ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
September 17, 2022
I am preaching from the Book of James this Sunday. It was a book that the 16th Century reformer, Martin Luther, was ready to cut from his Bible. He was fearful it presented what is called a theology of works righteousness. To put it another way, you and I have to earn our way into heaven. I’ve read the Book of James often, and I do not find such a theology in the book. Clearly, the author is a bit frustrated at those who claim to love God but live lives that in no way reflect the life of Jesus. In the first chapter, we read:
Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.
Just because the Book of James has some expectations does not mean a rejection of the idea that we are saved by God’s grace and God’s grace alone. And those who are awestruck by the beauty of this gift of grace are the people who understand that with such a gift comes responsibility. There is joy in being both a recipient of God’s grace and an instrument through which that grace is shared with others.
Gentle and Generous God, your grace has changed my life, changed the world, and changed history. May I continue to be open to its power, not only in my life, but for the sake of others. Amen.
