September 1, 2024

James 1:17-27

Christ the King- Epiphany Church

The Rev Dcn Michael Hamilton

Please pray that the words of my mouth and the meditation of all our hearts may be pleasing and acceptable to God. Amen (pbs)

Can anyone recall living in a time where the public discourse, and political arena, has been more separated, more hateful, or filled with disregard for life? Maybe this is history repeating itself if we imagine what the Native Americans felt when the Europeans arrived. Possibly this was the political fear that the Jews, Catholics, homosexuals, Roma gypsies, and other despised groups that were surrounded by Swastika flags experienced. Whether today’s events are a repeat of past atrocities or something new, I believe there is an urgency to change the path that we are on, and I realize that the change that is needed, must begin with me.

With that said, I am immediately stepping into a divide as I am about to talk about this morning’s reading from the Book of James. Without stirring up, or ignoring the differences, the Lutheran perspective and the Episcopal perspective co-exist with some tension in reading James. At one point in his career, Martin Luther stated, “St James’s epistle is really an epistle of straw, compared to the others, it has nothing of the nature of the gospel about it.” In particular, the passage that really is a dividing point is, “So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead.” For theologians like Martin Luther, this is the most troublesome as they hold that human participation is not needed in the process of salvation. In other words, salvation is a gift freely given by our most generous God and there is nothing we can do to earn or deserve it.

If I can take the liberty of leaving those tensions and differences on the table for a later time, I would point to four take away messages that are found in this Epistle and I would like to build upon them.

· I   How we act in difficult times, or during trials, is a mirror of our true faith life

· II   How we treat those less fortunate that we are is a key concept of being Christian

· III  How we speak and relate to others is the strip down version of the Golden Rule

· IV   How money influences our life is directly tied to our understanding of proper use 

of wealth and who our neighbor is

James’ aim is not to give a new theological presentation of the gospel. Rather, he writes his book to those who already believe the gospel, like all of us here today, and his goal is to help us live faithfully as followers of Jesus.

In our political discussions today, is it possible to listen, hear, and attempt to entertain the other person’s feelings, beliefs, and desires? Is every issue a pitched battle that I must engage in as an armed warrior that is ready to do battle? I see ‘discussions’ happening where one person is talking and the other is anticipating the end of the thought even before it is expressed and is already formulating a counterpoint and barking out their thought. This behavior engages the other to do the same and there isn’t any opportunity for either one to hear what is being said. Each vying to drowned out the other.

James encourages us to be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger- I can’t imagine a better suggestion in how to talk, and be, in relationships ‘across the aisle’. Red Sox vs Yankees, Red vs Blue, heterosexual vs LGBTQIA+, or even parent to child and sibling to sibling. I don’t believe every issue that I disagree with you on, is a matter of life and death or necessitating that I, ‘change your mind or you change mine.’ 

One strategy that is currently rampant and particularly disturbing is the playing of the “God or Christian card.” I find it disingenuous and divisive. Have you noticed how diametrically opposed sides can each claim they are following Jesus, adhering to Christian values, living the Gospel message, and have God on their side? James would offer the use of the four tenets of his letter as a tool to assist in evaluating those easy to make and difficult to prove assertions; during tough times and political struggles will the less fortunate in society be supported or abused? Is the discussion fair and respectful? And, if money is involved is someone being oppressed for the benefit of the rich and powerful? These measuring sticks are not an indicator of a welfare state with entitlement programs as some would oppose, it is simply biblical. It is biblical enough that if we vote against entitlements, that does not exonerate us from our individual responsibility of caring for poor. Time and again, Jesus has entreated us that to be in relationship with God, one must not take advantage of the orphan, the widow, the hungry, the naked, the lonely, the stranger, the imprisoned, or the sick. In our political arena, often these are the very people that we legislate against, build communities to exclude, or write tax laws on the backs of the poor, and frequently to the benefit of, the rich. For the most part, In the United States we have a two party system with Republicans and Democrats holding the largest share of voters, with that as a background, can either side now say that their God card is legitimate?  One might think that this is a socialist view, a woke view, or a pro-large government approach to governance of the country but I do not believe that is true. There is room for conservative, liberal, or a mixed value of governance without the oppression of the vulnerable. From our perspective of being a Christian, whether one party or another is voted in, we are not exonerated from our personal obligation of being the neighbor, the instrument of blessing, or the good Samaritan. I am constantly required to be aware if there is a food bank I can regularly donate to. I must figure out if I can support fair wage/ living wage legislation. Will I commit to no child left behind initiatives? Is free school breakfast or lunch something that I agree with? Do I disagree with an open border? If yes, am I willing to support proper legislation that is fair for immigration? Will I volunteer in some capacity in making that legislation happen? Can I stop purchasing items that depend upon illegal migrant labor? Am I willing to pay the fair market value for fruits and vegetables from California, Texas, and Florida?  Housecleaning, yardwork, roofing, nursing home expenditures for a loved one and childcare? Not only within our borders but sweat shop, child labor, forced labor camps of sneakers, clothing, and processed foods are all supported on the fragility of survival, and I have more of a hand in all of that than I wish to admit to. I might be challenged by some people for delivering a ‘political’ sermon but in fact, I am only using current issues to show where we might think about exercising our faith, our bible beliefs, and the mandates that call us to the Eucharistic Feast and the One Body of Christ. It is not about politics, but rather how I exist as a Christian in a political system.

Regardless of my Red, Blue, Purple, or Green voting tendencies I have baptismal vows that call me to respect the human dignity of all people and that includes those that I disagree with. I said in the beginning that I need to change how I participate in public discourse, and I believe that. I do not have to abdicate my beliefs, and nor do I need to verbally use Christ or the Bible as my proof of righteousness because we were warned against this too. To swear by heaven or earth is a spiritual-sounding way to get around using God’s name such that it gives us an escape clause to not carry out what we are pledging to do. Jesus said let your “Yes” be “Yes” and your “No” be “No” so that there would be an integrity about our word and the commitments we make.

I would hope that this sermon is one of encouragement rather than discord because we have enough of that. If it was difficult to listen to, I will pray that the final message that you hear are statements from our childhood that still make sense today-

- Actions speak louder than words.

- It is not my sandbox, and others are welcome to play here too.

- Play fair and don’t hurt anybody

- And finally, a giant ‘thank you’ to Sister Kevin with her pitchpipe in the 2nd grade for teaching me this little ditty that I still use today; “And they will know we are Christians by our love, by our love. Yes, they will know we are Christians by our love.”  (to the reader, this last bit was poorly sung, off key, and you missed nothing in the presentation 😊)