“…where there is envy and selfish ambition, there will also be disorder and wickedness of every kind.”
“Show by your good life that your works are done with gentleness born of wisdom.”
My title for this message is “How does a Christian make it an age of Jerks?” My “inspiration” for the title came while driving in traffic recently. I suspect many of you know why. You too have had some driving experiences recently you would rather not repeat. And for which you are glad that you made it through in one piece.
Why are people in such a hurry? Why do people tailgate? Why are people so rude? There is less courtesy, less willingness to let someone out in traffic or have the opportunity to go ahead of us. There is less willingness to slow down when someone is walking. Or working close to the road. And it seems like almost everyone you meet seems to have a chip on their shoulder, to have gotten out of bed on the wrong side, to have a bad attitude…I think you get the idea. And to tell you the truth on some days – maybe that describes our own feelings.
Friday mornings a small group of us meet informally at St. Stephen’s for what we call “Men’s Prayer Breakfast.” The only breakfast to it is if you stopped at MacDonald’s on the way and picked up a sausage biscuit, you’ll have something to eat. But the Keurig puts out coffee just fine. We use a one sheet “program” of prayers put together by Jim Dalton from the Book of Common Prayer, Cursillio and Kairos. We talk about who needs our prayers, we pray for them, and then we talk about what’s going on and sometimes what is on our minds.
So, on a recent Friday morning I talked about my experiences and my thoughts – how do we make it when there seems to be so much unhappiness, so much controversy, so much bad feelings just out driving, just getting from one place to another. We agreed that our experiences driving – and many others shared similar incidents while driving – that what we are experiencing is something unusual – almost an epidemic of bad or rude driving. But maybe it’s more. Maybe it’s deeper. Maybe it’s a symptom of our health as a society. We especially see it in the sharp divisions and controversies of the current political race. With the hatred and bad feelings now – what will happen when this election is over – will the different sides make up and resolve to work together for the good of the country? We live in a dangerous world.
Were there controversies in Bible times – New Testament times? I began this message with some words of James from one of our readings this morning. James was no stranger to disagreement and controversy. We also meet James in the Acts of the Apostles. In Chapters 14 and l5 of Acts we read of a controversy that arose when new Gentile converts to the faith were told they needed to be circumcised. This so upset matters that Paul and Barnabas returned to Jerusalem to get this straightened out.
They appealed to the church – the apostles and elders – the Christian church in Jerusalem. There is a great meeting and there is much talking.
Listen now to the account in Acts: “… after there had been much debate, Peter speaks, …God…bore witness to [the Gentiles], by giving them the Holy Spirit as he did to us, having cleansed their hearts by faith, now therefore why are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke on the disciples[who are bringing the Good News to others]…we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.”
“…the assembly fell silent, and they listened to Paul and Barnabas as they related what signs and wonders God had done through them to the Gentiles.
“After they finished speaking, James replied, “Brothers, listen to me. Simeon has related how God first visited the Gentiles, to take from a people for his name. And with this the words of the prophet agree…Therefore my judgment [is] that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God and write to them – [and then James lists some requests that ask Gentiles to refrain from doing certain things that would be uncomfortable for an observant Jew. But, importantly, certain Jewish customs such as circumcision would not be required of the new Gentile converts to the Way, the Christian faith.]
This is our introduction to James, the author of our epistle reading this morning.
Notice how the meeting was conducted. There was an opportunity for full discussion. Peter, Paul and Barnabas were heard from. And then James announces his decision. It is not a “who wins, who loses” decision but rather encourages and supports taking the “Good News” to the Gentiles – yet not tying their hands to require new non-Jewish converts to observe certain challenging Jewish requirements – such as circumcision. In those days many of the converts and potential converts were Jews. Accordingly, James asks the new Gentile converts be respectful of certain Jewish customs.
So, what can we say about James as a leader – and as a Christian.
He listens to all sides respectfully. He obviously is a leader – both Peter and Paul listen and defer to him. He is a leader who sees beyond the petty concerns and personalities of the day to the greater purpose and meaning – the sharing and spreading of the Good News.
Some years ago, I was a member of a different, smaller congregation. We were struggling. The bishop at the time came to talk to us – sort of “fish or cut bait” talk.
“Do you really want to be the church? He asked. Sort of like saying, “You’ve experienced the challenge of keeping a church going? Are you willing to accept the challenges of keeping it going?”
Sometimes it’s good, it’s honest, it clears the air – to just speak frankly.
Sort of like James.
“Do you really think you are wise and understanding and have all the answers? Show by your good life that your works are done with a gentleness born of true wisdom. But if you have envy and ambition in your hearts, do not be boastful and false to the truth. Such “wisdom” does not come from above – it’s earthly, unspiritual, devilish. For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there will also be disorder and wickedness of very kind.
‘Wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy.
‘A harvest of righteousness is sown in peace for those who make peace.
‘Submit yourselves to God. Resist the devil. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.
At our men’s breakfast this past Saturday Jerry Hodges’ daughter Kathryn Matchett described her pilgrimage in Spain. It was a pilgrim’s journey of over a route 500 miles to the Cathedral in Santiago which holds the grave of James. The same James who knew both Peter and Paul and our Lord his brother. The same James who speaks to us this morning through his words copied down carefully and shared now over two thousand years. Pilgrims have been making this particular pilgrimage for 1000 years. This was the same pilgrimage described in the movie several years ago featuring Marin Sheen, “The Way.”
Why would someone make such a journey? Such a question is sort of the “plot” of the movie, “The Way.” Kathryn graciously volunteered an answer to that question – which is the question most anyone would ask of a person who did such a thing. Yet the true answer, the full answer, is something that cannot, maybe should not be answered – because maybe it involves a conversation between that person – that soul – and God.
Maybe a question of that seriousness, that magnitude, should – could – be asked of us – Why do I really go to church? Why do you really go to church?
Kathryn started on this pilgrimage alone, by herself. And there many parts of it where she would hike alone. But she was not alone. She met many people. Many became friends. They helped each other, they enjoyed being with each other, they supported each other. And many learned, recognized that they were not alone, even when they were.
And maybe that’s sort of a lesson for us – maybe – hopefully – sort of why we do go to church.
Maybe there is another lesson or two in our readings this morning.
Jesus and his disciples are walking through the region of Galilee. Along the way he shares what will happen to him – how he will be betrayed, killed, and rise again on the third day. On the way Jesus had listened to his disciples talking. They were talking about who was the greatest – sort of a version of who was going to be in charge. They were talking of things as probably we would be talking. Who is going to be in charge, who is going to win?
Finally, they make it to Capernaum.
Jesus asks them, “What were you arguing about on the way?”
Our reading tells us that at this point, “They were silent.”
I guess so.
Time for another lesson – and a lesson for us.
He set down, called the twelve, and said to them, “Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.”
Then he took a little child and put it among them and then taking the child in his arms said,
“Whoever welcomes such a child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes not me but the One who sent me.”
Life is short, and we do not have much time to gladden the hearts of those who make the journey with us. So…be swift to love, and make haste to be kind…
Amen.
Richard Robertson