September 2, 2015

“You must understand this, my beloved: let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger; for your anger does not produce God’s righteousness. Therefore rid yourselves of all sordidness and rank growth of wickedness, and welcome with meekness the implanted word that has the power to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves.”
James 1:19-22

“Why do I find James — at least in this instance — so attractive? Because it reminds us of two incredibly important things: 1) faithfulness does not need to be heroic; 2) Sunday is not the most important day of the Christian week. As to the first, notice the startling claim James makes in the opening verse of this passage: “every generous act of giving…comes from above.” Every generous act of giving. Not some generous acts. Not only Christian acts of giving (whatever those might be). But all generous acts of giving. And to that we might add all acts of mercy, or advocacy, or support, or friendship. All we do that is good comes from God. Which means that faithfulness is available to all of us: in our homes, places of work or volunteering, our schools and communities and more. Wherever you find yourself — or, more to the point, wherever our people find themselves — God is at work for the health of this world God loves so much.” David Lose (Dear Working Preacher blog)

James says be “doers of the word”. What does that mean to you? Could it mean instead of writing an article admonishing others for not serving people in a soup kitchen, you should first serve in a soup kitchen and then write about your experience? Could it mean instead of serving on multiple committees decrying injustice and poverty, you should work on the streets of a city or town seeking ways to help people who are out of work, or in abusive situations? The word of Jesus is one of love, mercy and grace. Jesus says we are to love G*d and love our neighbor. That needs to be translated into action — loving G*d and loving our neighbor are verb inspired — they both require a doing.

All we do that is good comes from G*d. When we live this way, when we do “good”, it is G*d working through us. When we remember who initiates the good, it takes our ego out of the equation, and puts Jesus squarely in the sum of all things good.

Pastor Dave