"Faith in Action" - James 1:17-27 - September 3, 2000

You’ve probably heard the expression, "He looks great on paper, but can he do the job?" Those who are involved in the hiring of employees know that one’s credentials are only as good as their ability to perform.

This is also true for people of the faith. James is telling the young Church that "you just can’t be hearers of the word, you must be doers also." Its not a matter of knowing what we must do to be persons of faith, it is when we put our faith in action that really makes a difference.

In the next chapter James raises the question, "What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but do not have works?" And he goes on to say, "So faith, by itself, if it has not works, is dead." At first glance, it would appear that James is taking issue with Paul, who said, "My grace is sufficient for you." (II Cor. 12:9) But, each of these messages has its own context.

On the one hand, Paul was speaking to a Church who boasted of its works, using evidence of good deeds as a sign of their goodness. This resulted in a smug attitude and the exclusion of many who were faithful. Here, James is speaking to folks who were saying all the right words and living an intellectual faith, but with no action to support what they professed. Therefore, words were coming from their mouths which were false and activity was happening that was hostile toward their neighbors.

There is a parable of a man who came to a rabbi and said, "Oh, Rabbi, I have done wrong. I have slandered my friend. I have told lies about him. I have spread rumors. But now I am sorry for what I have done and what I have said. How can I be forgiven?"

The rabbi looked thoughtfully at the man and then said, "Take this feather pillow and go to the town square. Cut the pillow open and let the feathers fly to the wind. That will be your punishment for the ill words you have spoken."

Though quite puzzled by the rabbi’s instructions, the man did as he was told. Then he returned to the rabbi and said, "I have done what you told me. Now am I forgiven for slandering my friend?" The Rabbi replied, "No, you are not forgiven yet. For you have fulfilled only half o your task. First you let the fears fly to the wind. Now go and collect every single feather."

James was speaking to a Church who didn’t know how to live out their faith. They believed and most likely agreed with the teachings of the gospel. It was kind of like head nodding. You know, when someone agrees with a point you are making and they nod their head as if they agree. But, until they change their ways, nothing really happens.

It is always flattering to hear someone say, "Good sermon, pastor." When you are passionate about some point in the gospel it is always nice to have feedback. But, there are times when I hear comments like, "Good sermon reverend, and I know just the person who should have been here to hear it."

Until we are able to apply what we hear to our own life we are not really living out our faith. This is a very basic principle which doesn’t take a rocket scientist to understand. James is reminding us that our beliefs and actions go hand in hand.

There was a well known Psychologist by the name of Albert Ellis, who developed Rational Emotive Therapy (RET). Ellis believed that the things we do in life are directly related to what we believe.

For example: Lets say you are in a grocery line and there is a person in front of you who is paying by check. You are in a hurry. But, the person struggles to find his checkbook and then slowly fills it out. Then the clerk has to call the manager from the back of the store to get approval. You wait another five minutes and the check is finally approved and then it is your turn.

But you get mad, throw your items on the counter, scoff at the person in front of you and walk out the store. Ellis would say the reason you left is not because you were irritated by the processing of the check, but because you believe you are more important than the other person.

You can see that it is necessary for James to address this issue since this young church was behaving angrily toward their neighbors. In other words, they heard the gospel, "to love one’s neighbor as thyself," but their actions were incongruent with what they believed.

We live in a society where instant gratification is the name of the game and we expect immediate results from everything we do. We are accustomed to fast food restaurants and drive through banks. We don’t want to wait for anything. The belief is that our needs are greater than the needs of everyone else. We get impatient because we are always looking out for number one. What we fail to realize is that our fast track way of life is modeling a faith without patience. Notice that earlier in this chapter James says, "in the midst of a busy life, the rich will wither away." (vs 11)

God has taught me a lesson in patience this past year. As you know we have been searching for a permanent organist. Early in the summer we advertised in the area newspapers and contacted quite a number of candidates. On one occasion we thought we had succeeded but that didn’t work out. With September almost here, we knew it would be difficult to find someone. Unlike the last time we went through this process I was not as anxious. Perhaps that is because I was listening to those voices in the Church who were saying, "Someone will come forth," or "It’s going to happen, we just don’t know how."

Last year we spent a lot of time searching and again this year. Fortunately I kept names and phone numbers. When all seemed hopeless a member of the personnel committee said to re-check my list one more time. Perhaps we had overlooked someone. This past week we hired a new organist, one we believe is an excellent match. What I have learned is exactly what James is teaching here; "be quick to listen, but slow to speak." In other words, be patient.

Those who are patient in life are modeling a lifestyle which is in direct contrast to the way in which the world lives. A world which wants us to "get it now, get all you can, as fast as you can." A world in which people are simply too busy and believe that time is their greatest enemy. A world which is frustrated when things don’t go their way, therefore being angry with their neighbors instead of being tolerant and patient.

Active faith is a patient faith. A faith which plants seeds today, although someone else may reap the benefits years later. A faith which doesn’t underestimate the smallest act of kindness or good deed.

James also says that "Every generous act of giving is from above." You may never see the results from your efforts. You have no idea how one small gift could have a major impact on the rest of the world. In other words, you can’t compare what one person does with what someone else does. Every gift, regardless of the size, is from God.

In Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul II, there is a story about a teenager named Jason. Jason was from a good family. His parents were very successful and Jason had anything a young man could want. But, Jason was always winding up in trouble, creating some kind of mischief. In school he was labeled a troublemaker and some thought he had Attention Deficit Disorder. His grades were low and he was often placed in a special class where he couldn’t bother the majority of students.

One day, his parents were having lunch at the local country club. One of Jason’s teachers said, "Jason is doing so well these days, we’re very pleased and excited." "You must have Jason mixed up with someone else," his father replied. "He is worthless, he’s always getting into trouble."

Jason’s mother then said, "You know, lately Jason hasn’t been in trouble, and his grades have improved, perhaps we should talk to him." They confronted Jason and asked him how he was able to raise his grades. They assumed he was cheating. Jason told them he did it all by himself. But his parents weren’t satisfied and took him to have a talk with the principle.

The principle assured them that Jason was doing well. He then told them, "We have a new guidance counselor and she seems to have touched Jason in a special way." He then took them to meet her. When they walked in the office the guidance counselor was looking down at some papers on her desk and didn’t hear them come in. Finally she noticed, then made some gestures with her hands.

"What’s this," said Jason’s father. "Sign language? She can’t even hear." Jason then replied to his parents, "That’s why she is so great. She does more than hear, she listens."

If you remember anything today, remember these words of James, "quick to listen, slow to speak." This my friends, is faith in action.

Dr. Keith Wagner, St. Paul’s United Church of Christ, Sidney, Ohio