Date: September 1, 2024

Scripture: James 1:17-27

Sermon Title: “A True Religion”

Preacher: Rev. Dr. Bob Jon

You can also listen on Podcast from iTunes and Spotify. Search for “Podcasting from Rev. Bob Jon.”

My former church in Connecticut used to host a community lunch every Friday. It drew about 100 people every week. Some came because they were hungry. Some came because they felt lonely and wanted to connect with others. A small group of people from that church cooked and served, while different groups, families, or organizations in the town sponsored the meal and served. Every October, we had the republican committee of the town come to serve the meal with the town mayor, selectmen, and staff. Another Friday in October, the democratic committee came to serve. I thought it was hilarious that we often saw these groups only in October, never to see for the rest of the year. But I often wondered if they could come on the same day, serve the meal, and eat together. 

It is said that more than 40% of Americans reported signs of anxiety or depression during the season of election. This number gets worse every year, as we witness a growing polarization between political parties. Unfortunately, churches are not exempt from this socio-political dynamic. In the recent episode, Greg Sterling, the Dean of Yale Divinity School, says, “I’m very worried that we are going to end up with all red churches and all blue churches, instead of having churches that are purple.” While we claim that we believe in God, as revealed in the Bible, who sent Christ to the world because of God’s love, many Christians are willing to spur words of anger, hatred and frustration against one another, only to celebrate the unity of the church as Christ is One on the World Communion Sunday. 

In his letter, James, the brother of Jesus and leader of Jerusalem church, exhorts Christians to remind them of who they are and how they are to behave in accordance with their faith. He says, “In fulfillment of God’s own purpose God gave birth to us by the word of truth.” As Genesis 1 says, we are created in the image of God which implies intrinsic value in each one of us as a beloved child of God. God is God who generates “every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift.” And God gave us breath as a good gift, blessing, and first fruit to this world. There is an intimate relationship between God and us. God created us in a way that when we love and grow in our love for God, we can find the true joy and happiness that this world cannot offer. 

And because we love our God, James says that there are ways that reflect that love of God. He says we Christians should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger. Let me ask you. How many times have you got yourself into trouble because you were doing just the opposite? It seems that social media these days makes us quick to say what is on our minds without checking the facts or being held accountable for harming others. Not long after my family came to Chelmsford, an Amazon box arrived at my house. It had no name on it. When I opened it, I found a T-shirt that had a drawing of the bowl of kimchi. The text under the drawing said, “I love kimchi!” I will be honest with you. I was surprised and did not know what to do with it. 

Is this from one of the members in our church? Is this from someone in our neighborhood who did not like the fact that a Korean guy was going to be a pastor at an English-speaking congregation? In cases like this, the conference asks the clergy to contact their district superintendent and bring the matter to the bishop’s attention. Should I contact my district superintendent? Some colleagues are quick to bring it to their Facebook account and blast it to everyone, regardless of who they are. I am glad that when I privately shared this matter with my clergy friend, she wisely advised me to pray about it and wait. A few days later, a girl from my former church texted me, “Have you got it?” She was a recent immigrant from another country and was still new to the sensitive issues of racism. But imagine if I brought the matter to the public and blasted everyone? 

When we do not bridle our tongues, as James says, we notice that we often end up doing harm to others rather than doing good. The first of Wesley’s general rules is “Do no harm.” Bishop Rueben Job comments that having the disposition not to harm changes the way we relate to others dramatically. He says, “If I am to do no harm, I can no longer gossip about the conflict. I can no longer speak disparagingly about those involved in the conflict. I can no longer manipulate the facts of the conflict. I can no longer diminish those who do not agree with me and must honor each as a child of God.” Therefore, in his sermon on the mountain, Jesus warns us that being angry with our brothers and sisters is the same as murdering them in our hearts. 

Sometimes, many people try to justify their anger, calling it “holy anger” as we witness violence and injustice inflicted on the poor and marginalized in our society. Martin Luther King Jr. also struggled with anger as he witnessed the impact of racism and segregation in this country. When he was a high school student, he won an oratorical contest. He and his teacher took a bus home. When some white passengers got on, the bus driver ordered King and his teacher to give up their seats and cursed them. He said, “It was the angriest I have ever been in my life.” However, King later learned that non-violent resistance provided a way to turn anger into positive forms of protest. In another incident being angry and indignant, being falsely accused, King remarks, “You must not harbor anger. You must be willing to suffer the anger of the opponent, and yet not return anger.” 

James continues to encourage us that as we meditate and listen to the words of God, do not just remain as hearers but be doers of the word. If we are hearers of the word and not doers, we are like those who look at themselves in a mirror but when they move away, they forget what they look like. So, maybe they constantly look at the mirror thinking that if they just appreciate who they are more, if they just go deeper into who they are, they will know what they are supposed to be. In their recent dialogue, William Willimon and Stanley Hauerwas bemoan the contemporary pastors who are often obsessed with pastoral care and counselling as if their purpose is to heal the wounds of people by going deeper into their stories. Although we cannot completely dismiss care for ourselves, they believe that at some point, we need to respond to the call of Jesus who sends us out to the world in mission. 

Instead, James tells us to look into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and persevere because they would reveal who we are truly and who we are meant to be. For Wesley, the law in this text does not mean all the dietary or priest regulations that the ancient Hebrews had to practice. Rather, these laws reflect the heart of God who is love, as Jesus summarized the greatest of all the laws as “You shall love your God with all your heart, and all with your soul, and with all your mind. And you shall love your neighbor as yourself.” These laws tell us that we are created as the children of God who can find our true happiness and joy by loving our God and finding our purpose when we love and serve our neighbors.

Again, James says, “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God is this; to care for orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unstained by the world.” Again, Greg Sterling says that he has his own political views and he is not shy about it. But he acknowledges that not everyone is going to see things the same way he does. But he hopes that Christians could create communities of faith where differences are recognized and allowed within those communities. In this way, churches can be models for the larger community. Models that create a room of grace, forgiveness, generosity, and peace. People may not agree with one another on every political, social, and economic issue. But the church can come together in their compassion for the poor, sick, orphans, and widows. 

 In Bloomington, Indiana, the political officials were concerned about some extreme confrontations in their communities, including a Republican candidate who was screamed at while she was staffing a booth at a farmer’s market. So, the leaders of both parties came up with an idea to come together and help their neighbors in need—Habitat for Humanity. The house under construction was for a woman, her two children, and her mother. 11 politicians came together with a common goal – to help this family get their first home ever. Some of these volunteers had run against each other in the previous campaigns. Some of them had been their worst enemies on Twitter. Bitterness and grievances turned into laughter and smiles as they listened to one another and found their common ground. 

We also come here from many different places. We all carry different family histories, cultures, and backgrounds. We all have different stories – stories of wounds, joy, pride, and tears. And yet, if we believe that we are brought here by the grace of God without any conditions, James tells us that our actions would reflect our faith and love for God who has compassion for people like orphans and widows. If we believe in Christ who dries every tear, we can live out the kingdom of God here on earth, as we also amend the wounds of one another and wipe the tears of one another. James admonishes us to be quick to listen rather than speak. As Jesus says that seek ye first the kingdom of God and God’s righteousness, maybe we can start it by seeking to listen to God first. 

Amen.