Finding Equal Faith

This message is being posted late but it is from the Fourth of July. Follow the link for the audio or read the text below.

http://www.mediafire.com/file/2mmrrjdytdt/Finding Equal Faith.mp3

“Finding Equal Faith on the Fourth” / July 4, 2010 / James 2:1-13

CREATED EQUAL
On this day 224 years ago, the Continental Congress adopted a statement that would forever change the course of American and world history. The Declaration of Independence became the announcement to England and the world that life in America was about to change. The most famous and history changing statement read as follows:
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”
While there is considerable debate as to whether our country was a Christian nation at its founding, there is little debate that the Declaration of Independence is a theological treatise as well as a political one. This beginning statement in the preamble is a statement firmly rooted in the Scriptures. It is that theological affirmation that I want to explore briefly as we celebrate the Independence of the United States of American.
From a theological perspective the equality of all people is a predominant theme in the Scriptures, especially the New Testament. Jesus speaks of breaking down social distinctions and class barriers. In Matthew 23:11-12 he says, “The greatest among you will be your servant. 12 All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and all who humble themselves will be exalted.” Paul writes in Galatians 3:28, “There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.”
As we continue on our “Journey with James,” we have arrived at chapter 2. James concluded chapter 1 with a call to practice both true spirituality and pure religion. In this first section of chapter 2, James continues along the same ethic. While James exhorts Christians to remain unpolluted by the world, he gives us a clear example of how to do that in James 2. The message is pretty straight forward and easy to understand. “My brothers [and sisters], as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don’t show favoritism.”
We know that James is writing to Christians that were persecuted by the rich and they are now showing favoritism to them in their meetings. James tells them to stop favoring the rich over the poor because the poor are favored by God and promised to inherit the kingdom. In James 2:2-7, James in a straightforward fashion explains that there is no good reason to show preference to the rich.

OPPOSING EQUALITY
We should avoid favoritism because it leads to greater sins.
In verse 9, James takes a different slant on the sin of favoritism. Listen to this: “But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. 10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. 11 For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.”
Showing favoritism isn’t just about common sense for James, it is about keeping the entire law, to bringing honor and glory to God Almighty. I think the sin of favoritism can act as a gateway to greater sins. When we start think of certain people more worthy of our attention than others we engage in ungodly behavior. We are able to justify even adultery and murder when we don’t see and treat all people as equals. We have consistently seen this happen in our own country.
While the Founding Father’s wrote the Declaration of Independence as a voice for equally, they were not practicing it. The slave trade was active and thriving in 1776. White owners were buying and selling men, women, and children in Africa to work on the plantations, farms, and in their homes. They were pushing the Native American peoples out of their lands through violence and deceit. Even women’s rights were limited and the right to vote was denied. The Declaration writers split from England because they didn’t have equality. They failed to see the sins of inequality in this country. Of course, not all of the founders were blind to these sins. Most of all, the sin of slavery and many saw the Declaration of Independence as a significant influence in the eventual abolition of the slave trade and slavery all together.
It is important to acknowledge our sins as a country and as individuals, because it enables us to pursue the things that God calls us to.

THE ROYAL LAW
James calls to the LAW OF LOVE.
In verse 8, James writes, “If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself, you are doing right.” The way to avoid favoritism is to pursue the royal or supreme law which is summarized by loving God and loving others. There is no other act that directly undermines favoritism than seeking to love all people regardless of material wealth, position, or prominence.
The law of love means we treat everyone as equals. The principle of equality in the Declaration of Independence helped guide our country to abolish slavery, institute great women’s rights and to make amends for the sins against Native Americans. The work of equality is an ongoing work. As a country, we have by no means arrived, but we are seemingly moving in the right direction. Our human condition craves the power and prestige feed favoritism. It will be difficult to completely eliminate it but we must hear the call to pursue the law of love. When we seek to love all people and to treat them as equals before God, we will be “doing right.”

The law of love leads to freedom for all people. The other reason we, must pursue the law of love is because it leads to freedom for all people. Jesus came and died in order to set us free from the law of sin and death. It is God’s will that we all live free to serve the Lord. By pursuing the law of love, we works towards the freedom of all people. The law of love frees people from the chains of bigotry, hatred, racism, and favoritism. For this reason, love must propel us to pursue freedom for all people. The law of love must drive us to act boldly on the behalf of others.
We cannot be truly free if others are actively being oppressed. In v. 12 and 13 James ends the section with these words: “12 Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, 13 because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!” We will all be judged one day by the law of love. We need to work towards that goal. We are called to how mercy to all people. It is the mercy and love of God that holds the power to transform the world.
We haven’t rectified every injustice and inequality in this country, but we are moving towards perfection. We must make it our goal to be perfected in love and to be guided by the law of love. We may not be able to fix every wrong in the country but you can change how you interact with those around you. We can work towards freedom for all in our lives, in our communities. As a church, we can strive to treat all people’s equal. We must stay true to it. The law of love is corrosive and persistent. It will undermine the forces of wickedness, evil and oppression but we must faithfully to pursue it.

CONCLUSION
We can rejoice and celebrate the freedom of this country because there is ultimate freedom in God through Christ Jesus. We are truly all in Christ Jesus. We are a country and a people that seek the royal law, law of love in God.
As I conclude this morning, we are going to finish the service with Holy Communion. To begin, I want to lead us through an act of confession. We have broken the law of love and shown favoritism to others. When we confess our sins to God we are forgiven and renewed by the love of God. Through the act of confession, we can discover the freedom of God and we can share the freedom and love of God to others.

CONFESSION AND COMMUNION
Spend a few moments reflecting on how you have hurt your God, other people, and yourself:
… shown favoritism
…judged unjustly
…broken the royal law of love
… not spoken up for the voiceless
…defended the weak
…cared for the poor.

Reflect on the love of Christ that forgives all sins. The love that went to a cross and died so that you might be free. Receive God’s forgiveness.

Ask yourself, how can you speak and act according to the law of love? How can you be committed to bringing freedom to all peoples?