Balance
Sports have a place, but are not first in my life. While I was in high school, track and basketball coaches had their eye upon me. I was tall, lean, tough, fast, and seemed to have promise. Unfortunately, my Christian testimony was not welcomed by a coach. My choice was to sacrifice sports before fame and big money ever came my way.
Yet, inside me there is a fascination with certain sports. I like basketball, soccer, boating, and a few other sports. Spelunking and rock climbing give me the heebie-jeebies. Golf and baseball are too slow. Boxing makes me think about not wanting what mind I have, hammered on or out.
One sport I cannot watch is the balance beam. Eight inches of padded board. The athlete runs, jumps, flips in the air and lands on the beam. Then the athlete proceeds to perform a number of feats knowing that each time feet or hands must be on that 8 inch wide board! Flipping backwards? It is a nightmare in my mind—What if I missed?
There are other balancing acts that I am forced to participate in or watch. In the daily Main Street of Life I encounter folks who are on the balance beam choosing between right and wrong, choosing between being wise or foolish, choosing between good health and sickness, choosing between helping others and serving self, and choosing between heaven and hell.
Last week an event happened in our fair city. Charlottesville is not just any city. This community is the home of Thomas Jefferson who is credited with a significant role of drafting the Declaration of Independence of the United States of America. Just down the road from Thomas Jefferson's home is the home place of former President James Monroe. A few miles away is the home place of former President James Madison.
Every July 4, a ceremony is held in Charlottesville at Monticello, the home of Thomas Jefferson, to formally confer citizenship upon persons who have chosen to leave their native country and make the United States their home. This July 4, the President of the United States was INVITED to be the guest speaker at this august event.
Waiting for the President were scores of persons who took the opportunity to exercise their so-called freedom of speech rights. What proceeded to evolve was a fine example of how freedom can empower ignorant and crude behavior.
It does not matter the name of the President. The President is the President. With voting age spanning from John Kennedy to the present I have known presidents whose leadership style I did not admire, and I did not appreciate certain policies they advocated. However, my position has always been that the President is more than a person. The President is an office.
If the office is smeared, defaced, shamed, ridiculed, and demeaned, then the efficacy and integrity of the office is weakened. If a President behaves in a less than respectable manner, or if certain members of the public treat the President less than respectable, the result is a weakened country. The ability of the President as an office becomes hindered/limited in accomplishing the best interest of the country.
NO, I do not think that freedom of speech entitles a person to sound off with offensive language that demands my listening without choice. I do not think that freedom of speech means that persons crude and churlish have the right to publicly interfere with other folks listening. If there are folks who desire to get up early, stand in line, and wait for hours to hear a speech, it is a violation of democratic rights for protestors to disrupt the sanctity and peace of a lawfully gathered audience ambitious to listen to a speech. Certain persons have chosen to listen. Those who desire not to listen are in violation of democratic rights if they punish others by hurling insults and invectives and disrupting a legal and peaceful gathering.
- It should be noted that one of the persons receiving citizenship with a Republican President speaking made clear that their first vote for a President would be for a Democrat. That is freedom of speech. I respect this choice. Fidelity of the new citizens to a certain political party was not criteria in receiving their citizenship—as it would be in many countries.
- It should be noted that the 1,000 or so persons privileged to receive tickets were not asked their political affiliation, their religious persuasion, nor their fidelity of politics to the incumbent President.
- Freedom of speech is a precious freedom. However, civility and freedom cannot be separated. My eighth grade civics class emphasized that liberty that imposes restraints upon others is a violation of democracy.
- Freedom of speech is the right to openly vote for one's candidate of choice without fear of recrimination, a freedom every voter ought to exercise with prayer.
There is a larger "balance" issue for me in this discussion that is more difficult than an 8-inch beam and an athlete. When those who are over us are disrespected, the fabric of society is torn. Decency is endangered. Social order is risked.
It is noteworthy that Jesus did not protest against the Romans. He taught those who followed him to submit to authority. In submission and humility the Lord gives favor. A servant heart is better than a loud mouth.
It is difficult to keep balance. Yet, Christ calls us to balance.
Much love
Pastor Bare
I exhort you therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty (I Timothy 2:2).