Scripture Text (NRSV)
1:17 Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from
above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no
variation or shadow due to change.
1:18 In fulfillment of his own purpose he gave us birth by the word of
truth, so that we would become a kind of first fruits of his
creatures.
1:19 You must understand this, my beloved: let everyone be quick to
listen, slow to speak, slow to anger;
1:20 for your anger does not produce God's righteousness.
1:21 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.
1:22 But be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive
themselves.
1:23 For if any are hearers of the word and not doers, they are like
those who look at themselves in a mirror;
1:24 for they look at themselves and, on going away, immediately
forget what they were like.
1:25 But those who look into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and
persevere, being not hearers who forget but doers who act--they will
be blessed in their doing.
1:26 If any think they are religious, and do not bridle their tongues
but deceive their hearts, their religion is worthless.
1:27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is
this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep
oneself unstained by the world.
Comments:
Re Vr 23&24 What mirrors do we look into today; T.V (Jerry, Opra),
Novels, Movies, The Bible -- when we look and see ourselves is it
tempting to look away and forget what we have seen. MJ. UCC/CofS
What caught my attention was verse 22 about being doers and not just
hearers. I happened to run across similar words coming from Jesus in
Matthew 7:24-27, "Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts
on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain
fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but
it did not fall, because it had been founded on rock. And everyone who
hears these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a
foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain fell, and the floods
came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell--and
great was its fall!" "Hears and acts," just seems to jump out at me.
How many of us heed James' words? I have to admit that I am patient,
perhaps too patient with my church members, yet are fast to speak and
get angry quickly with my own family. I speak without my brain always
engaged and end up putting both feet in my mouth and later regret what
I have said. If I treated my family the way I treat parishioners, my
family would probably be happier with me. Like James says, I come to
God's word like a mirror. As soon as I leave it, I am not good at
putting it into action. Philip in Ohio
Who is the faithful servant, the one who promises and says he will do
and then fails to keep his word,or the one who says he cannot but does
what is asked by his master? KBG
It seems to me that this spells out the difference of worthless
religion and a religion that is worthwhile. It seems that this text
could either stand on its own, or be used with Mark. revd
"Use it or lose it", right? That whole mirror simile is intriquing...
Part of it appears to be as MJ has said, what criteria are we using to
measure our appearance? (Vs. God's wisdom and standards). The
"implanted" word is interesting too: implants (farmers put them in
beef cattle to stimulate appetite and growth; Norplant is implanted to
PREVENT growth of a baby) work quite apart from our consciousness, but
it says we should "welcome" the implanted word. Hmm. I'm moved by
Psalm 15 this week, especially the ethical implication of the "do no
harm" (vs 5) and proactive behavior. Does anyone ever preach on the
Psalm(s)? Peter in WI
I am looking at what James is saying as we practice what we preach.
You learn more and remember more when you put what you know into
practice. We do need to be careful and not lean on salvation by works.
You can not earn what God has given, but you can show your
appriciation.
the last entry about practicing what you preach is presented by B.D in
Chicago.
I am looking at what James is saying as we practice what we preach.
You learn more and remember more when you put what you know into
practice. We do need to be careful and not lean on salvation by works.
You can not earn what God has given, but you can show your
appriciation. B.D from chicago
To Peter in WI, I frequently match a Psalm with the passage on which
I'm planning to preach. For Sunday I've matched Ps. 128 to talk about
the labor of one's hands. I also took a look about Psl 127--about
laboring in vain. As a preacher friend said, this tempts us to "preach
to the choir" and make everyone feel good about coming to church and
at least doing something that all those inactive's won't even do. How
do we make this meaningful and eye-opening for everyone that's there.
Yes, I want to praise those active Christians, but also want to help
them see deeper into the text. I also don't want to have business for
its own sake--running in circles just to keep busy isn't going to live
out the word either. JMK in PA
1:25 "Blessed in their doing" It seems that we are only blessed in the
sharing of our resources. The material items and wealth we have are
not blessings untill we do something with them for the common good?
The richer you are does not indicate your blessings from God. Your
blessings are found in your giving and sharing.
"Hearers who deceive themselves???" Interesting ... hmmm. What does
this say about our lack of contemplation, choice to focus on
distractions, denial of image create within? Deception is the
conscious choice to withhold information needed to make a responsible
choice. Deception oppresses because it denies the other voices the
opportunity to speak their conscious. So, if we deceive ourselves,
then we silence an inner voice, and thus refuse to give this inner
voice power ... authority over our lives. If this is an accurate
assumption, then what inner voice do we silence? Further, and perhaps
more important is ... what proclamation are we refusing to embrace? I
will contemplate verse 18. Listening ... NOW. Dr. Duh
Religion that is pure is---- Compassion.
What is the meaning of the word "defiled"? Manzel
I am a first time contributor, and excited to be a part of the
discussion!
When I took my first look at this text, I thought, I can't preach this
stuff-this is too familiar. Even the most casual Christian knows that
we must put what we know into practice. Besides, I don't want to tell
folks what they already know. I want to tell them something new.
But, as I have stuck with it, I realized that I had found a beginning
point--It's not what you know, it's all about doing what you know. And
the truth is, what we know/hear is more often than not a security
blanket instead of a call to ministry. So as familiar as it all
sounds, I guess it doesn't hurt to remind ourselves from time to time.
Thanks for allowing me to share this thought.
SJ in WNC
Peter in WI, I preached Ps. 84 last week on the cycle of worship and
witness, God's folks praising in the temple and digging pools in the
dry valleys. I usually preach from the psalms 5 or 6 times a year and,
like JMK, often tie in or refer to them. We usually read the psalm of
the day responsively earlier in the service, so they have heard it
recently enough not to have to re-read it.
Manzel, the undefiled religion of helping the needy in verse 27 seems
to be in direct contrast to verse 26, the religiosity of those who
think they are good because they have heard what is good and agree,
but go around with unbridled tongues gossiping, criticizing, judging
others' works while having none of their own. Or so I see it. James in
a nutshell- Put up or shut up!(Or maybe; Shut up and show up!) Gotta
go do good now, tom in TN(USA)
I'm thinking about using the old Joni Mitchell song, "Both Sides Now,"
as an illustration. "It's loves's illusions I recall/I really don't
know love at all." How often do we delude ourselves by being hearers/agreers,
but not doers? That idea also fits in with the Song of Songs pericope.
MTSOfan
I'm always intrigued by vs. 1:20 "For your anger does not produce
God's righteousness." Most likely, this means that anger leads to
actions which are no good; but I've often read it to mean that God
doesn't jump on board with us just because we feel really, really,
really passionate about something. God's righteousnes doesn't follow
our passions, it leads it.
I'm reminded of a phrase (perhaps from Campollo) that admits that many
of us believe in God because God agrees with us on most the issues.
--Dave in IA
Here's a direction I'm considering....The fact that it's Labor Day
weekend is only a coincidence, but I am seeing this passage as a way
to connect one aspect of our faith (what we feel & think about God)
with what we DO every day - which is largely go to work day in and day
out. I'm pairing this passage with Exodus 3: 1-5, where Moses
encounters God, where? At work, tending sheep. When we connect our
faith feelings with our daily DOING - then all ground, home, school,
the hiway, and workplace is truly holy ground, and our work and works
are consecrated (done in constant relation to God). Any thoughts? jim
in ct.
It seems that James is working under the idea that there are two
clearly opposing forces competing for the believer's time and energy.
For example, he contrasts the anger of human beings with the
righteousness of God, etc. (vv. 20-21). The "truth" of our religion,
then, is always to be found in how we choose to dispose of the good
gift of time and opportunity that God gives us. Thus, James' idea of
"pure religion" is that which is active in helping those in need. It
is that religion which chooses to act in the way of love and grace.
This choosing of the good is religion in its most pure form because it
is nothing less than a direct reflection of the "Father of Lights" who
gives us every good and perfect gift. God chooses to bring human
beings forth, in order that we might be the "firstfruits" (18).
Perhaps encouraging people to see where God is actively involved in
their lives, giving forth the help of every good gift might inspire a
religion that is not merely a word to be heard, but lived out as a
response to grace. I would appreciate any thoughts on connecting
James' idea of first fruit with that of Paul in I. Cor. 15:23. Paul
seems to speak of Christ as the forerunner of what is to come for all
believers in resurrection. Perhaps there is a way to make a connection
to Christ as the example of what it means to live out this undefiled,
pure kind of religion. This certainly seems present in the Mark
passage this week. Also, what are others' thoughts about the "law of
liberty?" There is a lot in this passage, and any one of these topics
could easily become a sermon. Perhaps focus is the greatest challenge
in preaching this passage. Thanks to all who contribute. It's one
thing to read others' opinions in books, but it's nice to have actual
give and take from folks who are planning to preach the passage to a
real live congregation in the near future. Thanks again, RMA
SJ:
Welcome to the discussion. Hope to see you here often. I appreciated
your excellent pont about doing what we know being most important.
Thank you for sharing the process of worrying about preaching what we
already know, and then discovering that the answer to that difficulty
is found right in the passage itself.
Your insights are helpful to me as I come to this week's sermon a
little on the late side.
Pam in San Bernardino
When we look into a mirror, do we really see ourselves? Is this why we
walk away forgetting what manner of a person we saw? Physically we
change but ever so slowly. How about our spiritual nature? If we could
look into a mirror and see our real spiritual condition, would any of
us be able to stand? Would we not fall on our knees and beg for God's
blessed mercy? Maybe James is making the point that when we look into
a mirror we overlook the flaws that others see. We look past those
parts of ourselves we really out to change. If we truely looked into
that mirror, would we not see how contaminated, stained, by the world
we actually were? I'm glad I've been washed by the blood, covered in
the blood, buried under the blood. Now that picture in the mirror,
pysically, is not pretty. But spiritually, o how beautiful is the
redemptive work of Jesus the Christ. DALE in KS
Greetings to SJ in WNC from JG in WI
I agree that this stuff is much too simple. But the whole book of
James is like that. James is "much too simple." It's earthy. It
doesn't require exegesis, isogesis, or any other intense treatment.
All it talks about is being the thing you claim to believe. What a
concept.
Often in our preaching, we want to share some new idea or deep
thought. We want our people to go away from church thinking. We want
them to ponder some mind-blowing concept. James says, "Do!" He doesn't
call us to stop thinking, but to put our thinking into real action
that changes the world.
If our sermons make our people think on Sunday and have no effect on
Monday, we've wasted our breath and our members' time and our Lord's
resources in the Holy Spirit. Our sermons are useless unless they have
a life-altering effect. When God met people, He changed their lives
and occasionally, He changed their names as well to demonstrate the
life-change.
A man shook the preacher's hand and said, "Good sermon, Pastor."
The pastor smiled and said, "That remains to be seen."
First time contribution - just wanted to add a word about "implant" (
as in the "implanted word", vs. 21).
Earlier discussion mentioned bovine implants and Norplant -- check
Robertson's "Word PIctures in the New Testament" and you'll find that
if we go with common usage, we'll be off base. "Implant" for us
carries a modern technological connotation. For James it was rural,
earthy, and purely agricultural: it is the innate, "rooted" Word of
God -- not the "ingrafted" word, being added later. Martin Luther's
"God-shaped hole in our hearts" perhaps.
It is the essence of the Gospel in action that makes our worship pure
and vital, otherwise (as another contributor has said), it is useless
-- the impact of Sunday's worship on Wednesday's work day (Monday's
too close!) is the measure of true religion. Are we willing to give to
those who are isolated (orphans and widows, both literally and
figuratively), and are we willing to become pure?
As disjointed and "common" as 17-27 is, a return to the basics is
absolutely required (for SJ in WNC)
Thanks for your thoughts and your faithfulness to the Sacred Task each
week!
Dave in VA
to SJ in WSC you said: "It's not what you know, it's all about doing
what you know." Look at that as regard the beginning of the text v 17.
We DO out of all that god has generously given to us ALREADY. The
doing is a response of steardship.
Rev JC in PA
