From Knowing to Doing
James 1:17-27
Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. In fulfillment of his own purpose he gave us birth by the word of truth, so that we would become a kind of first fruits of his creatures. You must understand this, my beloved: let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger; for your anger does not produce God’s righteousness. Therefore rid yourselves of all sordidness and rank growth of wickedness, and welcome with meekness the implanted word that has the power to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves. For if any are hearers of the word and not doers, they are like those who look at themselves in a mirror; for they look at themselves and, on going away, immediately forget what they were like. But those who look into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and persevere, being not hearers who forget but doers who act—they will be blessed in their doing. If any think they are religious, and do not bridle their tongues but deceive their hearts, their religion is worthless. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.
__________
A few years back, I had a conversation with high school students about their faith. Instead of picking a topic for discussion, I asked them to submit any questions for topics anonymously so that they felt no restraint in holding back. What amazed me was the authenticity of their pursuit for answers and the honesty that was present. Many of the questions that students turned in centered on the main idea of today's passage: "Do I need a religion?" "Why bother when no one cares about the people Jesus would have looked out for?" "Aren’t we being hypocrites if we just show up to church on Sunday, but act however we want for the rest of the week?" All great questions from young people who are asking questions that are timeless and observations about the growing gap between the "idea" of our religion and the "practical" application of our faith in our daily lives.
Do any of the questions that the high school students submitted resonate with you? If they don't, perhaps the more significant question they inspire can spur us onward. That question of whether we can recognize the gap between our knowledge of God (through faith/ religion) and the praxis by which we live out this Godly wisdom in our daily routines? This chasm is bridged when we allow the wisdom and knowledge of God to take root in our hearts and minds. Yet, it isn't enough for it to take root; it must then grow and break through the mundane motions we go through to show us that there is another way to live. It is wisdom that reveals that freedom does not lie in our self-perceived versions of reality where sin and greed thrive but shows that the liberty we seek lies in the awakening of God's love.
The realization that belief, faith, religion, whatever term you want to use, cannot exist within its own bubble is at the heart of today's reading, and it's what's at the heart of many young people's questions. True religion, as James puts it, requires action. Words alone are not enough; if we want to practice true faith, we must go out and care for the widows, the orphans, the strangers, the refugees, the lonely, the broken-hearted, and care for ourselves as people created in the image of the divine. Casting off a shallow understanding of freedom (that thrives on greed) and embracing the liberty of God's love is what lies at the core of the gospel. So again, words are not enough; Sunday worship is not enough; if we want to grow and if we're going to move towards a more inclusive view of our life together, we need to do some work.
I think of this question (the gap between knowing our faith and putting it into action) through the nostalgic lens of those disposable cameras I would fondly carry with me on school field trips or family outings. It was a simple point-and-shoot camera that often resulted in well, pictures you would expect a child to take. There was no implementation of the Rule of Thirds, no thought to composition or lighting; it all came down to living in the moment. However, these days? I put a little more thought into what pictures I take and keep (besides animal pictures). I'm still by no means a stellar photographer; however, the skills I picked up by experimenting, paying attention make me appreciate the photos I take more. The evolution of our practice of religion that James describes is similar to this journey of improving my photography skills. If we don't cast off our foul speech or hate or ill-intentions, or if we hear the good news, but do not act, then we will continue to take grainy and poorly taken photos on a disposable camera.
The ways in which we can be a more proactive church and address the end goal of true religion, as James encourages us this day, I think the great thing about that is as we move towards this end goal, there's no hidden secret. It doesn't require you to get one of those decoder rings that came in those cereal boxes. It doesn't require a decoder ring or any kind of secret thing. Because as we hear in the very opening words of our reading, God has given to us every generous act, given every perfect gift from above. Friends, we have the tools we need; they are right here with us. And they are inside each and every one of you. You can run through the lists of spiritual gifts that you possess. So there's no secret to decoding our work and our life together; it's right there in the things that God has shown to us. So let us be bold. Let us be brave together as we discern what it means for us to be a people who live out this calling that Christ has put on our lives as we seek to grow not only as individuals but as a community as well. Amen.