped, everyone.
It is not the endless satisfaction of every
impulse, but a commitment to living as loving and committed" community. Because
there is more freedom in lives committed to each other than everyone for his or
herself.
So I am not preaching about self improvement- but
neighbor improvement. Because "the point of the commandments is not about you
and your personal growth and freedom. It’s not about “your best life now” but
“your neighbor’s best life now.”
And often it does seem like it’s not our problem or
there’s nothing we can do, and we settle in to believing that it can’t turn out
any differently- that the sin in our world condition is as tangled as the web
of history I described earlier. Why try?
Because God says again today- "OK, it seems large, but
while you’re here, love your neighbors."
God calls us to move from mistrust which leads to
misery. To keep moving toward freedom. And peace. And it starts small.
Start with your neighbors- God loves them so much,
God gave the law so we would know how to love them. Don’t kill, or steal, or
destroy others’ relationships, don’t hurt with words, or spend your time burned
up about what your neighbor has and whether it’s fair.
God loves our neighbors so much we are given the
law. The first part helps us love God. The second part to love everyone who is
not yourself.
Likewise God loves us so much, God gives our
neighbors the law.
And yes, not everyone will love us.
None of us perfectly keep the law. But then God
loves the whole world so much, God gave Christ- who reminds us of the gift and
challenge it is to love, but assures us of God’s love for all of us.
We experience and reflect one aspect of this love
in worship here. But most of the time, the place we spend most of our hours is
where God is ready for us to experience and reflect love- with our neighbors.
That’s where most of living out the law happens.
It really can all turn out differently- But we need
each other. And instead of waiting for someone else to do what we want, or
focusing upon who deserves our love, perhaps as ever the best place to start is
loving people first. Love the people right in your midst who cross your path. While you're here, love them. You or I may not solve the whole world this way, but it’s
a darn good place to start.
