James: Ordinary People, Extraordinary God

     James was the brother of Jesus.  James witnessed the miracles, but as written in John 7, he was skeptical.  When James witnessed the resurrected Jesus, he went from skeptic to a faithful leader (1 Corinthians 15:7).  This ordinary brother struggled with his faith.   

     Please read James 3:2-12.  “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me.”  I was encouraged to believe it, but I didn’t.  While we may try to mask the pain of words, words can break our spirits, wound our hearts and deeply hurt us.  Sadly, our heart wounds do not heal as easily as cuts on our skin.  Conversely, words can connect, convey love, encourage and validate.  

     So, with thought and introspection, I ask us: Did we compromise another human being, make someone sound worse because of our pride, gossip, tell someone else’s news, participate in trash-talk, interrupt and interject not giving someone the opportunity to speak or explain themselves, or respond to a post or text with a less than Christian attitude?  Would you be comfortable in broadcasting every conversation you participated in this week?  Being asked those questions and having a few moments to mull them over may cause discomfort.   James encourages us to get real, remove blinders and stop finger pointing.  With James, we know where we stand.  

      I was introduced to WAIT by author Anne Lamott.  It is a “club” with an acronym mantra only…Why Am Italking?  As we approach a new week with many opportunities to interact, let’s pause and ask ourselves, that tongue taming question…Why am I talking? 

     We struggle and fall short, and we need to work at using the tongue for good, praising God.  Just as a vine cannot bear olives one created in the image of God should not cause ill feelings.  We need to be aware of our inconsistencies, our hypocrisy and strive to align our words with our faith.  

     James asks us to imagine what a spark does to a forest.  I suppose the first question is whether it’s a controlled fire or not?  Just like a healing or encouraging word, a flame can generate safety, offer warmth and remove the chill out of a situation.  Nonetheless, uncontrolled sparks destroy.  Words too, can consume, devastate and damage beyond repair.  James tells us that God is offended by that toxicity.  Frankly, our speech reveals our character.  In Matthew 12, Jesus said, “Out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks. The good person brings good things out …, and the evil one brings evil things out...”  

     James writes that the tongue corrupts the whole body.  Like a crisp white shirt with a coffee dribble, when something beautiful is stained, the mark is so obvious we cannot unfix our eyes from it.  This correlates to words of anger and disrespect in the heart.  We cannot put the toothpaste back into the tube.  Church, here’s the point…we cannot reflect God when we allow our tongue to corrupt us.

    Taming the tongue means to refrain.  Silence fosters listening and listening demonstrates love.  It is hard to argue alone.  Defusing, deescalating, not participating and respectfully agreeing to disagree and politely walking away may be the answer.  Conversely, words of love and respect, may resolve many moments.  

      To make this practical, I offer a widely publicized acrostic THINK.   T - is it true?   H - is it helpful?    I - is it inspiring?    N - is it necessary?   K - is it kind?   If not, then don't say it.  We need to be mindful as we reflect God’s image and as we respond to others who are also made in God’s image.  

     Finally, we need to seek God's help.  Whether our downfall is gossip, sarcasm, exaggeration, complaining or speaking harshly, we need to pray.   James’ nickname was Old Camel Knees.  Camels’ knees are calloused because they get relief when kneeling…and that’s what James did, he spent a lot of time on his knees in prayer.  His life was transformed when he met the resurrected Jesus.  Our lives are also transformed when we have a personal relationship with Jesus.  As Christ’s ambassadors we are expected to represent God’s character in our words!  And all God’s people said, Amen!

Blessings,

Pastor Kerry

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