Sermon for August 30th

If you were here last Sunday, you heard me say that faith does not simply mean “thinking” about Jesus in the right way. It’s more than that. Today the reading from James points out that faith is not simply “hearing” about Jesus either. Faith comes through hearing, as Paul says in Romans, but just hearing about Jesus does not mean that you suddenly have faith. Faith involves every part of you, you mind, your heart, your ears, your hands and your feet. Yes, we can agree with James that faith without works is surely a dead faith.

But this does not mean that good works create a “living faith” either. That’s the common misunderstanding surrounding these verses of James. In fact, this has been one of the greatest misunderstandings by Christians and non-Christians alike. So much so that it’s made a overweight and manic depressive monk like Martin Luther into a hero of the church just because he pointed it out: We are made righteous by faith alone, not by works prescribed by the law. Why faith alone? Because faith involves everything of course! It’s our natural human tendency to trust in what we do (alone), our good works all by themselves—that’s the great temptation. Trusting in faith alone doesn’t mean there are no good works that will show up, a good tree will produce good fruit Jesus says, faith means we don’t have to measure our salvation by the bushel basket of good that we accomplish in life. Salvation is a free gift given to you by Jesus Christ effective by faith.

There is a story about a old Lutheran pastor who was dying and declared boastfully that he could not remember one good work that he had done. Of course, we wonder what James would say about that! “But faith without works is dead!” he might say. “Don’t’ just be hearers of the word but doers of the word! “ he might say. But imagine this wasn’t simply a story about some old Lutheran pastor but it was the story of one of your beloved family members or friend. And on THEIR death bed they happily told you that they could not remember one good work that they had done. What would you think? “What about all the diapers you changed? What about the fact that you took care of your ailing wife for years who was fighting cancer? What about the money you gave to charities? What do you mean you didn’t do any good works?”

The question is not whether a person has done any good works, but what are they trusting in? What are you trusting in? Your works or the work of God? The greatest gift from God for any person is that, on their dying day, they forget everything they have ever done, good or bad, and just trust in God’s grace. Because when you or I are lying in our graves, we will be trusting in God’s mercy to bring us out--there will be nothing left for us to trust in but that.

But what do we do before our dying day when we are trying to do what is right and keep from doing what is wrong? We know that good works do not create a living faith, but we also know that sin threatens our relationship to God. Jesus never encourages sinning just because you might get away with it. This is a part of the Christian life that we tend to turn away from, intentionally or not. We’ve heard about God’s Law, we’ve thought about it, but while we trust God to love us, we have little faith in the usefulness of God’s commandments for our lives.

Like most everyone, you probably enjoy hearing that Jesus loves you, but this love is even more radical than you might imagine. He not only loves you, but he saves you. From what you may ask? Well, from yourself. Jesus called to the crowd, “Listen to me, all of you, and understand: there is nothing outside a person that by going in can defile, but the things that come out are what defile. For it is from within, from the human heart, that evil intentions come: fornication, theft, murder, adultery, avarice, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, envy, slander, pride, folly. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.” This is a list of things that can hurt you and hurt others.

In today’s gospel story, the Pharisees were asking Jesus why it was that he and his disciples were eating without washing their hands because handwashing was an important Jewish tradition. It differentiated the Jews from the rest of the culture just as the types of food they ate and their ways of treating one another made them distinct. They followed these traditions not because they were just trying to be “religious”, but because God called them to be holy and set apart from the rest of the culture. Jesus makes the point that HIS followers aren’t going to be known for what they eat or do not eat, by what they wear or do not wear, by washing their hands or not. They will be known by their behaviors and, most importantly, by things that are hidden from view, the integrity of their hearts before God. Not what goes in, but what is coming out.

Do you remember any of the list of sins I read? Do you remember even one? There were twelve. And it’s not a comprehensive list. Some would argue that Jesus is simply pointing out our need for salvation, and they are of course correct, but we’ve all gotten into a bad habit of calling ourselves “sinners” and after looking in the mirror, and seeing all of our faults, forgetting them immediately and never even attempting to correct them. Refraining from any particular sin will not save you, but a living faith involves all that you have, including caring enough about yourself and your neighbor to look in the mirror and attempt to make a change. Was there a sin on that list that you would see in the mirror? Will you forget about it after the service or not? Do you care enough to make a change.

Of course, finally we all break all the rules somehow. I hope that you haven’t slept with another person other than your spouse, but Jesus points out that if you’ve ever thought about doing it, you have committed adultery in your heart already. Jesus raises the bar to point out your need for a Savior, but he still intends for you to reform what you’re doing for the sake of protecting and loving others.

But why should we focus so much on sins? Why should we ever talk about sins? Shouldn’t everybody be able to do whatever they feel is right in their heart? If this was a discussion of the constitution then that argument might work, but God’s laws are not about “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness”. It’s a different kind of life, eternal life, liberation from sin that God is interested in.

This short list of 12 sins, are mentioned because Jesus wants to give you faith. When you realize that, at least in your heart and mind, you’ve done everything wrong, I pray that you see your need for salvation. However, don’t forget that these laws are not just there to push you toward a Savior. These rules are also used for another reason, namely, to protect yourself and others. Perhaps your own self-control will only work 85% percent of the time, but isn’t other peoples’ happiness worth the effort? The law isn’t just there to point us to Christ, it is also there for our own health and protection. Don’t just be hearers of the word, don’t just listen to this list of sins and think, “Oh well, can’t be perfect, that sin ain’t so bad, others are worse, I’m only human, what the point in trying.” Instead, be doers of the word and follow the law as best you can, not for your salvation, but for the sake of others. God’s law is written to be heard AND obeyed.

In the tenth chapter of John’s gospel, a woman is caught in the very act of adultery. Jesus points out that, if anyone in the crowd has no sin, they are free to throw the first stone. When they all leave Jesus tells the woman that he does not condemn her either BUT she is to go and SIN NO MORE. What was Jesus talking about, do you think? He wanted her to stop committing adultery, of course! Baptism, forgiveness, God’s love doesn’t give you the right to sin against God’s laws without repenting. Yes, we are all in the same boat, we are sinners, but each of us needs to be aware of the particular sins we struggle with the most and try to keep from doing them, again, not for our salvation, but to love ourselves, our families, our friends and even those people we have not and will not ever meet.

Finally, though, I have to thank James for making the point that Jesus is more than simply another lawgiver. In Jesus, is also freedom from the law of sin and death. Even as you and I work on hindering our favorite sins, we are free to go forth and be doers of the word and not just hearers. Jesus, heard the word from his Father and then DID that word to people. We are called not just to hear the words of judgment and forgiveness, but to give those words of judgment and forgiveness to others as well so that they might realize their sins and recognize their salvation in Jesus Christ.

Do not simply be hearers of the word, but doers of the word. Have you heard one of your favorite sins listed out loud this morning? In the name of Jesus Christ, your sins are forgiven. God’s Judgment and God’s forgiveness have been done to you. Now, ou are free to go and do the word of God to someone else who needs to hear it. Amen.