Sermon Text: James 2:1-13
What even is a good a Christian? Is it someone who does what God says enough? Is it someone who goes to church enough? If the first thought in answering, “Am I a good Christian?” was to list things you’ve done, every answer is going to be wrong because the initial assumption is wrong. If you think you’ve been a good Christian by whatever standard you’ve chosen, the book of James is for you. James is for me because I totally think this. In an intense grab you by the collar and snap you to attention sorta way, James pulls our eye to mercy. First, the mercy that God has on us, then how mercy must shape how we treat others. His point is clear: mercy wins, it triumphs over judgment and that’s how God’s kingdom works.
The follower is of Christ is gonna need mercy just to live the Christian life. How else could you really rejoice in difficult times? How else could you be quick to listen and slow to become angry? Mercy is the only way. Mercy and love are at the core of what it means to hear God’s Word, remember it, and then do it. Those who love Jesus will live his mercy and, “Look after widows and orphans in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” (James 1:27) That, says James, is the religion God loves as pure and faultless because its mercy in action, love made complete by satisfying someone’s real need. How we doing on this? This is a big gut check. Do we have mercy or pass by on the other side? “But who is my neighbor?” we coyly quip.
James doesn’t let us squirm away, “My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism.” (James 2:1) This doesn’t feel good because favoritism runs deep in us. We fall into the trap all the time of deciding who’s worthy of our patience, kindness, the benefit of our taking things in the best way. We wonder instead, “How’d they get themselves into that mess?” or, “What if they abuse my generosity?” And in those questions, we reveal the musings of a merciless heart that wants to receive all the mercy and kindness only to be so selectively greedy with it later.
James says this kind of discrimination happens in Christian churches. Congregations are ripe for favoritism, prejudice, and judgment. How do I know? A church is the first example of where favoritism happens as listed by James and I’m a member in a Christian church. I have many times participated in the ol’ watch people enter church routine James talks about here. “These people will be great members. These will not.” Why? Why not? Money. There’s corresponding treatment too. “Oh, person who appears rich, right this way!” Or, “Hey, person who appears poor, sit wherever. I don’t care.” James paints an extremely crass and relatable picture. There’s nothing new under the sun. Why preferential treatment for the rich and disrespect for the poor? Selfishness. We hope to gain something from the rich person like access to experiences and privileges, or a donation to the church or school. We drool at that so we butter ’em up. But to the other person, the poor one, our selfishness says, “Ugh, this is gonna be a drain on my time, talents, and treasures. They can come, but they just better not ask me for anything. This isn’t a charity.” Churches are a charity and people can expect help from us.
James doesn’t let us excuse such behavior, “Have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?” (James 2:4) Yes, yes you have. I have, too. We have even though we know better. What’s God say? “He who mocks the poor shows contempt for their Maker.” (Proverbs 17:5) “He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.” (Proverbs 14:31) Jesus said in Luke 14 to not invite people who can repay, but those who can’t, to give to them expecting nothing in return yet promised rich reward at the resurrection for love shown here. “Whatever you did for the least of these,” the King will say on that day according to Christ in Matthew 25.
Gut check. We know what God says, but do we do it? We mock. We think, “That person should have made better choices!” We say, “Thoughts and prayers! I wish you well,” but do nothing which, as James says, is no good! He reminds us, “Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him. 6 But you have dishonored the poor.” (James 2:5-6a) To despise the poor is to despise people God’s honored himself. Besides, James clarifies, it’s the rich who oppress you and use their money to crush you in court. Lay off those who are poor.
The better instead to care for others, all the others, by loving them as yourself and help carry their burdens rather than heap on mockery because poverty is a burden already. James says, “If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself,’ you are doing right.” (James 2:8) Love your neighbor without showing favoritism. Love all in radical, head turning ways. Care for those who need care how they need to be cared for if they’re victims of circumstance or if they’ve made horrible choices, because that’s what mercy does. If you love your neighbor as yourself, your neighbor will know it.
Are you a good Christian? Am I? What’s my neighbor think? I’ve not been merciful in all the ways James has talked about and that we’ve detailed just now. I’m a lawbreaker and you are too. What even is a good Christian? One who knows, with the uncomfortable knowledge an honest reading of God’s law forces a person to have, that they’re a sinner but that they’re also free from all fear of sin because, in mercy, Christ became their sin and set them free so they’re free indeed. In faith God’s mercy is true for them as an individual there’s always joy because they know Jesus died on a cross to redeem and cleanse them from all sin and guilt, and now lives to forgive. A “good” Christian is one who says sincerely but also with confident gladness, “Have mercy on me, a sinner” knowing God does for Jesus’ sake.
Defined by God’s mercy toward the world through Christ the Christian through the Spirit’s power, lives mercy by interacting with others in humble joy. Here’s how James puts it, “Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, 13 because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.” (James 2:12-13) When you stack yourself up to someone else, you must see you don’t stack up and then you act accordingly which means acting with mercy because you know how much mercy God has had on you and the truly great things Christ has done for you in being your savior and giving you heaven. When you live that, when you live mercy, you and the person you’re interacting with win because mercy triumphs over judgment.
Knowing that this is the truest in Christ is what makes a good Christian. Not someone who’s good enough or does enough. It’s someone who knows mercy, knows their need for it and that they have it in Jesus. It’s someone who knows God desires mercy not sacrifice, so they live mercy and in doing so shower the love of Christ who overcame the world through mercy on others. It’s one who points others to Jesus and his cross rejoicing to know that Jesus is the Savior of sinners, Friend of the outcast, Seer of the overlooked, Champion of the weak, the King of grace, and the Master of mercy. No need to ask, “Am I good enough?” because the answer’s already given: you’re not, but Christ is and his mercy wins every single time. Amen.