|
“Prove it.” Behind those two simple words
lies a challenge, spoken or unspoken. When playing
basketball, a good friend and talented basketball player
waits for an opposing player say something like, “I’m
going to shut you down,” or “You won’t score on me.” He
loves the challenge.
In the spring of my eighth grade year, I
remember my earth science and homeroom teacher, Mrs.
Goodwin, make the bold statement, “No one can earn an A
in my class and receive a ‘U,’ unsatisfactory in
conduct.” I remember rising up from the blacked-topped
science table, the ones with propane jets and wash
sinks, and saying to myself, “that sounds like a
challenge.” Sitting at the table as an eighth-grader, I
made no connection between the subject matter of earth
science and my behavior; so I set out to prove her
wrong, and had a lot of fun, for while.
James says if we are wise and understand
God’s ways, then prove it. No wonder the book of James
challenges people. Ask people familiar with Scripture
and you will find James stirs up either love or scorn.
People who emphasize faith in action love the book of
James; people who stress belief over behavior loathe the
book of James.
James contrasts worldly wisdom versus godly
wisdom. Worldly wisdom forms people whose aim is to gain
everything imaginable. Worldly wisdom produces people,
driven by jealousy and selfish ambition, who step over
people, climbing the ladder of success. Worldly wisdom
yields corporate executives who sell out company
shareholders for personal gain. Worldly wisdom creates
people who say one thing, but do another.
Godly wisdom, on the other hand, forms
people who willingly, almost without thinking, unite
belief and behavior. Godly wisdom produces people who
strive to live out the Great Commandments to love God
with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to
love our neighbors as we love ourselves. Godly wisdom
creates a people who put love into action in service to
other people.
As Jesus confronts his crucifixion, we see
the competition between Godly wisdom and earthly wisdom.
Pilate challenges Jesus to defend himself; yet Jesus
remains silent. The crowd mocks Jesus, tempting him to
save himself since he claimed to have the power to raise
the Temple of God in three days. Jesus stares into the
face of worldly wisdom enticing him to save himself.
Instead, with humility Jesus displays Godly wisdom by
sacrificing himself to save humanity. Jesus lays aside
selfish ambition to lead us into an everlasting
relationship with God. The Holy Spirit calls us to
respond to God’s grace, inviting us into eternal
relationship with God.
James reminds us God is forming a people
will love Him and will share with the world, our
experience of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.
James challenges us to examine the relationships between
beliefs and behavior. James gives very wise counsel for
living a solid, God-centered life: control the tongue,
submit to God, and do not boast of tomorrow, faith
without works is dead. In short: live what you say you
believe. Long ago, the Church began observing Lent prior
to Easter so Christians would examine ourselves to see
if the lives we live correspond to the faith we claim.
During Lent, we examine ourselves, discerning how
faithful we are in living in response to God’s grace
given in Jesus Christ. We search our lives to find
evidence of “good deeds done with the humility that
comes from wisdom.” We inspect our lives to find
evidence of fruitful living, not out of jealousy or
selfish ambition, but out of love for God and for
neighbor. We scan our lives for the viruses of jealousy
and selfishness that lie hidden beneath the surface.
Observing Lent prepares us for celebrating
the miracle of the Resurrection. A disbelieving society
now confronts us as we celebrate the foundation of the
Christian faith: the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from
the dead. Most often, you will hear preachers describe
the difference between God and the current world that
deny God’s existence. Moments ago, you heard me proclaim
James’ contrast of Godly and earthly wisdom. On rare
occasions though, God and a disbelieving world actually
join forces in challenging the Church. Unlike the lack
of relationship between earth science and classroom
conduct, belief in Jesus Christ as our Resurrected Lord
and Savior and behavior are related. A skeptical society
challenges us to prove the reality of Jesus’
resurrection from the dead. God and our distrustful
world connect faith and action. God and a suspicious
world relate belief to behavior. You say you are a
follower of Christ. God and the disbelieving word join
voices to proclaim to Christians: “Prove it.” Unlike my
8th grade science class, you cannot receive
an “A” in belief while earning a “U” in conduct. May we
love the challenge! May we live for the challenge!
|
