Tag Archives: Christian living

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What about the Tongue?

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“What about the Tongue?”

James 3:1-12 (3:1-12) – September 15, 2024

How many of us can remember that old playground saying, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names can never hurt me!” children and young people may put on a brave face when they are teased, hurt and picked on. Children and young people can be particularly mean, teasing each other, with left-handed compliments, and even downright insults. But, what insight does this Bible reading from James give us about this very problem?

Let’s hear again these serious words from James. “Just think how large a forest can be set on fire by a tiny flame! 6 And the tongue is like a fire. It is a world of wrong, occupying its place in our bodies and spreading evil through our whole being. It sets on fire the entire course of our existence with the fire that comes to it from hell itself. 7 We humans are able to tame and have tamed all other creatures—wild animals and birds, reptiles and fish. 8 But no one has ever been able to tame the tongue. It is evil and uncontrollable, full of deadly poison.”

Such a little part of the body – the tongue! And yet, despite the playground saying, the tongue can really hurt. “When people are called nasty, dirty names they know what the name caller thinks of them – and that hurts. Those people can be strong, not believe the name caller, and work to prove they are better than the name caller claims. But, it still hurts.” [1]

Names can cause pain, internally. The hurt feelings can smart and fester for a long time. And sometimes, people remember mean words, nasty words or harsh words years after they heard them. Sometimes even decades later. Words can come back to haunt us – either words we have said, or words we have heard. Internalized. Taken to heart.         

Who hasn’t been on the receiving end of a nasty argument, or mean, angry words? Sometimes, words can even change the way we think about ourselves.

Our letter-writer James would whole-heartedly agree. Remember, in this letter the apostle James writes a manual of Christian living. A how-to book on how to live a life pleasing to God.

The big problem with mean, hasty or thoughtless words is that they cannot be unsaid. Once the words have been said out loud – or, sometimes worse, printed electronically in social media – the mean or hasty or thoughtless words are out there in public, whether texts, or tweets or TikTok. These various kinds of words cannot be taken back. And, James cautions all of us on the danger of a tongue that just flaps in the wind! Or, as James says, burns like a forest fire or is fast acting as deadly poison!

Commentator Rev. Dr. Derek Weber thinks further about mean, nasty name-calling and the destructive nature of words. “In our normal catalog of sins, gossip is somewhere far down the list. We are much more concerned about other kinds of misbehavior. James would have us reconsider our hierarchy [of sins] and raise our awareness of the power of words to bring harm to the body of Christ.” [2]  

In Yiddish folklore, there is a story about a woman who would gossip and make false accusations about her neighbors. She never understood the implications of her words until the wise rabbi of her village decided to demonstrate it to her. He told her to get a feather pillow, cut the top off, and run around town with it. As she did that, the feathers flew away and fluttered all around the town. The wise rabbi then told her to collect all of the feathers that flew away and put them back in the pillow. She just couldn’t. It was an impossible task, she told him. “Maybe now you will understand,” he explained, “for you see, your words are like those feathers. Once they get out, it’s impossible to put them all back in.”

Our letter-writer James would so much agree! “As God’s children we are to be careful how we use the power of words. We are called to bless rather than harm, to seek justice and peace for all rather than revenge or harm.” [3] And, I do not want any of us to think that God is just a frowning or disapproving Supreme Being in the sky, ready to hurl thunder bolts at anyone who sins and lets their tongue run on and is a name caller and a gossip.

No, God is serious about sin, that is true! However, we can think of God our Heavenly Parent sort of like a well-loved elder who you and I love and cherish so much, who we do not want to disappoint, who we very much want to do our very best for!

Let’s flip this around, and look at our words from a positive light. Recall how you felt when someone said good, positive things to you or about you. How did you feel, deep down inside? Just think hard about the positive, beneficial impact of these words! James tells us we can certainly bless one another, just as much as we let slip mean or hateful words!

How can we build up each other with our words? What kind of effect would positive affirmations, sincere compliments and just plain being kind have on our daily interactions? I mean all of our interactions, it doesn’t matter with who. Family, friends, acquaintances, even people you meet on the street. Even people who don’t look like us, or speak our language, or wear familiar clothes. Maybe, especially different folks!

I offer the following challenge: find ways of blessing others through kind words, affirmations, and positive reinforcement. Look for everyday opportunities! Try it for the next week, and then the week after that. This is as much a challenge for me as it is for you! Please, find ways of blessing others. [4]  Remember, in this letter the apostle James writes a manual of Christian living. A how-to book on how to live a life pleasing to God. James encourages us to bless each other.

Please, consider turning to your neighbor, to the person in the next pew, and saying, “God bless you!” “God be with you!” Do it, right now. Please. That’s the way to live pleasing to God.

Finally, how would Jesus speak? Would Jesus say kind, helpful, encouraging, positive words? Would Jesus bless people? Do that. And, God will be so pleased!

@chaplaineliza

(Suggestion: visit me at my other blogs: matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers. #PursuePEACE – and  A Year of Being Kind . Thanks!

[1] http://worshipingwithchildren.blogspot.com/2012/08/year-b-proper-19-24th-sunday-in.html

[2] https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/worship-planning/doers-of-the-word/sixteenth-sunday-after-pentecost-year-b-lectionary-planning-notes/sixteenth-sunday-after-pentecost-year-b-preaching-notes

[3] https://www.stewardshipoflife.org/2012/09/the-gratitude-attitude/

[4] Ibid.

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Playing Favorites!

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“Playing Favorites!”

James 2:1-10, 14-17 (2:17) – September 8, 2024

            Sometimes, my husband and I step back and observe our fellow human beings. For example, when we are at a coffee shop, or walking through a park. My husband calls it “people watching.” And sometimes, we catch snatches of conversation, too. Some of these bits of conversations are quite revealing! Sometimes, we can even hear about relationships between these people, and their family or friends. These relationships are not always the most healthy.

            Who has all really healthy, happy relationships in their family? Or, friend groups, and acquaintances? Do you – do I – have friends or family members who are mean sometimes? Or who gossip? What about family who have bad habits, like rooting for the wrong sports teams? Or to be more serious, what about friends or family members who play favorites? Who prefer certain people because of their fancy clothes, or their popularity, or how much money they have?

            That is exactly what James is talking about here in chapter 2. This letter from James is so practical! Yes, he does refer to theological concepts now and then, but James wants to give us a manual of Christian living: living the way we as believers are called to live! The description in this reading today is a pertinent, hard-hitting example. 

            James says, “Suppose a rich man wearing a gold ring and fine clothes comes to your meeting, and a poor man in ragged clothes also comes. 3 If you show more respect to the well-dressed man and say to him, “Have this best seat here,” but say to the poor man, “Stand over there, or sit here on the floor by my feet,” 4 then you are guilty of creating distinctions among yourselves and of making judgments based on evil motives.”

            One of my biblical commentators says, “The problem is ‘status serving’ – favoritism. Playing favorites! We are easily attracted toward the successful, wealthy and beautiful people. Yet for James, such partiality is something quite evil.” [1] Playing favorites is definitely not a way for anyone to please God, or to live the way we as believers are called to live. 

            The Gospel reading from the Revised Common Lectionary today also has some difficult, hard-hitting points. Jesus and the disciples are in the racially-mixed area of the Decapolis, near the Sea of Galilee in the far north of Israel. A Gentile woman approaches the Rabbi Jesus while He is at dinner, and asks Him to please heal her daughter. Jesus says some challenging words to her about being a Gentile. She convinces Jesus to help her and heal her daughter, which He does.

            This Gospel reading deals with favoritism and being partial to one group while excluding another group. Who would Jesus exclude? Would He exclude me and my family? Would favoritism include you? How about your children, or grandchildren? 

            These are difficult issues raised by both the apostle James and the Gospel writer Mark.

            Favoritism is all over the place! At work, in the school room, on sports teams, at home. Even – perhaps, especially, as James says – in our local churches. “To seek out the ‘beautiful’ people in our congregation and give them honour because of wealth, status in society, looks, youthfulness, race, education, breeding, success….. is a most ugly way to develop a Christian fellowship. Favoritism is rife in society, let it not exist in our church.” [2]

            Preferring one person over another or one group of people over another is a very worldly way of approaching life. James tells us point blank that we are not to behave this way. Period.  If we take the bare bones approach and look at what the apostle Paul tells us, that we are all one in Christ, and that we are to all love one another, as both Paul and John remind us, some might say we can all simply join hands in a big circle around a campfire and sing “Kum-by-yah” feel all warm and fuzzy inside, and that would be more than enough for the Christian life.

            If that simplistic attitude and short-sighted way of behavior was the only thing we had to do to live the Christian life, then the Christian life would be an insular, warm-and-fuzzy thing indeed. But, as James tells us throughout this letter, there is much more to the Christian life. In this letter, he gives us a how-to manual. A manual for living the way believers are called to live.   

            If we take the example that James gives us, one quick solution would be to simply buy the poor person a new outfit. See? Now the two people coming into church look the same! But, that is only a shallow, simplistic quick-fix for the situation. Instead, James “is asking them to treat the [poor] man with the same respect they would offer a well-dressed man.  Learning to do that in a culture that separates and creates fear between the richer and the poorer requires practice.” [3] This problem goes deep down in people’s attitudes, and is much more serious – even insidious. James says plainly, “Don’t be snobs! Don’t play favorites!”

            I can remember a church I attended some years ago was part of a group of houses of worship that hosted midday meals for the homeless once a week, as well as hosting a warming center during the winter months for five hours in the afternoon and early evening, allowing the homeless to gather inside in a safe space that was warm and welcoming. My husband volunteered at the warming center, and some of those friends who attended regularly mentioned how grateful they were for the church opening their doors freely.

            Yes, make sure our internal attitudes line up with the way that is pleasing to God. Remember, practical, matter-of-fact James shows us a manual for Christian living. Does God choose favorites? What if you are one of those excluded homeless people, or left-out high school kids, sitting at the loser lunch table, with no way to even get close to God? Shut out from God’s loving, caring, nurturing presence?

            Thank God we are always God’s beloved children! We are always the favorites – all of us! Here is a quote by Max Lucado. See if it resonates with you. “If God had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it. If God had a wallet, your photo would be in it. God sends you flowers every spring and a sunrise every morning Face it, friend – God is crazy about you!“

            Does God choose favorites? No! That is the way God feels about each one of us! Please, remember that as you go into the world. Treat every single person you meet as a very beloved child of God – because, they are! No matter what, no matter who!

@chaplaineliza

(Suggestion: visit me at my other blogs: matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers. #PursuePEACE – and  A Year of Being Kind . Thanks!

[1] http://www.lectionarystudies.com/sunday23be.html

[2] Ibid.

[3] http://worshipingwithchildren.blogspot.com/2012/08/year-b-proper-18-23rd-sunday-in.html

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Go to Work for God!

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“Go to Work for God!”

James 1:17-25 (1:19-20) – September 1, 2024

This is Labor Day weekend, all across the nation, a weekend to picnic, to barbeque, to go to the beach or pool one last time, or a weekend to get out into nature. This is the unofficial end of summer, and the beginning of our fall schedule. Even the college football season started this weekend! You know it’s got to be fall when football begins and baseball winds down.

But, it’s also Labor Day weekend – commemorating “when labor activists pushed for a federal holiday to recognize the many contributions workers have made to America’s strength, prosperity, and well-being. The first Labor Day holiday was celebrated on Tuesday, September 5, 1882, in New York City. By 1894, 23 more states had adopted the holiday, and on June 28, 1894, President Grover Cleveland signed a law making the first Monday in September of each year a national holiday.” [1]

            What does the history of our holiday of Labor Day have to do with this Bible reading from the first chapter of the letter of James? Just this: “God is at work for the health of this world God loves so much.” [2]     

            We know this letter is from the apostle James, but who on earth is he writing to? He says who, several verses back, and in fact throughout the letter. He is writing to his fellow believers in Christ, those who are dispersed, who are scattered far and wide. James refers to these fellow believers as “beloved” and “brothers,” so you can tell that he has a relationship with them. In other words, James is not just writing to some stranger in another city.

            I don’t know about you, but when I’m communicating with someone I know, it’s a lot easier for me to be open and to come straight out with important stuff I need to say.  I think it’s the same with the apostle James, especially since I’m familiar with this letter and its contents. He must have known some of these people pretty well, because he talks straight. He doesn’t pull his punches. And, what he’s communicating here in chapter 1 is pretty significant.

Remember how James began this passage? “Every generous act of giving…comes from above.” That means 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. Period. No matter WHO does them. They all come from above – that is, from God, or Godly impulses. All that we do that is good comes from God, which is an amazing statement. [3]

            We all can do God’s work, all the time. Not just on Sunday.

            A natural follow-up to Godly giving and Godly working is Godly listening. James says, “19 Remember this, my dear friends! Everyone must be quick to listen, but slow to speak and slow to become angry. 20 Human anger does not achieve God’s righteous purpose.” Not only are we to listen well, what does James say next? Don’t get angry!

            James has the following advice in the following verses: “So get rid of every filthy habit and all wicked conduct. Submit to God and accept the word that he plants in your hearts, which is able to save you.” My goodness! What is James doing here, writing a heavenly advice column? It certainly sounds like it. And, heavenly advice it is, too.  

            James even gets down to specifics. Avoid these behaviors! Don’t be slow to listen! Don’t be quick to anger! Plus, promote these behaviors! Instead, be quick to listen! Be slow to speak! And most important, be “eager to care for those most vulnerable. All of these things are within our reach.” As commentator Dr. David Lose says, “What parent doesn’t want to be slower to anger with his or her children? What friend doesn’t want to be a better listener? Aren’t all of us in a position to offer help and support to those in need?” [4] James here is encouraging all of us not just to think the faith, but to do it.

            Here, James is dealing with the Law. God’s rule book. James is a faithful Jewish follower of God, and as such is thoroughly steeped in the Mosaic Law code, or God’s rule book. Moreover, he has a pragmatic way of looking at the new way of living that comes from following his Messiah Jesus. Again, don’t just think the faith or hear the faith. Instead, do it!

            I return time and again to Carolyn Brown, retired Director of Children’s Ministry and commentator on the nuts and bolts of the Bible. She breaks things down to simple, straight forward truths. She says of this reading, “At the beginning of the school year children are learning the rules for their new classes, teams and clubs.  The rules tell them who they are and how they act in each situation.  Knowing that is important to them.” [5] 

            Just so with James. God’s rule book is important to him, too! Plus, following the way of God, following these acts of giving, acts of mercy, or advocacy, or support, or friendship are available to any of us. All of us, all the time. This manual for Christian living is NOT just something we do on Sundays, not just when we are in church or thinking heavenly thoughts. We can go to work for God anytime. All the time. Anywhere. Everywhere.  

            Dr. David Lose suggests that we try something for this coming week. Each of us consider this challenge. “write down one place [you] will be in the coming week where God could use [you] to listen, to be patient, or to care for those in need.” [6]  We are hereby all commissioned as God’s co-workers and partners. We all can continue to help make this world a more trustworthy, safe and healthy place, to work for God on this Labor Day, and every day. Alleluia, amen!

@chaplaineliza

(Suggestion: visit me at my other blogs: matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers. and  A Year of Being Kind . Thanks!

[1] https://www.dol.gov/general/laborday/history

[2] https://www.workingpreacher.org/dear-working-preacher/ordinary-saints

[3] Ibid.

[4] Ibid.

[5] http://worshipingwithchildren.blogspot.com/2015/08/year-b-proper-17-22nd-sunday-in.html

[6] https://www.workingpreacher.org/dear-working-preacher/ordinary-saints

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Why Perseverance Matters

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“Why Perseverance Matters”

2 Thessalonians 3:6-13 (3:9) –November 13, 2022

            My line of work is called a “helping profession.” It doesn’t matter whether it’s a minister, a chaplain, or a pastoral caregiver. These types of jobs are “helping professions,” just as a social  worker, nurse, teacher or therapist is, too. All jobs where we are involved in helping others!

            In this reading today, the Apostle Paul talks about himself and his friends who were traveling with him. “For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us; we were not idle when we were with you, and we did not eat anyone’s bread without paying for it; but with toil and labor we worked night and day, so that we might not burden any of you.” Paul certainly did not stay idle when he was on the road! And, neither did his fellow missionary friends.

            How ought we then live? This section of the letter to Paul’s friends in Thessalonica is the last part of the letter, where Paul gives his recommendations for Christian life and living. The believers in Thessalonica are called to seek after God, and to follow Christ’s example. Paul also tells us here to follow his example, and the example of his friends, in working diligently.

Paul firmly speaks to people: “Anyone unwilling to work should not eat. For we hear that some of you are living in idleness, mere busybodies, not doing any work.” If people sit around on their couches, eating junk food and simply watching YouTube or reality television all day and night, Paul has a strong criticism for them! “Hey! You! Get up and get going!”  

I don’t want to heap this strong recommendation on everyone. There are lots of people who are unable to do a hard day’s work. Do you know any friends or acquaintances who are chronically ill? Not able to do anything, and exhausted by simply getting dressed, or walking from one end of the house to the other? For example, the dear people in my line of work, hospice patients, their caregivers, and close families. This is a sad reality for many families, right now. 

I’ve often spoken of one of my favorite commentators, Carolyn Brown. She writes of children getting asked “what do you want to be when you grow up?” Often, children are focused on fancy or flashy jobs or occupations. Like, a major league sports player, or a member of a famous music group, or a television or movie star. But, why not suggest to children that they consider work that makes the world a better place? Why not a helping profession? What better thing to do than to do something that will make life better for everyone around them?

For that matter, we can think of the newer hymn that we sang last Sunday, “I Sing a Song of the Saints of God.” This hymn talks about all kinds of people and all kinds of professions, like a doctor, a queen, a shepherdess, a soldier, a priest, and lots more, too.

But, there is a down side to caring and helping. People who help others can do too much helping. Did you realize that? There is a state called “compassion fatigue” or becoming weary of doing the next right thing. This is exactly what the apostle Paul is talking about, right here in this Scripture reading! “Brothers and sisters, do not become weary in doing what is right.”

            Rev. Sharon Blezzard talks in all seriousness about compassion fatigue. It is when these sincere, caring, helping individuals help too much, and become overwhelmed by the sizeable needs and the huge crowds of people who are waiting in line to be helped. Their sincere wishes and deep desire to help and heal and ease the way for many people in need ends up in cynicism and disillusionment.

I hear about this so often, among pastors, ministers, missionaries and chaplains. Many seriously talk about burn out. There is nothing so sad than to see religious leaders and professionals cynical and disillusioned. Plus, they often leave their jobs if not the ministry altogether, and need serious therapy and recovery. I hear similar things from social workers, teachers, nurses, and other medical professionals, too. They can burn out and leave their work, too.

So often in the Bible there are recommendations on how to live. Like here, for example. How are is too far when it comes to caring too much? Having “compassion fatigue” when you and I are in helping professions? Yet, the apostle Paul is perfectly correct in recommending to his friends that they work diligently! He is correct when he tells his friends to “do not be weary in doing what is right.”

Striving to follow God and do what Christ calls us to do is what Paul recommends. Except – our Lord Jesus rested. Our Lord Jesus took time away to pray and to rest and to be with His friends. Paul was often with his friends, too, and I suspect Paul took breaks, too. We can see the good example of Paul and his friends here, in today’s Scripture reading, and take it to heart.

Perseverance matters. Paul knew that very well. “Because we WILL face opposition [in life], perseverance matters. Because culture and the forces of evil WILL place stumbling blocks in our path, perseverance matters. Because our lights will shine in the darkness, reflecting the light of Christ to a hurting, chaotic, and broken world, our perseverance matters.” [1]

We can all walk with God, strive to be the best Christians we can be, and follow Paul’s example, too. Don’t be weary and disillusioned; your perseverance makes all the difference in this world and for the sake of the life to come.

Which leaves us with…what? I offer the last verse of last week’s hymn, again. All three verses talk about the saints – the believers – of God everywhere. The last verse tells us “You can meet them in school, on the street, in the store, in church, by the sea, in the house next door; they are saints of God, whether rich or poor, and I mean to be one too.” Paul encourages us to go, be a saint. Follow his example, and above all, follow the calling of our Lord, Christ Jesus.

@chaplaineliza

(Suggestion: visit me at my other blogs: matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers. #PursuePEACE – and  A Year of Being Kind . Thanks!

[1] https://www.stewardshipoflife.org/2013/11/why-perseverance-matters/

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Faith in Action!

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“Faith in Action!”

James 2:1-10, 14-17 (2:14) – September 5, 2021

            I watched a lot of movies and television series in the past – usually with my children, when they were children and teenagers. A lot of these shows were about young people on a high school campus, complete with all the groups and cliques, exclusion and favoritism. All the “popular” kids were beautiful people, and all the “nerds” and “dorks” were unpopular. Heaven help you if you were really poor and came from the wrong side of the tracks!

            Does this sound familiar? Is this favoritism similar to what James talks about here, in our reading today? James mentions one person coming to worship in fancy clothes, with expensive jewelry. He follows that up with a description of a poor person, in ragged, threadbare clothes, coming to that same worship service. You and I need to ask: who would James exclude from worship service? Who would James exclude from fellowship in the church?

            When we consider the typical high school campus and the typical high school kids, we may give them a pass. Some say they don’t fully understand how damaging and how hurtful their actions are, to many people. Others say that only weak, socially-awkward people get hurt from the rough-and-tumble world of high school…that is just something everyone has to put up with, and to live with. Suck it up, people! Get on with life!

            Except, this rough-and-tumble, catty, mean way of carrying on is not the way that Christians are supposed to be! Believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are supposed to be better than that! Believers are not supposed to play favorites! Aren’t they? James says so! Doesn’t he?

Who would James exclude? “If we’re honest, we have to squirm a little bit as he describes the scene. Of course, we’ve all done this; we’ve all shown partiality in this. We hope we’re overcoming it; we hope we’re countering it; we hope we’re better than that. But our society has drilled into us to value people on outward appearances more than essential being.”[1]

            This letter from James is so practical! Yes, he does refer to theological concepts now and then, but he wants to give us a manual of Christian living: living the way we as believers are called to live! The description in this reading today is a pertinent, hard-hitting example.  

            The Gospel reading from the Revised Common Lectionary today also has some difficult, hard-hitting points. Jesus and the disciples are in the racially-mixed area of the Decapolis, near the Sea of Galilee in the far north of Israel. A Gentile woman approaches the Rabbi Jesus while He is at dinner, and asks Him to please heal her daughter. Jesus says some challenging words to her about being a Gentile. She convinces Jesus to help her and heal her daughter, which He does.

            This Gospel reading deals with favoritism and being partial to one group while excluding another group. Who would Jesus exclude? Would He exclude me and my family? Would favoritism include you? How about your children, or grandchildren?  

            These are difficult issues raised by both the apostle James and the Gospel-writer Mark.

            Perhaps the world does things like this, almost all the time. Perhaps the common, sinful people in the world act and speak and think like this, almost all the time. But, we as believers are not to act like the world!

            As commentator Dr. Derek Weber says, “James points out the economic distinctions that we are all too likely to make in our hospitality ministry. But it wouldn’t be too big a leap to talk about racial and immigrant and gender and orientation distinctions at the same time. This is not, however, a recommendation to avoid the issues We are called to speak up, to follow the boldness of James and talk about the lines of respectability that we too often draw, consciously or unconsciously. It is better to enter into these delicate subjects knowingly than to be surprised.”[2]

            Today, we often use the word “believe” to mean intellectual assent, or understanding. The New Testament agrees – except the full understanding of the word “believe” is deeper and richer than simply the intellect. “When John 3:16 declares that “whosoever believes,” it is asking for a life that reflects that core belief. It isn’t really asking “do you believe” but “are you willing to put your life on it?”

“Does your life and your witness, do your actions and your words tell us that you believe that Jesus Christ is Lord of your life?” That’s what it means to believe in New Testament terms. For James, then, at the heart of believing is how we view and then treat others.” [3] Listen again to the hard-hitting words of James: “My friends, what good is it for one of you to say that you have faith if your actions do not prove it? Can that faith save you?”

            Who would you exclude? Who would I? Do we act like we prefer someone who wears fancy clothes and expensive jewelry to someone who wears ripped, patched blue jeans and shoes with holes? But, it’s more than that. No one deserves favoritism, or a fancier place to sit, or more attention, or more service. Does God choose favorites? What if you are one of those excluded high school kids, sitting at the heavenly loser lunch table, with no way to even get close to God? Shut out from God’s loving, caring, nurturing presence?

            Thank God we are always God’s beloved children! We are always the favorites – all of us! Here is a quote by Max Lucado. See if it resonates with you. “If God had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it. If God had a wallet, your photo would be in it. God sends you flowers every spring and a sunrise every morning Face it, friend – God is crazy about you!“

            Does God choose favorites? No! That is the way God feels about each one of us! Please, remember that as you go into the world. Treat every single person you meet as a very beloved child of God – because, they are! No matter what, no matter who!

@chaplaineliza

(Suggestion: visit me at my other blogs: matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers. #PursuePEACE – and  A Year of Being Kind . Thanks!

[1] https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/worship-planning/doers-of-the-word/fifteenth-sunday-after-pentecost-year-b-lectionary-planning-notes/fifteenth-sunday-after-pentecost-year-b-preaching-notes

[2] https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/worship-planning/doers-of-the-word/fifteenth-sunday-after-pentecost-year-b-lectionary-planning-notes

[3] https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/worship-planning/doers-of-the-word/fifteenth-sunday-after-pentecost-year-b-lectionary-planning-notes/fifteenth-sunday-after-pentecost-year-b-preaching-notes

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Be a Do-er!

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“Be a Do-er!”

James 1:16-25 (1:22) – August 29, 2021

            When my children were small, they sometimes used to bicker and argue. And not only with each other, but with me and my husband, too. We would correct them about certain common-sense things, and a typical response would be, “I know that!” It didn’t matter whether it was “Don’t touch that hot stove!” or “Don’t run out into the middle of the street!” Their response would often be, “I know that!” Complete with an eye roll and an ornery attitude.

            So often, parents, grandparents, teachers and other adults are put in an awkward situation. We may question if our children really know what they just did! Time after time, we adults agree with this chapter from James that our actions need to match what we know and say. And, face it. This is not only true of children. It can be true of adults, as well. I suspect we are all familiar with the phrase “Don’t just talk the talk – walk the walk!”

            James wrote this letter to a bunch of believers scattered all over a large area of what is now the Middle East. They were living in small groups, and the letter was copied and passed around from group to group, sent or mailed for encouragement and instruction. In other words, James sent out a manual for Christian living! A how-to book: how to LIVE the Word.

            The great theologian Martin Luther did not like the letter James wrote. “Martin Luther thought James was dangerous stuff. He thought that James was an “epistle of straw” because of all this hearing and doing stuff. See, Luther was afraid that we would read the Letter of James and come away with the feeling that it was all about doing.”[1] I understand where Luther was coming from, because he came out of a Christian tradition where people had to earn their salvation. People in his time and place had little certainty of their salvation, and constantly needed to be doing more and more just to placate some mean, vengeful God in heaven, as well as some judgmental, nasty-spirited church leadership here on earth.

            Thank God, we know the grace and mercy of God! And, so did Martin Luther! Yet, we are faced with this challenging letter from the apostle James! What ARE we going to do with these hard-hitting verses of his? How are we to respond to that talk about doing the Word? Walking the walk? Living a life of Christian action?

            Some people love to get into discussions about the Bible. About what exactly the words “salvation” or “justification” or “sanctification” mean. We love to dive deep into the Bible, “but find it a lot more difficult to do what it says. Of course, our problem is even more complex than that. Theological knowledge can easily become a good work in itself. We can easily make theology our religion.”[2]

Such philosophical, esoteric discussions can go on and on and on. I love theological discussion, don’t get me wrong! However, several hundred years ago, some Christian writers put their finger on these endless, almost frivolous discussions: they called those involved in them theologians arguing about how many angels could dance on the head of a pin.

            Again, I greatly enjoy discussing theology! Yet, something within me wants to be up and doing, too. What about the Bible, anyway? Is there any application here? Anything for me to do? Any way for us to honor God through action, through doing what these verses say?

             James does give us some excellent examples in his how-to manual of Christian living. “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. 21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.” Plain-speaking from James, and hard-hitting, too! He does not sugarcoat his words. And sometimes, these words are hard for us to hear, and even harder to put into practice, like James is telling us to.

            And yet, as our commentator David Lose says, “All of these things are within our reach. What parent doesn’t want to be slower to anger with his or her children? What friend doesn’t want to be a better listener? Aren’t all of us in a position to offer help and support to those in need? James encourages us not just to think the faith, but to do it.” [3]

            Now, is James only talking to pastors? To church leaders? No, he is not. James is addressing the whole congregation. That means all of us – all of you. Everyone in the pew, no matter what, no matter who. James considers each one of us as believers. Each one of us is important, with our daily lives and activities and responsibilities. It does not matter if we serve in a large arena or a small circle: we all have the opportunity to serve, to be doers of the Word.  

As David Lose suggests, I invite you all to write down one place you will be in the coming week where God could use you to listen, to be patient, or to care for those in need. Or maybe we could have folks stand and actually commission them as God’s co-workers and partners in making this world a more trustworthy, safe, and healthy place.[4]

Remember, James gives us a how-to manual. How to live the Christian life! Listen to James: “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says!” However we are gifted or moved by the Spirit to carry them out, we all have our marching orders. Do what the Word of God says! Love, care, encourage, help, serve. And love some more. Amen, alleluia!   

@chaplaineliza

(Suggestion: visit me at my other blogs: matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers. #PursuePEACE – and  A Year of Being Kind . Thanks!

[1] https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/worship-planning/doers-of-the-word/fourteenth-sunday-after-pentecost-year-b-lectionary-planning-notes/fourteenth-sunday-after-pentecost-year-b-preaching-notes

[2] http://www.lectionarystudies.com/sunday22be.html   “Be Doers of the Word,” Rev. Bryan Findlayson, Lectionary Bible Studies and Sermons, Pumpkin Cottage Ministry Resources.  

[3] https://www.workingpreacher.org/dear-working-preacher/ordinary-saints David Lose

[4] Ibid.