(James 2: 1-10, 14-17 and Proverbs 22: 1-2, 8-9, 22-23)
As the wisdom from Proverbs reveals, our good name is more valuable than any investment portfolio, lottery ticket or roadshow antique. It is built upon deeds, actions and goodwill demonstrated over years and years. We stake our reputation on it, acting as references for someone’s job or passport application.
It is somewhat ironic that the validity of our words depends on the merit of our actions. What we say or profess, our words, are defined by that which is unspoken, our deeds. Yes, actions speak louder than words.
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Much of the Bible has this message paying attention to what you are doing and saying. James, for instance, presents the hypothetical situation of how welcoming are you really? Is it only certain types of people that are welcomed in your assembly of worship? Or do you really and truly live in Jesus’ radical inclusion and welcome of anyone and everyone, especially the poor and dispossessed?
According to James, if we follow God’s law, we are held accountable to all aspects of it. Which is fine and well and good in intention, but even reading the Bible we find it is difficult to determine what exactly this is supposed to mean. How can we know God’s law when so many elements of it appear to contradict one another?
Even James with his proclamation that faith without works is dead is in direct violation of his contemporary Paul who claims that faith alone is sufficient to merit salvation. In Romans, Paul writes that righteousness is attained through faith. So who do we believe? What is the law that we need to follow?
I’m inclined to apply a United Church collaboration, conciliation and compromise and suggest that we try to live and do the best as we can, to expand and enhance our understanding of what we believe. We act in good faith and trust that our belief is enough. Controversial columnist Michael Coren would disagree, as his rambling op-ed piece in last Saturday’s London Free Press skewered the hypocrisies and failures of the United Church.
In many places and on many issues, the United Church has put its money where its mouth is. (And also put its foot in that same mouth, several times as well). Yes, even as an open and affirming community, we still make judgments and choices. And given the choice between a richly dressed visitor and a poorly dressed one, who knows how that might be handled on any given Sunday?
That is the work of faith: everyday we make choices, judge between options and alternatives, trying to do what Jesus would do. Trying to live up to the higher calling of God’s mercy, love and justice. In doing so, we hope to build a good name for ourselves, as individual people of faith and a collective community. Through proving ourselves time and again with what we do for others, following through on promises, reaching out to those in need we find our good name.
Once we strip away our possessions, all that we have is who we are, what we’ve done and how we’ve done it. In place between faith and works, what we have is the commonness of one Creator, of justice and blessing intended for all. It is our humanity and spirituality that sets us as equals in God’s eyes, it’s up to us to live this standard in our works and in our faith. After all, our good name depends on it.
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