Robin Hood: Speaking Truth to Power

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Over the last decade our newspapers, TV and other media sources have been filled the scandals of politics and politicians.  John Edwards cheating on his cancer-stricken wife; S. Carolina Governor Mark Sanford’s steamy affair with his mistress in Argentina; Remember Rod Blagojevich’s bid to buy the Senate seat vacated by Barack Obama'; and our very own Eliot Spitzer’s taste for high end prostitutes.  Those of us who live and work in New York State seem to be living in a constant state of disarray when it comes to politics and politicians

In the 2010 version of Robin Hood there are more than enough scandals to go around.

The film sets the scene with a picture of young Robin – an expert archer in King Richard’s army. It’s not a particularly pleasant picture. Richard himself has problems. He’s just returned from the crusades and as if that whole sage wasn’t bad enough, on the journey home, we find him sacking and plundering village after village, castle after castle. At this point in the drama, even Robin isn’t a particularly noble character. He’s concerned about one thing and one thing only – self-preservation and saving his own skin so he can make it back home alive. One review described Robin as “the poster child for post traumatic stress disorder.” He has killed countless people, destroyed property, plundered wealth and is uncertain of his role outside of war.

However things will soon change. As he learns that King Richard has died in the latest attempt to plunder a castle, Robin finds himself facing a new challenge and stands at a cross road where he is given the opportunity to redefine himself in a more favorable light. He travels to Nottingham to fulfill a promise he’s made to one of his fallen fellow warriors. His mission: to return the man’s sword to his aging father

When he arrives, he discovers a town suffering from the corruption of the evil sheriff and a system of excessive taxation that has left the commoners without a means of survival. Given the reality that his own childhood memories are missing, he quickly assumes the life of dead friend. It proves to be an opportunity to better himself and he soon finds himself living the life of a noble complete with the wife of the deceased soldier who will soon become his partner is opposing the various forms of corruption. Enter the take-charge, sword-bearing Maid Marion.

It becomes clear to Robin and the residents of Nottingham that even though the crusades were in a place far, far away, they have a crushing impact. Then, as now, wars weren’t cheap and somebody needed to pay. Prince John, who has now risen to the throne, has no problem placing a greater tax burden on the land-owners; the taxes are increased to a level where the entire country is on the brink of collapse.

Unfortunately, the picture of “the church” isn’t much brighter. If you’re familiar with the history of the time, you’ll know that “the church” and “the state” were rather strange bedfellows. Sadly, the church was just as guilty of imposing taxes and taking their non-so-fair share as well.

That’s where Robin takes on a new role as leader. Robin starts to recruit a small army and inspires them with this speech…


(INSERT VIDEO: THE SPEECH)


King John uses his power to bludgeon the people.  Robin knows the power should not be used to abuse, but to aid the people.
In many ways Robin Hood’s mission is similar to that of the Old Testament Prophets such as Jeremiah and Micah whose words we read earlier. They are people who challenged the status quo.

First another quick history lesson. Back in ancient times, Israel, in a desperate attempt to be like all the other nations begged God for a King. Against God’s warnings, they institute what will become a long legacy that can be described as “the good, the bad and the ugly”. They had some good kings and some bad kings; kings who honored God and kings who chose to ignore God; kings who embraced justice and mercy and kings who abused their power throwing justice and mercy out the window.

King John isn’t that much different from King Jehoiakim who is addressed by Jeremiah.  Jeremiah is told by God to say: "King Jehoiakim, you are doomed! You built a palace with large rooms upstairs.You put in big windows and used cedar paneling and red paint. But you were unfair and forced the builders to work without pay. More cedar in your palace doesn't make you a better king than your father Josiah. He always did right— he gave justice to the poor and was honest. That's what it means to truly know me. So he lived a comfortable life and always had enough to eat and drink. But all you think about is how to cheat or abuse or murder some innocent victim. Jehoiakim, no one will cry at your funeral. They won't turn to each other and ask, "Why did our great king have to die?" You will be given a burial fit for a donkey; your body will be dragged outside the city gates and tossed in the dirt. I, the Lord, have spoken."


Later, the prophet Micah would address another King and the faltering nation with these words: "What offering should I bring when I bow down to worship the Lord God Most High? Should I try to please him by sacrificing calves a year old? Will thousands of sheep or rivers of olive oil make God satisfied with me? Should I sacrifice to the Lord my first-born child as payment for my terrible sins? The Lord God has told us what is right and what he demands: "See that justice is done, let mercy be your first concern, and humbly obey your God."


Do We Need a Robin Hood? Do we need a prophet?
In the United Church of Christ, we’ve described those words and those actions as “speaking truth to power”

Robin Hood, bravely spoke truth the powers of his time in a bold attempt to confront the injustices of his day.The prophets spoke truth to the power of their time in a challenge to the status quo of their day. Robin is willing to be a bold leader.  He refused to stand by while others suffer innocently.  One reviewer describes him as “a man who loves others, who values truth, who works tirelessly, who refuses to let injustice go unchallenged.” Shouldn’t those be the characteristics we aspire to display in our own lives.


Thank goodness for characters like Robin Hood .. and for real people like Jeremiah and Micah, Jesus and Martin Luther King and Ghandi. They inspire us to believe in something bigger than ourselves. Can they also inspire us to stand up boldly against the wrongs of our own time?

Can we be bold? Can we speak truth to power in the big issues like the ones we’ve been discussing is past weeks – when it comes to war, environmental dangers, economic oppression, immigration reform, health care … the list goes on an on …

And can we be bold? Can we speak truth to power on the smaller scale in our own personal lives? When someone shares a racist joke? When someone demeans another in their words or in their actions? When is comes to our personal decisions that impact the lives of the those around us?