17th Sunday after Pentecost - Sermon and Video: Words matter
Video of Divine Service at St. Luke, Rensselaer
Isaiah 50:4-10
James 3:1-12
Mark 9:14-29
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer. Amen.
Some of you may have heard that Pastor Martin Luther, esteemed Doctor of Scripture at Wittenberg University, has stated in print, that the Letter of James is as straw. He first wrote this in the 1522 Preface to the New Testament. His analogy has been taken out of context and from time to time it has taken on a life of its own. The 2009 Lutheran Study Bible has a useful introduction to the Epistle of James that also addresses the “straw” analogy. It says, “The statements derive from Luther’s frustration with opponents who used James 2 to attack what Luther had learned about justification and sanctification while carefully studying the Epistles of Paul.” I do not wish to go much further with this except to say that Pastor Luther is inconsistent in his treatment of James and that understanding the context of Luther’s many writings is necessary to appreciate what he is saying and why. Elsewhere Pastor Luther writes positively about the Epistle. As I read Pastor Luther’s statements, it is clear to me that Luther wanted James to be like the Apostle Paul. And, as he engaged in critical dialogue with other Scripture scholars and theologians, he grew frustrated.
The Holy Spirit is the one who is ultimately responsible for giving us the Scriptures as they stand. It is apparent that the Holy Spirit prefers that James be James and that Paul be Paul. James does not proclaim Christ crucified and risen in his Epistle. He presumes that those for whom the letter was originally intended had already received Law and Gospel proclamation. They have been catechized and baptized. They had been sufficiently introduced to Christ Jesus, his death on the cross and his resurrection.
If brother Luther could step back from the intensity of his times a bit, he would have a different perception of James. He would see that James is the New Testament version of the Book of Proverbs. James is offering wisdom. James is saying, “This, dear friends, is how one lives and acts and speaks wisely as a baptized Christian in a world that does not know what that means so that by your actions as individuals and as a community of faith you bear witness to Christ Jesus.”
The Old Testament Book of Proverbs is loaded with useful statements about where the faithful ought to place their trust, what their priorities ought to be, to whom they should listen, and how they ought to relate to family and conduct business.
These tidbits of wisdom serve both as the theological law that convicts of our sin of what we are doing or not doing, and, also serves as a guide for a fuller, richer, God oriented life for the believer. The same can be said for the contents of the Epistle of James.
James offers correction and encouragement about such topics as patience, endurance, dealing with temptation, how to handle monetary wealth, prayer, and living in a community of faith. He is, in short, giving us direction on how to grow and develop as Christians.
For Christians, spiritual and character development always begins with recognition of our sin and seeking the forgiveness that Jesus gives to us on account of his death on the cross. In receiving his forgiveness, the Lord expects us to amend our lives. He doesn’t say, “go in peace and sin some more.” He says, “go in peace and sin no more.” Well, what does this amendment look like?
Last Sunday we received instruction from James that we should not judge people’s spiritual state or presume their generosity based upon how much money they have in their bank account. If a rich man and a poor man come into the congregation at the same time, you do not flatter the rich man and dismiss the poor man. Both are sinners and they both need Christ and his gifts equally. Before the Lord and Christ’s Church, both men have equal standing. James’s instruction serves to convict us of sin if we do indeed show partiality. It also serves as a guide on expanding our hospitality: all sinners are welcome here. Christ has died for all. His gifts of salvation are for all.
Today, we are reminded of the power and danger of the tongue. For those of us who are concerned about the mental and spiritual health of the communities of which we are a part, we know that the tongue, and in particular the words that the mouth and tongue produce, is very important.
O the power of words! We recall that God spoke the universe into being. God said in Genesis 1, “Let there be light!” and there was light. In six days, God spoke, and all of creation came into being. God has entrusted human beings with a similar power. James reminds us that words matter. How we use them matter. Intention matters. The gift of language that the Lord entrusts to us is dangerous. In just moments, we can with just a word or two: demolish a relationship, offer hope and encouragement, cast suspicion on the innocent, destroy a community’s well-being, free someone from anguish and guilt. We can create an atmosphere of darkness and despair or let in the light so that all seems possible. Words have power!
Words are invisible, but that which makes them is small. I appreciate the two images that James gives to us: the bridle and the rudder of a ship. The bridle controls the horse. The rudder controls the direction of the ship. That which is controlled is huge in comparison to that which controls it. Yet, the smallest of items is what will lead you to safety or run you aground. So, the human tongue; the words that we utter affect, direct, influence, and control people, families, communities, and nations.
James gives us fair warning to be careful with this gift of God. It can be abused, and it can be put to good use. James says, “With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.”
As we continue to grow in Christ, we learn to mind our words. Let our words and how we use them be such that they bear witness to our Lord and Savior. We measure our words and use them wisely, as a wise ship captain will carefully use the rudder of his ship. For words reveal what is within, and they expose our direction and priorities in life.
As the beloved disciple John sought to tell the story of Jesus and his significance, he chose to begin in the very first sentence of his gospel to show the power of Jesus. He called Jesus the Word. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. … 14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
Jesus is the WORD that created the light. Jesus is the WORD that came down from heaven, was born of the Virgin Mary, and he dwelt among us. Jesus is the WORD that is more powerful than the worst forms of darkness. Jesus, the WORD, is the light that darkness cannot and will never overcome.
The Gospel reading today shows us the power of Jesus’ WORD. A man’s son is gripped, controlled by forces of evil. It robs a human child of the joy of saying and hearing words. And, not content with that, it endangers his life often. Jesus shows the strength of His word over these spirits of darkness. He commands them to leave. The boy is healed. The boy can hear his parents and his family laugh and cry and say, we love you. And, he can do and say the same to them.
Words wield power. We hear James’s warning to us. Mind your words. We confess our wrong use of our tongue to God. In the grace of his forgiveness, we ask that the Holy Spirit train our minds to use these words so that they will glory the God and His Word that creates us, saves us, and sustains us.
The peace of Christ which passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.
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