Live the Word…Change the World

Brother Square Toes

Years ago, when I was teaching English, one of the poems that I introduced to the kids was from Rudyard Kipling. It was named “If”. I thought the poem stood alone but it actually was a part of a short story called “Brother Square Toes”. The story follows an English cabin boy who befriends Seneca Indians, runs wild in the woods, meets leaders like Red Jacket (an Indian) and George Washington. The purpose of the story was to teach maturity, duty, and leadership. That’s the backstory…here’s the advice a father gives to his son.

If you can keep your head when all about you Are losing theirs and blaming it on you; If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you, But make allowance for their doubting too: If you can wait and not be tired by waiting, Or being lied about, don't deal in lies, Or being hated don't give way to hating, And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise; If you can dream—and not make dreams your master; If you can think—and not make thoughts your aim, If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster And treat those two impostors just the same: If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools, Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken, And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools; If you can make one heap of all your winnings And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss, And lose, and start again at your beginnings ⁠And never breathe a word about your loss: If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew To serve your turn long after they are gone, And so hold on when there is nothing in you ⁠Except the Will which says to them: 'Hold on!' If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue, Or walk with Kings—nor lose the common touch, If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you, If all men count with you, but none too much: If you can fill the unforgiving minute With sixty seconds' worth of distance run, Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it, ⁠And—which is more—you'll be a Man, my son![7]

I’ve often thought about those values. Integrity, character, self-control, a dreamer but also grounded, and courage just to name a few. The problem is…we admire those qualities more than we live them. I fall short many times…we all do.

The Pursuit of Perfect

We return to the book of James this week, and I intend for us to look at the values that James covers. I guess, in a way, this is the “If” poem of James.

James talks about perfection. James stresses the goal of being perfect. He uses the word perfect7 times. In the Greek language the word is teleios and mean “wholeness” or “integrity”. God’s design is for Christians to be whole and complete, not fractured and inconsistent. At the same time, he admits that we fall short

James 3:2 NIV

We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check.

Does the fact that we stumble mean that we shouldn’t try? Absolutely not! James doesn’t expect you to achieve flawless moral perfection in your current life. Rather, perfection is ultimately an eschatological gift—something towards which Christians are constantly to strive with all their power, but which will not in fact be attained until the culmination of the new age of salvation.

But we ARE in a process of character development that is rooted in obedience. James shows us that faith is perfected by works and enduring suffering. We manifest our love for God and for others with deeds of kindness and loving our neighbors.

The “If’s” of James

So far, we have looked at what James has said about unity in Christ, the life with have in Christ, how difficulties work for us, to pray big prayers, and, today, some very practical principles that reveal the working of our faith within us.

I’ve taken a good portion of the practical instructions of James and categorized it into 3 obvious truth statements: (1) If we are in Christ, shouldn’t we do good? (2) If we are in Christ, shouldn’t we be good? And (3) If we are in Christ, shouldn’t we speak life?

The answer to these questions is “Yes”, each and every time. Let’s see what James says…

IF We are in Christ, Shouldn’t We…Do Good?

James 1:22–25 NIV

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.

The Word of God is, effectively, a mirror. As a minister it is part of my responsibility with every message or teaching that I do, to include a conclusion that invites the group to respond to the information. Sometimes that response is repentance, surrender, life change, or, perhaps, it is to become aware of a truth. That is using the Word of God as a mirror. The incorrect response is to brush it off. Information without transformation is deception.

In the 2nd chapter, James makes it clear that we need to put feet to the truth that we hear from God.

James 2:14–18 NIV

What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds.

James goes on to show how Abraham showed up with his son Isaac. The Bible speaks of Abraham as  “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend.” Rahab, a prostitute in Jericho, became a hero and an ancestor of Jesus because she did something. She hid the spies.

If we call ourselves Christians we ought to be doing good!

IF We are in Christ, Shouldn’t We…Be Good?

Doing and being are different things. In this next passage James talks about the importance of listening and self-control. But the overarching issue is that Christian behavior should not reflect the immorality of the culture. Culture says: ‘Follow your heart.’ James says: ‘Submit your heart.’”

James 1:19–21 NIV

My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.

The Barna Group does cultural surveys in the US. In an article titled, “The Interplay Between Beliefs and Values” the Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University listed their findings in 2023. The study found that only a small percentage of people actually lived integrated, consistent faith values; i.e. good character (e.g., kindness, character, humility); faith-centeredness (e.g., Christian faith, religious freedom); good citizenship (e.g., civic duty, patriotism); industriousness (e.g., hard work, financial thrift, economic equality); and personal boundaries (e.g., moderation, unrestrained choice, absolute moral truth, simple lifestyle).[1]

Beware of the worldly mentality that embraces a faith with immorality! Remember,

2 Timothy 3:1–5 NIV

But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.

Often you will hear these people complain about the “legalism” of religion. Although religion can be empty, it is not because God left it…a man’s heart did. A good heart looks like this…

James 3:13–18 NIV

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.

The wisdom that comes from heaven is … pure. To be fruitful for God, we must have moral and spiritual integrity. It is also peace loving. This is peace that goes beyond inner peace; it is opposed to strife. It is peace between people, and between people and God. It must be peace that affects the community. Christians must not only prefer peace, but they should also seek to spread it.

It is gentle at all times. This is the opposite of self-seeking. It does not demand its own right. To be gentle is to make allowances for others, to temper justice with mercy. It is the kind of treatment that we would like to receive from others.

This wisdom is also willing to yield to others. Heavenly wisdom is reasonable, flexible—willing to listen and to change. Just as good soldiers willingly follow orders from their superiors, people with heavenly wisdom willingly follow God’s orders and respond to his correction.

This wisdom is also full of mercy and good deeds. God’s wisdom is full of God’s gracious forgiveness. And his love leads to practical action, helping and serving others. We should be willing to forgive even when the problems we are facing are someone else’s fault.

God’s wisdom shows no partiality, meaning single-minded and free from prejudice toward people and without double-mindedness toward God (1:5–8). Finally, it is always sincere, meaning “unhypocritical.” God’s wisdom makes people genuine.[2]

And if James hasn’t stepped on your toes yet…he’s about to.

IF We are in Christ, Shouldn’t We…Speak Life?

Our heart has a habit of showing up in our words. Some of us don’t have a faith problem, we have a mouth problem.

James 1:26 NIV

Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless.

In the context of marriage, the Gottman Institute has identified 6 things that predict a divorce:

#1 – Harsh startup: when discussions begin with criticism and sarcasm

#2 – 4 Horsemen of Negativity. Criticism, contempt, defensiveness, and stonewalling.

(these, obviously, are controlled by our words!)

#3 – Flooding; #4 – Body Language; #5- Failed Repair Attempts; #6 – Bad Memories

Whether it is our marriage, our workplace, or in our community…words can destroy us. The same things that destroy marriages, destroy churches.

James 3:3–6 NIV

When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.

James 3:9–10 NIV

With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.

I think this is especially powerful when we realize that James wasn’t writing to a bar room community. He was writing to Christians! When blessing and cursing come out of the same mouth that mouth has become polluted. We can’t allow it to continue.

What should we do about it?

“If’s” Need to Become Our Reality

At the beginning, we read those words:“If you can…” A father describing maturity. Character. Strength.

But here’s the difference… Kipling gives us an ideal to strive for. James gives us a life to surrender to.

Because Christianity is not: “If you can do this…you’ll become something great.” It is: “Because Christ lives in you…you can live differently.”

So now the question isn’t just:

· If you can stay strong…

· If you can control yourself…

· If you can rise above…

The real question is: If Christ is truly in you…what should your life look like?  Shouldn’t we…

· Do good?

· Be good?

· Speak life?

Not perfectly… But progressively. Not to earn salvation… But because we’ve been changed by it.

So today…

· Don’t just hear the Word.

· Don’t just admire it.

· Don’t just agree with it.

· Live it.

And when you do… You won’t just change your life— You will shine in a world that desperately needs it.

[1]https://georgebarna.com/2023/02/the-interplay-between-beliefs-and-values/

[2]Bruce Barton et al., Life Application New Testament Commentary(Wheaton, IL: Tyndale, 2001), 1084.