Sermon Tone Analysis

When we say “religion” what do we really mean?

Bible dictionary calls it

Religion: “A relationship of devotion or fear of God or gods.”

Various types of conduct or ritual practices are included in that concept.

Those rather scholarly definitions aren’t usually what we think of when religion comes up.

More generally, it’s a question of what faith or what church someone belongs to.

note that the percentage of Americans claiming “none” as their religious affiliation is increasing rapidly.

Up to 23% just a few years ago and still rising.

When you dig a bit deeper into attitudes about religion and specifically attitudes about Christianity, we discover that, rather than being the dominant religious group with at least a benign reputation, we are too often distrusted and viewed negatively.

Nearly half of all non-religious adults perceive Christians to be extremist.

(Barna, 2016)

60% of all adults think an attempt to convert others is extreme.

52% say that praying out loud for a stranger is extreme.

Spoiler Alert: We are out of the cultural mainstream.

It seems as though our religion - the practice of our faith - is at worst under attack and at the very least ineffective in the current culture.

What are conscientious followers of Christ supposed to do?

Too often we huddle up in our buildings and pretend that none of this is happening.

Not effective.

Some bold folks go out to “do battle” in the world but as noted last week, we find ourselves fighting the war with people who are not our enemy.

What to do?

Recognize this is not a new problem.

In fact, it’s very much a first century problem that is addressed in the NT.

Our ancestors in the faith were going against the mainstream all the time.

They faced criticism, persecution, alienation in ways we can barely imagine.

(the 1st 15 verses of James 1)

They needed wisdom (skilful application of God’s Word to life) just as we do.

So James, the brother of Jesus, writes to the church very early on with great insight and direction for us.

Religion, James will show us, isn’t only the specific practices of a given group at a certain time.

It’s not only how we do what we do or the traditions we follow.

It’s much deeper than that.

Religion is knowing and relying on beliefs and practices that are eternal.

Our practices have changed somewhat in the past few years and likely will continue to do so.

Will that throw us off our game?

Or will we find and take a firm grip on an eternal religion?

A Source to Trust

We often find ourselves buffeted by conflicting ideas, facts that just don’t match up.

Christians find themselves on opposite sides of debates.

Instead of CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, OAN, Facebook or Twitter, what if we had a better source of wisdom?

A better way to think about our world?

We need:

A Constant Guide

Your spiritual mirror is the Word.

James’ illustration is absurd.

We don’t forget what we look like.

He wants us to consider our spiritual reflection and learn it just as surely as we do every feature on our faces.

That’s going to take some deliberate effort.

We need to “clean out” our heads and hearts to make room for God’s word to live there.

When we rely on God to guide our religion, we get:

A Consistent Result

This is NOT a passive faith.

Nor is it simply ritual.

We practice true, eternal religion when we desire and practice a personal holiness (not holier than thou).

And when we actively seek out opportunities to serve others.

This sounds an awful lot like someone else we know.

John put it this way:

If we’re going to make an impact on the world around us when we rethink our religion.

Not just our practices and beliefs but how we live our religion in the world around us.