Monthly Archives: August 2021

James the Practical

Over the next 5 weeks, we shall be reading James’ letter. Today we start with James 1:17-27 (or read the whole chapter?) and begin to discover a practical faith which has much to offer.

“Every good and perfect gift is from above” verse 17. God is good, and that is something to celebrate. But what do you mean, can you justify that? Well James points the way. v19 Everyone should be quick to listen and v25 “whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it”. We need to listen, to pay attention, to go on learning. In what ways is God good, what has he done – what is he doing now, what is he like, would you want to know (and could you avoid him if you didn’t)?

I wonder, does every Christian go on learning; do I remember that I need to?

It’s not enough just to listen, you must also SPEAK. Not too fast – let what you understand shape your words. v26, and there is a warning about anger v19b,20 There is a lot of anger around, often from wrong expectations (the obsession with me and my way, rather than a concern for all the community). Anger can motivate us to put things right for other people, but too often, like so much speech, it is just selfish. (If you also read the lesson from Deuteronomy, you will have heard about the need to pass on God’s Law, another aspect of the need to speak). James will have more to say about speaking , but let’s remember our need to speak well, and use speech to help us learn the way of Christ.

Listen, and then speak, and then DO. We have a problem today: some Christians want to do as they like (not listening), some get deeply into theological argument (and don’t act). But when we do something, we find out how good our understanding and motivation really are. James lays it out for us. Don’t just “go to Church”; Listen, so that you can learn and grow closer to God; Speak – speak well, to help your learning, and to help the people you speak to; and act on what you learn.

Christians have been observed over the years; the present generation has found us wanting. They do not believe, from the evidence of our lives, that God is good. It is a fair challenge, which we need to answer in practical ways.

Warfare

Paul is writing a letter, but he is under guard in prison (we have come to Ephesians 6:10-20). He uses the picture, setting faith in the ordinary world – even his. We can imagine him listening to soldiers boasting of old campaigns.

He asks first, Who is the enemy? The temptation is to identify a person, a party, an opinion. All mistakes. “we are not fighting against human beings but against the wicked spiritual forces “ (Ephesians 6:12) This is very important – there is a Christian fight. We may not like violence – and that is good – but faith is not a genteel discussion, but a struggle. To live as a Christian is to face opposition, difficulty, and temptation.

Paul picks up the soldier’s equipment to explain. (Perhaps he watched the guard coming on duty shed the gear in which they had just been inspected?). We notice the need for practice and experience (verse 13). (In passing we might add that the Roman army used discipline and working together to overcome larger numbers). What does he examine? The belt is Truth. It’s not about winning the argument, but about keeping with the reality of God. Righteousness is a breastplate. When you are accused, you need to be sure of forgiveness and status as a free child of God.

Shoes (sandals, well think boots) are Good News – that travels well. Faith is a shield; you don’t know or understand everything – but trust that God does. Salvation is helmet, protecting the brain that matters, even if other bits suffer. Prayer reminds you to work with God always – individual enterprise is dangerous!

There is only one weapon (despite many pieces for protection) – the word of God as sword. Not hard and cutting words, but the ones God gives which go straight to the heart of the matter.

That, says Paul in prison, is your equipment. Learn to use it, practice and get comfortable with every bit before you go into a serious fight.

Perhaps you still don’t like the thought? You wanted a quiet life, not a punch up? Will you end up with the Jews in Capernaum Jesus asked “Does this make you want to give up?” (John 6:61). Or are you with Joshua and his family (in Joshua 24), deciding to be with God and rejecting the alternatives.

This military metaphor is – only a metaphor (the weapons are differently allocated to spiritual qualities in other places). But it is also a reality to be faced while there is time for reflection.

Wisdom for Christians

If you are continuing the reading of Ephesians this week (with Ephesians 5:15-20 – though it is interesting to see that the lectionary misses out sections on avoiding immorality and on the mutual submission of husband and wife!), Paul has some practical wisdom. We need it, because now as then there are plenty of ways to get life wrong. You know that – don’t worry about the details, and don’t waste time pointing at the people who have made a mess of things. Get it right, and then you can offer encouragement; live wisely, using your opportunities, and you will be an advertisement, and be in a secure place to offer help and support.

It’s not just a question of keeping out of trouble. What does God want you to do? Sometimes that involves patience, and waiting which is difficult. Often it involves being of service – something undervalued. Always it involves obedience; and that is never easy. Life as a Christian is not just up to you; it is for God to direct you to where you may be useful.

So we need to be filled, not with the latest alcopop, but with God’s spirit. There is some similarity – remember how the onlookers on the day of Pentecost said the Spirit-filled disciples were drunk? They were confident, joyful, unafraid – and sober. I suspect that many of those who cannot party without large quantities of alcohol are actually looking for the freedom and joy which comes from another Spirit. The Holy Spirit is given to Christians – but not in bottles, and not automatically. We need to ask, and be ready to receive him, and to go on doing that.

Verses 19,20 remind us that early Christian worship involved the Psalms of the Old Testament, and the hymns and songs of the New Testament and later. And why? So that

  • the congregation was instructed
  • God was praised (and heard to be, by overhearers)
  • and life lived with thankfulness to God.

Are we doing that? It will be good to return to singing together again in Church soon – but remember you need to sing (loud enough to be heard, soft enough to hear), and to sing gladly and confidently. But even without song, how are we to live as Christians?

  • Wisely, in times when it is easy to go wrong;
  • Looking for what God is calling us to do, relying on the Spirit’s power and guidance,
  • and with thanksgiving, in music, and in daily life – living it as we sing it, with a bit of energy and some confidence, even when we have to work at both.

Make it up as you go along?

Today we read on in the part of Ephesians where Paul sets out the consequences of Christian faith. (The reading is Ephesians 4:25 – 5:2)

25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body.

Ephesians 4:25

Last week I pointed out that the letter to Ephesians divides at 4:1 between what God has done (chapters 1-3) and the consequences (4-6). There is always the temptation to think we know already. How often do we hear “I know right from wrong!”. I suggest we need to look carefully, to re-read the instructions. Look at this verse. Lying is normal in many societies, now as always. Yet it causes great problems.

If Christians were known as people who always spoke truly, think of the difference it would make! There would be great demand for them in politics, management, unions, caring professions, police . . But Christians aren’t known for telling the truth, which is a pity.

But it is about far more than job opportunities. Think about ourselves. Lying is often about boasting, or trying to protect yourself. What if we told, and knew, the truth about ourselves? Self-assessment with humility and honesty, but not leaving out the positives: gifts, opportunities, abilities to serve. There would be real advantages, but how are we to get there? We would have to develop the habit of speaking the truth among ourselves – with proper respect, and honest re-direction of misunderstanding and false ambition.

Then, what about the truth about other people? Are they celebrity superstars, or rubbish? Neither, of course. They are sinners, like us. Flawed, but with the hope of repentance, forgiveness, and new life given by a gracious God. We need to be honest about that, and ready to speak of it.

I could go on. What about the truth about what we are doing to our environment? About the true need for Fair Trade? How does God truly see our church, and others? If we were known as people who could be relied on to tell the truth, with gentle respect, trust among Christians would increase, giving a new quality to fellowship between believers. Christians would be more valued in the community.

So, yes, truth is important. It needs more thought and practice. And this is just the first verse of 8 in the 2nd reading of 3. We don’t know it all; we need to look more carefully, and then with God’s help, to practice!