Sermons

Are We Among the Living or the Dead?

BY THERESA MCCONNELL | SEPTEMBER 10, 2006
James 2:1-17

As we approach the rather short line for security before boarding the plane, I pull out David’s card showing that he has metal in his shoulder so that perhaps this time he will not be pulled over and searched. It has become a common experience for us when traveling on planes these days. I show the card to the security agent who nods reassuringly. I pass without problem. David passes the metal detector without incident and then I see them pull him over to the side.

They are searching his carry on luggage … as David sits down to put his shoes on and I see his bag pulled to the side, I go over as required to the table to witness the bad search. As it turns out in our hurry to pack in the early morning a hair brush and tooth brush were placed in carry-on luggage along with books, pens, and papers. Since they could not tell what it was through the x-ray and why those unlikely items would be tossed together we were stopped and baggage searched.

It is becoming more common. When we were returning from Mexico in a rental van (David, Rachel, and two friends) we came to the border crossing and I pulled out all our IDs. We inched forward and there was some amount of anxiety and the usual – don’t make any jokes!

The guard peered into the window and asked, “You US citizens?” “Yes.” “You have any contraband with you?” “No.” “Okay- have a good day!” This instance was all a little too casual for me. One of our friends said, “Well, the profiling worked in your favor!” I suspect it did.

In the letter to James is an early example of caution against profiling. “Show no partiality” for if you do you are guilty of sin and of making judgments based on evil motives (v. 4). Imagine that! Catering to the rich with hopes of personal gain and benefit rather than taking care of the widow and the orphan – those who clearly cannot repay the care given.

And what was all that about breaking one law you’ve broken them all? It’s an interesting concept – this all or nothing approach. The point seems to be that when break one of the laws we choose the one which tempts us, of course. We are placing ourselves in the position of deciding which of God’s laws we will obey or not. That’s not OUR place. The laws are given to help us know how to “Love our neighbor as we love ourselves.” By giving us proper direction the law has indeed given us liberty- freedom to live a life of love toward God, neighbor, self.

In fact, the writer of this letter goes on to say that faith and action are intimately related. “Faith with out works (charitable acts) is dead”.

To live in the light of Christ we must have faith in him. “Faith” is not merely acknowledgement that Jesus existed or exists today. Faith means living our lives in relationship with Christ Jesus. The love of Christ changes us from inside out. You know how bad you can feel when you’ve got an infection within your body? Ever seen a boil? Sometimes the infection goes hidden for days—you just don’t feel well. It is sort of like having a fully inflated balloon inside your body. If you catch it early enough you can let the air out with good antibiotics. If you don’t, you may find that surgery is necessary. We see the effects of it even if we cannot initially see it. God’s love in our life is like that, too. God’s love can fill our lives in a way it is like sunshine in our world.

If we experience the love of Christ on the inside of ourselves, that loves shines through in our actions. Faith issues works of love. “Faith without works is dead.” James is saying what John said:

1 John 4:20
If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.

For you and I this all gets mixed up in this notion of partiality, favoritism, fairness, employment practices, health insurance, caring for the least of these! It gets complex, doesn’t it? Perhaps, that’s why there is a simply rule – “Love your neighbor as you love yourself”. So when we consider where we live our lives--- among those bringing life or those bringing darkness, destruction and death… we look first to our hearts.

How impartially do we share the love of God that has so freely been given to us? Who do we quickly welcome into our fellowship? What’s the criterion for belonging? Is it really those who embrace Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord or are there some hidden requirements? The problem with this question is that the underlying criteria are often so much apart of us that we don’t recognize it. So one of the gifts others can give us is to help us discover our hidden agenda’s.

You and I don’t want to get stopped at the security gate do we? We want to pass right on through into God’s kingdom. Perhaps, we need to look at how faith is being lived in our lives. We are not the judges of God’s law and love. God is the one who examines us and seeks to bring us from death to life.

So where are you living today? Are you among the Living or the Dead?”

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