MPC, 5th January 2003.James 2 - "Faith in Workboots"
Phil Campbell MPC, 5th January 2003.
If you've noticed petrol prices have gone through the roof this week, it's partly due to Cesar Gavirina.
Cesar is chief mediator in the dispute in Venezuela at the heart of the 11 day strike that's stopped oil exports. And he's warning that unless both sides reach agreement, violence will break out. Not to mention Australians paying 92 cents a litre for petrol.
Cesar says, both parties in the dispute continue to have differences... but he's urging them to continue efforts to resolve the crisis.
Being a mediator in a dispute like that one is a tough job. Being a mediator can often feel like being the meat in the sandwich. So you're saying stuff to both parties that they'd rather not be hearing.
It might be exactly what they need to hear. But that doesn't mean they'll like it.
So spare a thought for James. Caught in the crossfire.
James, the brother of Jesus himself. And as we look at his letter, it's not a bad idea to look at some history as well. It's one of the principles of good bible reading that you read scripture in the light of scripture. So I want you to think back a couple of weeks to when we met James in Jerusalem in Acts 21. And you'll see the issues that he's trying to mediate spelled out in black and white.
The events of Acts 21 happen around the year 59 or 60. James is executed two years later. He's the head of the Jerusalem church. And according to history, well respected in Jerusalem.
Did you notice when we were there a couple of weeks back in Acts 21, what I thought was the surprising thing, that Christianity in Jerusalem was big? I mean, there's Paul out preaching to the Gentiles, and seeing small churches of maybe 10 or 20 people start up from nothing. James is back at head office where it all started. And there are thousands of Jews who believe. Flip back to Acts 21 and take a look.
Because for James in Jerusalem, business is booming. The bad news is, though, James is sitting on a powder keg. Caught in the middle of a tricky situation. Which he's doing his best to contain.
Have a listen. It's from Acts 21, when Paul's turned up in Jerusalem to what you'd have to call a mixed reception. And James and the elders there have got a problem.
Pick up in verse 17. It's Luke talking, he's travelling with Paul. And he says,
17When we arrived at Jerusalem, the brothers received us warmly. 18The next day Paul and the rest of us went to see James, and all the elders were present. 19Paul greeted them and reported in detail what God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry.
20When they heard this, they praised God. Then they said to Paul: "You see, brother, how many thousands of Jews have believed, and all of them... are zealous for the law. 21They've been informed that you teach all the Jews who live among the Gentiles to turn away from Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children or live according to our customs. 22What shall we do? They will certainly hear that you have come...
What can we do? Because there are all these thousands of Jewish Christians... who've heard rumours that Paul's telling people they can do what they like. They're zealous for the Old Testament law. And they've heard Paul's not. They've heard Paul's gone feral.
A bit like that syndrome they say hostages get. Like the American Heiress Patricia Hurst. Start identifying so much with her captors, she ended up joining them. Paul's been out there with the Gentiles... and now he's switched over. And, so they're saying, now he's even telling the Jews who are scattered round Asia Minor... they should turn away from the law of Moses. Ignore their customs. Not circumcise their kids.
What are we going to do? Because all these Jewish believers... they've believed in Jesus. But they're so zealous for the law.
Have you met Christians like that? They're still around. Alive and well. Not necessarily Jewish. But have taken to the Old Testament law like ducks to water. And there are other Christians who haven't. There are Christians with a rule for everything. And a stern way of looking down their noses at anyone who doesn't. Rules for when you can hang out washing. What day's you're not allowed to mow the lawn. Whether Christians are allowed to drink alcohol. Or dance.
So here are all these Jewish Christians up in arms against the apostle Paul. Jewish Christians in Jerusalem. Jewish Christians scattered through Galatia, spread through Asia Minor; Paul's left a trail of dismay every place he's been. And James is the head of the Jewish church.
What are you going to say to Jewish Christians like that? Do you notice, back in James chapter 1, they're exactly the Jewish Christians who the letter's addressed to.
1James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,
To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations:
Greetings.
The twelve tribes of Israel. Scattered among the nations. Christians who are Jewish. Christians who are zealous for the Old Testament law. So what's he going to say. More to the point, how can he mediate... because in Acts 21 he's excited by what Paul's doing in taking the gospel to people like us. And he's clear that Gentiles are not to be brought under the law. But how can he stop the whole situation exploding?
Well, we're going to see he's got a word for the Jewish Christians. And a word for the rest of us.
First, what Jewish Christians need to know. And then, What Gentile Christians need to know.
And what he's going to say is simple. There's no point being zealous for the law... if you're not going to live it out. And in the same way, there's no point saying you're a Gentile Christian who just lives by faith... if you're not going to live that out as well. Either way... hearing has got to be followed by doing.
So what's James the mediator going to say to these Jewish Christians who are zealous for the law?
First and foremost, he wants to point out to them that for people who are apparently so passionate about the law, so keen to correct other people... they're botching it completely when it comes to their own lives.
Especially in the way they're treating people.
Because Jesus boiled down all the Old Testament Law to a very simple principle. That they're totally missing.
James sums it up in verse 8.
If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, "Love your neighbor as yourself," you are doing right. But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.
You say you're zealous for the law. Well what about this? Step back to verse 1 and have a look what they're doing.
"My brothers," he says, "as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don't show favouritism."
And he goes on to paint a terrible picture in verse 2 to 4.
Imagine it this way. You're sitting here in church... and you're in your Sunday best. Not too flash, but the best you've got. A few holes in your coat. Shabby trousers. And just after the service has started, a guy pulls up outside in his Rolls Royce. The chauffeur opens the door. And every head turns to admire his beautifully tailored Italian suit, the gold watch with diamonds crusted into the band. And Joe at the door rushes over and takes his coat, and dusts him down, and gives him the best hymn book, and they walk him down the aisle to the front.
But because he's late, there are no seats left anywhere. And so the usher looks round and sees you sitting there. In your ragged coat. And he says, "Hey you! Out of there. We need your seat for someone important. You can sit on the floor. Or stand at the back." In fact, he probably even says it more politely. "Look, I know you won't mind..." When in reality you do.
Sounds like a nightmare. But that's exactly what James is talking about. It's exactly what they're doing. Favouritism to the rich. Humiliating the poor. It's all there in verse 2 and 3.
Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, "Here's a good seat for you," but say to the poor man, "You stand there" or "Sit on the floor by my feet," have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
And the funny thing is, James says, why would you do it? Because it's the rich guys taking advantage of you anyway. They milk you dry... and then you bow to them. Look at verse 6. He says, it's the rich who exploit you. It's the rich guys who'll drag you into court. And still you're fawning all over them. And insulting the poor.
But you'll say, it's smart though, isn't it? Because maybe the rich guy will put lots in the plate.
Heard a story about Kerry Packer. He's just finished a Polo match in England, and he goes into the local village for a drink just after closing time.
And the first pub he comes to he knocks on the door. And the bloke inside just yells out, "Can't you read the sign? We're closed." And Kerry Packer calls back, "Look, do you know who I am? I'm Kerry Packer."
And the bloke inside doesn't even bother coming to the door. He said "I don't care who you are, mate. We're closed."
Well, there's another pub on the next corner. And when Kerry Packer comes to the second pub, the barman's much more obliging. Opens up, pours him a beer, even gets him dinner.
And at the end of the night the bill comes to nine pounds ten. And Kerry pulls out his checkbook, and he writes a cheque for 40 thousand pounds. And he gives it to the barman and he says, it's yours. There's only one thing you've gotta do. Tomorrow, you've got to show it to the bloke who runs the pub up the road.
I mean, maybe if Kerry Packer comes in to church and we give him the best seat he'll drop a cheque in the plate for 40 thousand dollars. Who knows?
Well, you know what James says? He says if you're playing favourites like that, then you've totally missed the point. You've totally missed the point of the gospel that saved you. And the law you're so zealous for as well.
He sums it up in verse 5. Read what he says. "Listen my dear brothers; hasn't God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised for those who love him?"
God specialises in the people who are nobodies. Do you get that? God's particularly interested in the people you wouldn't even hang around with.
So just in case you think you're pretty impressive, and that's why God likes you... think again. God delights in the humble. And so should we. God delights to show mercy. And so should we.
So if you want to be zealous for the law, be a bit more circumspect about your own performance.
Verse 9 again. "But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers."
And that's the whole problem. It's exactly what Paul says in Galatians as well. That if you want to be a law Christian, you've got to realise... it's a dangerous game. Verse 10.
For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. For he who said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not murder." If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.
You point the law at someone else... and before you know it, it's exploded in your face.
So choose carefully. Here's his advice to the Jewish Christians who are zealous for the law.
12Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, 13because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!
Because the Jewish Christians who are zealous for the law, they're so quick to judge. So quick to throw around charges of heresy. So quick to condemn. Even condemn Paul. As James was afraid they were going to do when he came to Jerusalem.
James says, specialise in mercy. Because if you want to be a judge-everybody-else person... then you've got to be happy for God to treat you the same way. So speak and act like people who have been shown God's mercy. The law that gives freedom. And if you've accepted God's mercy, then show mercy yourself.
Now time for a change of targets. What if you're not zealous for the law? Say you're a Greek. Or Turkish. And Paul's preached about Jesus and you've believed. You've put your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. No Jewish laws or customs. Not bound by the Old Testament law. So does that mean you can do what you like? Because Paul's opponents say that's what he's teaching.
To which James says, of course it doesn't mean you can do what you like.
Now I don't know if you've met Christians like that. Who say they're saved by faith in Jesus... and you watch them for a while, and you know Jesus would be horrified by the lives they're living. One guy I knew, happily went along the Christian business man dinners. And was known all round town for ripping off his customers. Or as youth leader I knew. Caught up in sexually immorality. Or you're selfish and greedy... and you layer it with a veneer of respectable Christianity. And say it's okay. Because I have faith. And if anyone tries to correct you, you'll say don't be so legalistic.
Or worse... you'll say you're Christian. But you're not moved when you see hardship. You're not giving, you're not serving, you're not helping, you're not sacrificing. Just content with your own private faith that nobody's ever seen taken out and put to work.
James says, faith without action is dead.
Law without love might be dead. But faith that just sits on its hands is just as dead. Verse 17. "In the same way, faith, if it's not accompanied by actions, is dead.
He says, just imagine a Christian brother or sister is hungry and homeless. And you give him a wave on the street and says "Keep warm!"... what good is it. Same with faith. Faith by itself is futile. If it's not matched by action.
I overheard someone complaining the other day about a computer ad. Where the screen was listed as an optional extra. They said, it's hardly optional. No output, your computer's next to useless.
And it's not as if putting faith into action is an optional extra either. James says, you might be saying, "Well, some of us have faith, others have deeds." It's verse 18.
To which James says this. And you'll see it in the second half of verse 18. He says, if you've got faith and no deeds, what's the use? What am I going to see? Absolutely nothing. But he says, I'll show you my faith by what I do.
See what he's saying? Faith and his actions, they go hand in hand. His deeds flow out from his faith. Show what his faith is like.
It's interesting, isn't it? Maybe you haven't thought much about faith. It's like believing. But it's more than that. In fact, in the end, just believing something isn't worth a cracker. And just believing something in your head, it's never what the bible calls faith. Which is what James says in verse 19.
There are still people like that too, aren't there? They say, well, I'm not really religious. I'm not what you'd call a practising Christian... But I do believe in God. And at that point, it's as if you're meant to shake their hand and congratulate them. Fantastic, you believe in God. Well, James says, the devil does as well. Verse 19 - "You believe that there's one God. Good! Congratulations. Even the demons believe that - and shudder."
Because faith isn't really faith until you put it into practise. Faith is a trust that moves you somewhere. And it's not really faith until you exercise it.
James says, faith without deeds is useless. And he finishes the section with two old testament examples; two examples of faith put into practise. The example of Abraham. And the example of Rahab.
Abraham is so convinced by the promises of God, that when God tests him he does exactly what he's told. No hesitation. Faith into action. Same with Rahab. A prostitute in Jericho in Joshua chapter 2. And the point's the same.
Faith. Leads to action. Or otherwise it's not really faith. And that's what James says in verse 26. As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.
It's interesting, isn't it. How do you see something invisible? You see it by its effects. Wind's invisible. But you can see what it does. Electricity. Invisible as well. But you can see what it does.
How can people see you're a Christian? Because in the end you don't want to be an invisible one, do you? James says, they'll see it... by what you do.
Like he said in chapter 1. How foolish... to be hearers of the word... and not doers as well. And it's here again in verse 24. Want to see what it looks like to be justified? Want to see what it looks like to be right with God? Let me tell you, there won't be a halo. Or some sort of aura. They won't be floating a couple of inches above the ground. but there will be a difference. In what the real Christian does. James says, "You see that a person is justified ... by what he does. You can't see faith on it's own. But you can see it's effects."
And I guess that's what people say about you. Isn't it? Your workmates, your neighbours, seeing your faith by the way you treat them in the office. By the concern you show. That's genuine. By you actually care about the guy who asks you for coins on the street. By the way you measure your words and control your tongue. By the way you love not just the easy people... but the unlovely. That's how you see faith. When us who have received mercy... show mercy.
The Jewish Christians are full of zeal for their law. But they're missing the main ingredient. The law of love.
And the trouble is, it's so easy for the Christians who say we live by faith to make exactly the same mistake. Because they don't realise, faith is meant to lead to action. And James is caught in the middle of the quarrel. With something to say to both.
None of us is saved by the law. But if you're saved at all, you'll be passionate about the law of love. Be full of zeal for that. And as you do, make sure you're a visible Christian. Visible by the life of love that comes from your faith. Not in a showy way that draws attention to yourself. But in the same was as you can't hide a light in a dark room. Because faith without deeds... is dead.
This year we're going to work together at getting practical. With a little goal setting exercise we're calling 3 by 3. I'll explain it more over the next 3 weeks. But for now you can start thinking. If you picked three practical goals for loving one another, and you said you'd really have a crack at them through the year, what would you choose? A couple of weeks time we're going to give a list of suggestions. Practical ways you can care and serve. And we're going to say, start with 3. And see how you go.
It's funny, all the things there are to do - they'll often seem routine. Or mundane. Like the team that spent most of yesterday painting inside the green house next door for Matt and Jill. But in the end it's an expression of the fact we care. So we're going to have a list of things you can do to serve. And care. And share. As the first row in our 3 by 3 challenge. Think about it. More next week.