James… And The Church

WED., AUG. 23, 2000, 8:23 AM
OFFICE, PULLIAM

Most of the “old familiar people” were there this morning, but “displaced” to an auxiliary room… and there was not much attention to and discussion of the text for today. Instead the focus seemed to be on the Church, with the “mixed up” interior sort of symbolizing the divisions and discontent in at least some of the congregation.

Yours is a relatively small congregation, but with a long history of life on that corner in downtown Carbondale. It has always been a group with factions in relation to “how the church should be.” Now you have an Interim Minister, who’s task is to preach, counsel, and keep you as much together as possible until a new Senior Pastor is chosen. You are no longer on the Session, so you don’t have a clear picture of how the “politics” are playing out… but you never were much interested in such… or active in the “political” sense.

The further complication is the building-addition project, with entrances and passage-ways blocked and “re-routed.” For some it represents progress toward a larger, finer church. For others it seems more like chaos and disruption. You’re not sure how you feel… where you are between these two extremes.

The impression you got from this current re-reading of James was similar to that of this description of the church. James was writing to new Christians, and he wanted both to be helpful AND to warn them about what can happen in a group of people who are not fully and deeply committed to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. The Church is an organization of people… and, having given years of service on Sessions of four Churches, you realize that rarely is there complete agreement on issues, and rarely is there sufficient income to accomplish all that everyone wants. Then there often are clashes over what priorities should be, with temptations to use “power” to get what seems best.

In the past you have played more active roles. Now the desire to exert or resist pressures is ebbing. It still is “your church,” but… will it continue to be so?

James “preaches” that faith without works is dead. If you claim to have faith in Me you must express this in some tangible useful way. Over your adult years you have done this fairly well… sometimes even in leadership positions. You have no such official positions now, and are not likely to seek or be sought for such. Bringing the bananas and sweet rolls for this Wednesday morning breakfast-Bible study is your only… and self-assigned… active role.

Now, of course, “works” can refer to actual physical activity, such as mowing the church lawns. Or it can mean service on official Boards OR ushering OR greeting. But in your case – you, as Bob Russell – I want it to mean that your faith in Me, as the Triune God, must be demonstrated 3 or 4 times a week in sitting down in some quiet place and hearing Me… and writing what you hear. Further, these Teachings shall be kept in order, and many of them, with son John Patrick’s help, will be transformed into a one page printed form.

Then in each 3 month quarter of each year I want you to share some of My thoughts, ideas, even words with at least a small “audience,” through Our Ruminations. In this way your faith in Me and My faith in and relationship with you are shown forth in tangible works.

James was a companion of Mine, as Jesus, and he was involved in other “works,” but over these many years records of such have been lost. So his most memorable WORK is this short letter to young, inexperienced Christians, in which he is both a gentle counselor and a demanding “task master.” This Letter helped the Church grow and mature and hence was adopted as Holy Scripture. These Teachings of Mine to you will never be such (unless, of course I wanted them to be), but they are to be your major contribution to modern spiritual thought… for they are faith, translated into written words – a Work.