2:1 My brothers and sisters, do you with your acts of favoritism really
believe in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ?
2:2 For if a person with gold rings and in fine clothes comes into your assembly, and
if a poor person in dirty clothes also comes in,
2:3 and if you take notice of the one wearing the fine clothes and say, "Have a
seat here, please," while to the one who is poor you say, "Stand there,"
or, "Sit at my feet,"
2:4 have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil
thoughts?
2:5 Listen, my beloved brothers and sisters. Has not God chosen the poor in the world
to be rich in faith and to be heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who love
him?
2:6 But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who oppress you? Is it not
they who drag you into court?
2:7 Is it not they who blaspheme the excellent name that was invoked over you?
2:8 You do well if you really fulfill the royal law according to the scripture,
"You shall love your neighbor as yourself."
2:9 But if you show partiality, you commit sin and are convicted by the law as
transgressors.
2:10 For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for
all of it.
2:11 For the one who said, "You shall not commit adultery," also said,
"You shall not murder." Now if you do not commit adultery but if you murder, you
have become a transgressor of the law.
2:12 So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty.
2:13 For judgment will be without mercy to anyone who has shown no mercy; mercy
triumphs over judgment.
2:14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but do not
have works? Can faith save you?
2:15 If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food,
2:16 and one of you says to them, "Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill,"
and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that?
2:17 So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead.
Here we are again: faith vs works. Or is this what we make of it? Perhaps it should be
faith and works! Or works of faith! Or faithfulness?
Good resource: Anchor Bible vol. 37b, Luke Timothy Johnson on James. One example (p.
164): "It is striking...that alone of the NT, James provides some sort of basis for a
social ethics. The omost obvious example is its prophetic condemnation of the oppression
of the poor by the exploitative rich. But equally important are the outspoken criticism of
discrimination between humans on the basis of appearance; the portrayal of the powere and
perils of spech; the analysis of the roots of social conflict, war, and murder in the
logic of envy. No other text of the ancient world offers as rich a set of reflections on
the grounds for violence and peace in the world as does James." Johnson's analysis of
James is a rich resource for these September Sundays of reading excerpts from the Epistle.
I know it's sheer coincidence when parallels show up between lectionary texts. But
notice that Mark tells about Jesus dealing with two outsiders (the Gentile woman & her
daughter; the deaf-mute whose disability makes him the ultimate outsider in human
society); James reflects on the Jewish-Christian community (he calls their gathering a
synagogue) and its response to outsiders, in this case the rich (who are welcomed &
exalted) and the poor (who are given standing room only and dishonored. Those parallels
are a better guide than the worn-out "dispute" between James and Paul, in spite
of Luther's gross misunderstanding.
With all of our focus on the death of the rich and famous this week, this text is very
chilling! It is not that the tragedy of the prominent deaths is not to be mourned. It is
rather that we so easily give our favoritsm to the rich and famous. I wonder how many
people have died this week who were poor and homeless? I wonder if we Christians don't
drive by people everyday who are in need an ingnore them? I wonder if we do not write
theologies to justify our neglect of these poor, while letting the rich off the hook or
favoring them? I wonder if the lifestyles of the poor and outcast are as of concern as the
lifestyles of the rich and famous? I wonder. LPTS 77
First it was the Princess of Wales, then Mother Teresa. While it is appropriate and
right to "give honor where honor is due," we dare not forget that our ultimate
worth comes not from what we have done, but from who we are. We are unique individuals
created in the image of God. Mother Teresa's whole life was based on this simple precept.
CGST '86
Seems that James has two contrasts going in this section. First, the contrast between
the rich and the poor. Second, the contrast between apathy and action. T
I see here two main themes - Favoritism contrasted to loving one's neighbor, and faith
w/o works contrasted with faith with works. As usual, there is so much meat here that it
is difficult to know whether to break it down into smaller parts, or go for the overall
themes. Since it is "kick-off" Sunday in our church, and lots of kids are going
to be in church, I think I'll go with a theme of "welcoming all," not showing
favoritism for old timers, or just for members - but rather extending a welcoming hand to
not only the parents of the kids but also to the kids themselves. Have you ever noticed
during "greeting" time how rarely kids get greeted? It is as if they were
invisible. Check it out. Still thinking it all over...
Jude in Wash.
How are we showing our faith with our actions?
How can those who are older continue to be active with their faith?
Our faith is it ALIVE? Is Christ ALIVE in our lives?
Questions I hope to answer by Sunday.
Jonesey in WI
To Jonesey in WI: How can older people continue to be active in their faith? A lot of
people who are older are now single. They can minister to each other by checking on each
other. One of my present church members owes her life to one who was checking up on her.
She would have died. I had a lady who was a stroke victim. Now confined to a nursing home,
she has led several Bible studies over the years right there in the nursing home. I have
an older couple who were eating out in a restaurant. They got talking to the waitress who
was engaged to be married. They gave her a wonderful witness of how God needs to be part
of her marriage. I once had a lady who could not get out of her apartment. However, she
could write and so sent Prayer-a-grams to those in the hospital or ill at home, expressing
the greetings and prayers of the church family. If you are interested, I can give you the
address for ordering Prayer-a-grams, a great ministry. My seniors love to help with VBS.
Philip in Ohio
To Philip in Ohio: I am interested in your prayer-a-grams. It sounds like a wonderful
ministry. My email address is bsbement@stny.rr.com. Thanks to you all for your comments on
this site. It is always helpful to me as I prepare each week. May God's blessings be with
us all as we begin "anew" this week. <>< Pastor Betty
Dear Fellow Preachers, In UK this Sunday is Racial Justice Sunday. The readings this
week really lend themselves to the subject, especially James about not making distinctions
between church attenders - and by implication all others.I plan to say something on the
subject of Racial Justice, especially using the material made available by Church
Commission for Racial Justice <www.ctbi.org.uk>. I have a virtually exclusively
white parish, but it is just as relevant here. The Stephen Lawrence report has really
stirred up our consciences here.
Great to be in touch again after a break away during the holiday season. Paul in
Farnham, UK
To Jonesey: Prayer-A-Grams Harvest Prayer Ministries 11991 E. Davis Avenue Brazil, IN
47843 Toll Free: 1-877-HPM-PRAY
Last time I ordered 100 notes and envelopes were just $8.00
Philip in Ohio
This is a true story. In 1989-91 I served on a part-time basis Hessel Valley Lutheran
Church in Chandlers Valley, Pa., a small church (average attendance 32) about 10 miles
south of Jamestown, N.Y., but one which had the distinction of being the mother church of
the old New York Conference of the Augustana Synod. If you ask people up that way what
they know about that church, they'll say that's the church the King of Sweden visited.
This happened in 1976, when King Carl XVI visited the US shortly after his accession to
the Swedish throne. For some reason, somebody included Hessel Valley Church on his
itinerary. Fortunately, some of the Swedish forebears must have foreseen this event, as
they built the church with a seating capacity of 250. This was still far too small to
accommodate all the curious, so the congregation had to issue tickets for worship (don't
you wish you had that problem?) with those who had some kind of family connection getting
preference. This royal visit became a pretext for building renovations. Special chairs
were bought for the king and his entourage, and the children's choir learned to sing
"Children of the Heavenly Father" in Swedish. On the great day, those who
couldn't get tickets lined the highways in a drizzle waiting to get a glimpse of His
Majesty. The ironic thing was that after all this preparation the king only stayed in
church for 10 minutes. His handlers decided that cutting worship short was a good way to
get him back on schedule. So he never heard the sermon or the children's choir and barely
sat in the new chair. The next week, they were back to 32 at worship. I must say however
that when I became their pastor some 13 years later, they were not hung up on this
incident and indeed wore their Swedish heritage rather lightly, though a lot of the
community wanted to treat the church as a Swedish museum. But they preferred to remember
it as a somewhat humorous occasion that gave their small country church a unique history.
The regular congregation was pleased to welcome the King of Sweden, but they also came
back the next week to welcome the King of Kings. Couldn't say that about the other 218
people who showed up that April morning. -- Mike in Maryland
I am glad James made the cannon-cut! In spite of how Martin Luther felt about this
"straw-gospel" it adds the necessary correctives to a grace-filled faith. So I
preach the bottom line last Sunday...How we know we are Christian is how we would treat
widows and orphans and not what we say we believe.
I love God's sense of humor for I get sent both on Wednesday to figure out how to help.
So today we scramble around to see if we can get some resources to help a 17 year old
single mom get on her feet ( she showed up yesterday). I am sticking with James all month
for both this preacher and his congregation need a little prodding!
revpump in denver
Thanks Jude in Wash for your comments, I think I'll use that for the jumping off point
of my children's time. It is our Sunday School start up week also.
KB in AB
Short on postings for James. I like it. But I am intrigued with the little vingette of
the wealthy and the poor. What if (like the King of Sweden)Bill Gates showed up in worship
(fat chance, I know, but...)and the local drunk or homeless person who had not bathed in a
month??!! I just had an experience where a local church is raising money slowly for a new
organ. An anonymous donor said she/he would give $10,000. if the worship and music
committee, organist etc would GUARANTEE at least one "familiar" hymn every
Sunday from now on. Ah, the wealthy!! Who really is wealthy? How do we as Christians treat
those around us? What distinctions do we make? Who are we? What is our mission? How is it
we serve? I remember one very old, out-of-print manual for church councils stating that
the purpose of any congregation was to expend itself on behalf of others. Even to the
point of non-existence, if that is what it took!! What distinctions, indeed? Just some
thoughts that James prodded. God bless and thank you all for your help.
TP in NC
I can't remember who said it, but the quote goes something like this, "The church
of Jesus Christ is an unusual organization in that it exists solely for the purpose of
those who are not members." I know this is a radically evangelical concept, but it is
something I have to remind myself of everytime I get so focused on internal
matters--payroll, waxing floors, cleaning the grounds, and who to approach for raising
special funds.
Zack in Atl.
Thanks, Zack. Neat quote. I am leaning toward the idea of expending oneself on behalf
of others and what that looks like. When related to joy - deep, abiding joy - the depths
of joy really come from that expending on behalf of others without thought of self.
Imagine a congregation full of Mother Theresas!! Not a thought of self, only of other.
Imagine the exhaustion, imagine the joy!!
TP in NC
How about a theme of mercy, not judgement. It is so often our judging that excludes
those we see as less desirable human beings (for whatever reason). Mark passage of Jesus
and the Syrophoenican woman can be used as an example here of mercy, even though Jesus'
initial judgement names her as excluded. jsh in Iowa
I like the idea of welcoming all (especially the "unwelcomeable", if you know
what I mean - this often includes kids). Connecting with the Gospel lesson I like the idea
of intercession as invitation. Deke of the North
Here is a story I think fits well with this text. To my knowledge, the author is
unknown. I received it from a member of the congregation on the internet. Jonesey in WI
It was a cold winter's day that Sunday. The parking lot to the church was filling up
quickly. I noticed as I got out of my car that fellow church members were whispering among
themselves as they walked to the church.
As I got closer I saw a man leaned up against the wall outside the church. He was
almost laying down as if he was asleep. He had on a long trench coat that was almost in
shreds and a hat topped his head, pulled down so you could not see his face. He wore shoes
that looked 30 years old, too small for his feet with holes all over them, his toes stuck
out.
I assumed this man was homeless, and asleep, so I walked on by through the doors of the
church. We all fellow- shiped for a few minutes, and someone brought up the man laying
outside. People snickered and gossiped but no one bothered to ask him to come in,
including me.
A few moments later church began. We all waited for the Preacher to take his place and
to give us the Word, when the doors to the church opened. In came the home-less man
walking down the aisle with his head down. People gasped and whispered and made faces. He
made his way down the aisle and up onto the pulpit he took off his hat and coat. My heart
sank. There stood our preacher...he was the "homeless man." No one said a word.
The preacher took his Bible and laid it on the stand. "Folks, I don't think I have
to tell you what I am preaching about today." Then he started singing the words to
this song. "If I can help somebody as I pass along. If I can cheer somebody with a
word or song. If I can show somebody that he's traveling wrong. Then my living shall not
be in vain."
Thanks for the illustration Philip. Jonesey
Thank you for the illustration, Jonesy. I had been looking all over for it and couldn't
find it. I finally just did it from memory, just finished my sermon, and now here it is!
There is also a very powerful story about a young man who was recently converted and in
his "biker" clothes goes into a very conservative church. The church is packed
and so he makes his way down to the front of the church and since there is no place to
sit, he sits down on the carpet in front of the pulpit. The people are aghast...and then
an elderly usher makes his way up toward the front. Everyone assumes the usher will
"evict" the "biker" from the floor, but instead, lowers himself to the
floor to sit next to and worship with the new Christian. It is a powerful story. I plan to
end my sermon with it. If anyone wants the entire story, you may e-mail me at
jlminiken@mail.tss.net Thanks again Jonesy.
Jude in Wash.
Just a note on this. I think of how often and thoughtlessly people say, "Have a
nice day." Since not all with urgent needs are identifiable from a glance, I wonder
how many people we dismiss with a well-meaning but meaningless greeting. Getting under the
surface of the words and the Word is to discern quality of Spirit as well as silent need
if we care to look with the inner eye and hear with the inner ear. bpa in N.Y.
I plan to have two persons enter the sanctuary as this is being read. One will be
wearing a dirty t-shirt w/ holes, faded jeans, tennis shoes, etc. S/He will enter w/ a
brown bag, looking for a place to sit. A set-up person will scowl and move away. Then an
elegantly-dressed one will enter w/ gold cufflinks, rings, a dark suit, etc. The set-up
person will beckon him/her to sit here.
After the exhortation in James continues, the set-up person and the elegant one may get
up and go sit with the shunned one.
Trying to make the word visible....
Yell"Arose"nTx
