THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO JIMMY

Sermon Summary from April 10: “Gospel According to Jimmy” (Read James Chapter 1)

I’ve often wondered what it would have been like growing up in the same house with Jesus.  Precocious, right?  Do you suppose he tried out his ideas on James whether James liked it or not?  Pretty obvious Jesus didn’t convince his brother Jimmy who it sounds like came with his mother one time to “take him away.”  But, but, Paul tells us that the Risen Christ appeared to James and changed his life.  He was the leader of the mother church in Jerusalem from 36 ad until he was martyred in 62 ad.  Another who gave his life for the sake of the Resurrection.

James is a very practical book, a companion or sidekick to the Sermon on the Mount in many cases telling how we are to live out Jesus words.  Jesus talks about the “pure in heart.”  Jimmy tells us “religion that is pure and undefiled…” Jesus says, “Whoever hears these words of mine and does them. “  Jimmy says “Be doers of the word and not hearers only.”  It’s almost as if James places the role of conscience.

Another sidekick you may remember that played the role of conscience was not Jimmy but “Jiminy,” Jiminy Cricket.  “I’ll tell ya’ what conscience is, Pinocchio, it’s that still small voice that nobody listens to.  That’s the problem with the world today.”  Now we have “The Gospel According to Jiminy.”

The first phrase is a matter of conscience: James, slave of God and the Lord Jesus Christ…  Our relationships dictate our behavior and our response to one another.  What if we took our relationship “as slave” to Jesus Christ personally?  What if?

James talks of trials leading to maturity.  Jesus of becoming perfect as our heavenly father is perfect.  We become spiritually mature by listening to the proddings of grace, of conscience.  James says to ask for wisdom instead of leaning on our own understanding.  A practical guide.

He talks of temptation.  We need conscience, Jiminy, to help us distinguish between right and wrong.  Interestingly, James tells us that generosity is the counterpoint to temptation.  When we succumb, it is out of self-interest.  Generosity leads us in another direction.

Most of all he tells us to be “Doers of the word and not hearers only.”  Wesley taught us to “First, do no harm; the do all the good you can.”  We need conscience to do both.  We need to listen, be hearers, yes; and we need to ask, “What good can I do today?”  Then be doers.