Reflections...

A sermon preached at Kowloon Union Church on 15 September 2024, by Rev. Phyllis Wong. The scripture readings that day were Psalm 34 ; Colossians 3:12-17; Mark 8:27-38

15th September is the International Day of Democracy. As an international church, it is right for us to be concerned about global affairs. 

Kowloon Union Church has a long history of embracing democracy and supporting civil society in advancing democratic systems in Hong Kong, especially in the pursuit of universal suffrage for one person, one vote.

When people argue that the church should stay away from politics and should simply be good citizens who follow laws and orders, we must ask critical questions such as this: Who made these laws? For whom are the laws made? Are they created for the authorities and the government, or do they exist to protect and promote the well-being of the people?

Sun Yat-sen, the Father of modern China, a key figure to establish democracy in China, once said, “Politics is the everyday life of everyone.”  

When we witness many refugees fleeing to other countries for safety and security, we understand how political and social systems profoundly impact human lives.

 

Why Does Democracy Matter to the Church?

The values underpinning democracy are human dignity and fundamental human rights. The basic theological understanding is that everyone is born equal with dignity because we are all created in God’s holy image. Any abuse of human rights and dignity constitutes evil and injustice toward God. This is sin.

 

Winston Churchill, a former Prime Minister of the UK, made a profound statement: “Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all the other forms that have been tried.” Furthermore, the late theologian Reinhold Niebuhr stated, “Man's capacity for justice makes democracy possible, but man's inclination to injustice makes democracy necessary.” Here, “man” refers to humanity as a whole, both male and female.

 

Democracy is not a perfect system. Democracy means a system that allows for equal participation, acknowledging that everyone is called to be responsible stewards in God’s world. A society and a church require a system where power is shared and balanced to avoid abuses. We must remain mindful of the saying: absolute power corrupts absolutely.

 

The readings from the Spill the Beans material and today’s gospel reading resonate with the International Day of Democracy. The words from scripture inspire people in Hong Kong and other parts of the world, such as the Philippines, Myanmar, and Palestine, who seek higher values for human dignity and well-being, striving for justice and freedom.

 

From Psalm 34, the Psalmist assures the righteous who suffer from unjust treatment by authorities abusing their power for their own interests. Here I repeat these words:

 

15 The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their cry.

16 The face of the Lord is against evildoers, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.

17 When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and rescues them from all their troubles.

18 The Lord is near to the broken-hearted and saves the crushed in spirit.

19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord rescues them from them all.

20 He keeps all their bones; not one of them will be broken.

21 Evil brings death to the wicked, and those who hate the righteous will be condemned.

22 The Lord redeems the life of his servants; none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.

 

The God of justice assures those who suffer from evil: they are not alone! God is a hiding place, remembering and protecting them. 

In Psalm 34, the context revolves around King David of Israel, who escaped King Saul’s persecution, as recorded in 1 Samuel 21. This Psalm expresses David’s gratitude to God for rescuing his life and serves as an instruction for those in distress. Ironically, after David became King of Israel and ruled his kingdom, he became corrupt and persecuted others. This historical irony reflects the structural sins of power corruption resulting from unchecked authority.

Psalm 34 reminds us to focus on the Creator God, who embodies justice and mercy. 

 

The second reading taken from the book of Colossians 3:12-17, we are reminded of our identity as God’s chosen people, called to live out Christ’s life and to pursue God’s Kingdom of love and peace. Here I highlighted three verses -  3:12, 14, 17

 

12 Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.

14  Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. ¹⁵ And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body.

17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

 

For Church, the pursuit of democracy is not just the system, more importantly, it is the values behind it – that is the true love and genuine care for people, and our attitude to be humble and open to listen to others, as well as within our heart to live out the peace of Christ.

 

For the gospel reading taken from Mark 8:, Jesus asked his disciple -  “who is he?”

When Jesus acknowledged his identity as the Messiah, proclaimed by Peter, he clearly expressed how he would be treated and the cost he would pay for proclaiming God’s kingdom. Peter, constrained by human flesh and desire, could not accept the harsh reality Jesus foretold.

To speak the truth and strive for God’s kingdom poses a challenge to authorities and can upset them. This is the very reason Jesus was put on the cross, sacrificed, and died. 

Perhaps we all share Peter’s reluctance and fear of living a life that bears risks and endures great suffering. In the early church, followers of Christ, who declared “Jesus is the Lord” faced severe consequences for their faith, including rejection and threat of death.

 

Jesus spoke to the disciples in his days: “If any wish to come after me, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it.”

 

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Umbrella Movement and the 5th anniversary of the 2019 Social Movement. There are many people, Christians and of other faith, in the pursuit of democracy and freedom for Hong Kong, who ended up in jail or left Hong Kong involuntarily. Their courage and sacrifice illuminate the light of Christ. 

 

This year is special for Kowloon Union Church (KUC) as we celebrate our centenary. KUC is unique, not only for its inclusivity and embrace of diversity but also for its witness to the changes in Hong Kong’s political and socio-economic landscape over the past century. Here are some highlight:

 

KUC provided services to the poor and refugees from mainland China in the 50s and 60s; setting up of Wai Ji Christian Service to serve mentally challenged adults in the late 70s, in support of setting up Bethune House to serve desperate migrant domestic workers in the 80s; provide space to young people who needed a place to study and rest, hosting prayer gatherings to instil hope in the city, being part of the Covenant of the Rainbow to embrace sexual minorities & advocate gender justice. 

 

KUC, as an international church - God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved. We need to continue our prophetic role to speak the truth and to demonstrate solidarity with the oppressed and the vulnerable. That is the essence of democracy in God’s Kingdom.  The Samaritan story reminded us to love our neighbours who are wounded and excluded in the community. 

 

Dear beloved children of God/Church, the chosen ones, may we be united as one to seek God’s strength to overcome fear and difficulties. Let us do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, as a concrete action to give thanks to God when we are celebrating our centenary and moving to the next step forward. 

 

To God be the glory. Amen!