Reaching Into the "Rough Areas"

Proper 17 Year B: Psalm 15, James 1:17-27, Mark 7:1–8, 14–15, 21–23

I have always enjoyed the stories of those who have travelled for their work, who have gotten an introduction to other cultures more deeply than merely taking a vacation. Retired veterans are particularly interesting to listen to. My work as a school bus driver has also introduced me to people I would never have met otherwise, as I have driven into areas of our district I rarely go.

One thing we often hear about our school district is that it is “in a rough area.” We have gangs, drug-dealers, drive-by shootings, poverty, racial tensions; just about every social ill imaginable and many you would never dream of. My response to those saying that we live and work in a “rough area” is to acknowledge it, but point out that our kids live there, too. We can’t avoid it just because it is troubled, we must work all the harder to provide a future of possibilities and fulfilment for the most at-risk and innocent.

Just recently, I picked up a student headed for school, and noticed police tape all over the property next door, a small market. A young man had been shot and killed there, and when a group of folks held a vigil for him, someone driving by sprayed them with bullets. A couple of blocks away, another person was shot dead in the street in broad daylight. Such stories are becoming more and more common. Our kids, and by that I mean all kids, not just ours by birth, are witnesses of such violence and loss of life.

Shortly after I started driving, I was covering an elementary school route that went through this “rough” area, where a large number of our students live. The route had two stops, one big group of Latino kids, and then a few Russian kids at a stop two blocks away. When this second group got on, there were “boos” and other derogatory remarks directed their way. As a new driver, I was shocked. They were all kids to me, but already seeing those who were somehow different from them to be enemies.

In Psalm 15, David writes:

1 Yahweh, who may reside in your tent, who may dwell on your sacred mountain?

2 One who walks with integrity, acts with faithfulness,and speaks truth inside.

3 He has not gone about talking, has not done wrong to his neighbour, has not taken up reviling against someone near him.

4 In his eyes a contemptible person is to be rejected,but he honours people who live in awe of Yahweh; he has sworn to bring about something bad and not changed it.

5 He has not given his silver on interest,and not taken a bribe against someone free of guilt;one who does these things, who does not slip ever.

The Bible for Everyone: A New Translation

I am assuming that all who are reading this are people of faith, and so are obligated to heed these words. We may say that we are not the ones doing the harm in such neighborhoods, but are we not culpable for knowing such things are happening, yet do nothing? Can we include ourselves with the “one who walks with integrity, acts with faithfulness, and speaks truth inside” but fail to “suffer the least of these”?

Yes, working with kids from such areas is challenging and sometimes even dangerous, but are we not honoring God by trying to make this world better for them? We may not be able to stop the violence, get their parents better jobs, or stop racism, but we can show them a better way. For some of our kids, the only stability they find is by taking a daily bus ride and going to school. For some, it also means the only time they get properly fed. For some, it is the only time they get positive adult attention. Many just yearn to have someone listen to them and give them a sense of love and hope in an environment of darkness and futility.

School bus drivers may not be the brightest group of people, but I have never met so many kind-hearted folks who want to serve our kids. I have also never worked with so many Christians in one place, and I like to think these two characteristics go together, although there are of course kind-hearted non-Christians everywhere seeking similar goals. What is disappointing is that there are not more Christians working towards a better future for our kids, but are just as self-involved and self-serving as most others. People who may even come to church every Sunday, but don’t show any sign of spiritual maturity. We, as the people of God, called to serve all people in Christ’s name, must do better. Not only for our own sakes and the advancement of the Kingdom of God, but for all God’s children.

James writes:

Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow. In the exercise of His will He gave us birth by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits among His creatures.

You know this, my beloved brothers and sisters. Now everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger; for a man’s anger does not bring about the righteousness of God. Therefore, ridding yourselves of all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls. But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not just hearers who deceive themselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. But one who has looked intently at the perfect law, the law of freedom, and has continued in it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an active doer, this person will be blessed in what he does.

If anyone thinks himself to be religious, yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this person’s religion is worthless. Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world. James 1;17-27 NASB

It is not enough to go to church or to say that you are a Christian. It is not enough to claim that you have faith. If we want to make a difference for Jesus, we must put our faith into action. We can be the conduit for those good things from above. We must do something for Him, and the best place to start is by helping those in need. No, you can’t earn your way into Heaven through works, but your works can make our world a better place, and might just lead someone else to Jesus.

Our readings today exhort us to live with integrity, but we don’t stop there. Some do, and become as legalistic and cold as the Pharisees. We seek to be the best we can, following God’s commands, “unstained by the world”, and reaching out in love to those who need our help.