9-6-2015

Good Morning All!!                       

          James 2:26; “For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.”

     I have been reading a book by Craig Groeschel entitled “The Christian Atheist”.  The basic premise of the book is that many in the church are only “culturally” Christian.  We go to church, we say the words, we put a little in the collection plate, and then we go home and live our lives as if Sunday didn’t occur.  We live our life the same.  Our life before hearing God’s Words of grace and forgiveness is the same life we live after we hear these words.  There is no difference in our life.  Culturally, our lives look like we are Christians but in our heart we are the same; we live as though we are unbelievers.

    This is the battle that James is addressing in his epistle that he wrote shortly after the Church started to grow throughout the region.  People were coming to church, were joining the church but were no different in their behavior.  James addresses the way we treat rich people better than the way we treat poor people.  He spoke to how we let our tongue rattle on and on in an endless drivel of gossip and slander.  He spoke of how we sit, pious in our attitude, but negligent in our actions.  James is telling us that we cannot live as if we do not have faith because that means we do not have faith.

    It is somewhat fitting that we look at this at this time.  We see more and more where the culture today is telling us that we can have our faith as long as we keep it in our church and in our home.  This statement is the polar opposite if what Scriptures teaches us.  The summation of what the Book of James tells us is that faith determines our behavior and our actions.  The manner in which we conduct ourselves is a manifestation of our faith.  If we sit in church, next to our neighbor and then Monday plot how to cheat him; where is faith?   If we sit in church, next to our poor neighbor and think, “they need to make better choices like I do”; where is faith?

    James’ answer is clear; faith is dead.  You do not have faith if you are not moved by the Spirit to be different from the way you were.  Words speak but actions speak volumes and out shout simple words alone.  So in many ways, the call of James and the challenge of our world and culture is the same; where is your faith? 

    Our faith is in Jesus, who died for my sins and was raised for my justification.  Faith makes us alive to serve God in his kingdom; we can’t forget that part.  If we refuse to serve are we truly alive in Christ?  Follow God’s will and serve him in his kingdom.

Father, move me; turn my world upside down that I may see the fire that you place in my heart.  Do not let the fire go cold.  Move me to see those around me as part of your creation and part of your kingdom.  Turn me from complacency and shallowness.  Use me as your agent here on earth.  Make me your hands and your voice.  In the precious name of Jesus we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret