Faith That Loves

This message has some hard lessons for Christianity. Soren Kierkegaard, Danish Philosopher and theologian once said, “The human race in the course of time has taken the liberty of softening and softening Christianity until

What is the Mark of true and acceptable Religion?

a. Controlled speech that displays a changed heart

James 1:26-2:13 “26 If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless.

Another illustration: I’m sure that we all can remember or heard something that goes like this the preach with a hammer in his hand on work day at the church. And someone is following close by but not doing a thing. Finally, the preacher turns and asked why. The man answered. “I’m just listening to hear what you say when you hit your thumb. His curious parishioner understood that would be the existential moment of truth. The same could be said of the domestic stresses of the home, where the mouth unfailingly trumpets one’s essence.

What is our value system today? How do we set a standard of what comes out of the mouth? What is right and what is wrong? In our society we seem to except language and emotions that are not pictured as proper in scripture.

I’m guilty of it and each one of us at sometime in our little way let people know that we don’t approve accept or let other be part of our family. There are even times when we displease our family - yes it is wrong buttttt you say it happens. Yes but what does James say here and through out his book we will see how we are God’s witness on this earth and we have an example to those around us. But everyone does it! yes but is it right? That is the question and what does it lead us into.....

B. Sacrificial care for those in need

They are helpless

We must be sefless.

Actually this verses deal with responsibility of Christian living. Kierkegaard deals with this in his thoughts on the softening of the Christian life. What does God’s instruction to those that ask and how does the law fit?

1. You see in Jesus’ time there was not an insurance program or Medicare to care for families. It was the responsibility of the family and that was to care for the elderly, the orphans, and those in need. It is like the Good Samaritan He cared when the people around him didn’t.

2. When Israel came out of Egypt and the Law was given First it was God and the worship of God the living God (not idio’s) Second was family and the care of the family. Why Because of Love and family.

Another illustration of the inequalities is Found in the Story of of George Muller and the orphanages in England and China. It wasn’t his riches But his trust in God.

Another one that was new and yet to me even more shocking was the story of William and Catherine Booth. The Methodist church had become rather a high society and the less fortunate and poor were kept out of sight. It shares that he took a group from the city who were not so nice and brought them into the front of the church. It cost him his membership and out of the church. Later he would start the Salvation army.

Christians are very tutorial, society orientated and we forget from where we have come from. I could share more but the point is Christians have changed from the fall till now we desire to be important, and God wants us to learn to trust in him for everything. Do we think he will fail? I it is a struggle that can only find it’s answer in Christ and what God did by sending his son to pay the penalty for our Sin.

27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

c. AS I conclude this section Remember What we read in the Psm 68:10 ‘God, You provided for the poor by Your goodness”

What we read in the New Testament Gal 2:10 “They asked only that we would remember the poor, which I made every effort to do”

1 My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory.

2 For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in,

3 and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,”

4 have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? 5 Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him? 6 But you have dishonor…”

a. Clear separation from the ways of the world (1:27-2:13)

i. We are captivated by the glory of Christ.

ii. We are gripped by the grace of Christ.

iii. We are devoted to the law of Christ.

iv. We are cognizant of the judgement of Christ.

v. We are a reflection of the mercy of Christ.

II. The Manifestation of True and Acceptable Religion.