"DOERS OF THE WORD"

PASTOR DAVID LAYMAN

September 3, 2000

James 1:17-27

The little book of James is one of the shortest books of the Bible. Its also one of the most practical! Some parts of the Bible are easier for me to understand than others. It was the same with some of my professors in seminary. Harold Nebelsick taught doctrinal theology. We nick named him "Harold Nebulous Nimbus Nebelsick", because his teaching often seemed so high, hazy, and far above us, that we didnt have the slightest idea what he was talking about. Of course, as students we rarely revealed this. Wed just nod our heads, frown as if in deep thought, and say to one another "Man, that is really profound!"

The book of James isnt like that. Its author, perhaps a half brother to Jesus, speaks with a clarity and practicality that reminds us of Jesus. Jesus could communicate a deep truth about God by telling a parable, drawing on scenes from every day life. James like Jesus is practical and understandable.

In James 1:22 we read "BE DOERS OF THE WORD, AND NOT MERELY HEARERS WHO DECEIVE THEMSELVES." Is it possible to just listen to Gods word, and then not do much about it? Yes! That is perhaps the greatest danger the Christian faith faces today! A church secretary in Greenville once told me that one of the older members of the church remarked to her "For years Ive just gone to church, looked at the stained glass, and day dreamed through the sermons. But recently Ive been listening, and do you know, theres really something to think about in those messages." Call me naive, but that really shocked me to think that this man, who was retirement age, and had been an elder, had come to church for decades and really not paid much attention to the message. Even if the sermons werent worth much, surely the scripture passages were worth hearing--and obeying. But this long time member admitted hed been day dreaming through church for years.

I do know what ft means to day dream and not pay attention to what is said. Driving along in the car, I hear the radio announcer say "In a minute, todays forecast" and think "Good! I want to listen to this." Then, my mind wanders during the commercial, and I suddenly realize theyve given the weather forecast, and I dont have the slightest idea what they said! In fact, Pam might even accuse me of not paying serious heed to everything she tells me! Of course, Id never admit to that!

And James is really talking about more than day dreaming through sermons. Hes not only talking about LISTENING for Gods Word, but DOING something about it. The object of the proclamation of Gods Word is not simply that we listen to it, but that we allow that Word to transform and change us...that we leave the sanctuary different people, determined to make a difference for God in the world!

James wrote "FOR IF ANY ARE HEARERS OF THE WORD AND NOT DOERS, THEY ARE LIKE THOSE WHO LOOK AT THEMSELVES IN A MIRROR; FOR THEY LOOK AT THEMSELVES AND, ON GOING AWAY, IMMEDIATELY FORGET WHAT THEY WERE LIKE." James point is that it doesnt do much good, if you merely LOOK in a mirror, and see your hair askew, and the need for a shave, but then walk away, and dont DO anything about it! The mirror we need to look into is the Word of God. Its more than a little scary to look in the mirror of Gods Word, and see how messed up we appear in Gods light. The real question is, not only are we going to look, but are we going to DO something about it?

This is Labor Day weekend. Labor Day is not an official part of the church year, like Christmas, Ash Wednesday and Easter. Labor Day, technically speaking, is a secular holiday. But its good for us to remember as Christians that we each have work to do.

We each have a Christian calling to which we are never to retire from. Our work is to do unto others, as we would have them do unto us. Christ challenged us by saying that when we do something for the least of these, we do it unto Him! Our work is to make disciples . . .to worship God and to leave this place and SERVE Him!. Theres a line in our bulletins after the benediction and postlude which reads "End of Worship--Beginning of Service."

What happens within these walls is important. But what happens beyond these walls is inseparably linked! We havent fulfilled our Christian calling by coming through these doors and listening. The greatest Christian service is not doing 4 hours of "hard pew" time a month for God. The time within these walls is to nourish and strengthen us so that we can go away from here with direction, determination and joy to make a difference for God in this world!

One of the things I like about this church is that we are committed to doing something, being something for those beyond our walls. First Presbyterian has taken seriously James admonition to "BE DOERS OF THE WORD, AND NOT HEARERS ONLY." Money is not the only way individuals or a church can and should give, but it is a MEASURABLE way. Each year, we give 20% of our offerings to mission causes local and world wide. The Interfaith Mission Center, originally purchased by Second Presbyterian in the 1980s, is owned by our congregation. Our members along with other believers in the community distributed the equivalent of over 57,000 meals in 1999, many Bibles and articles of clothing. We have been one of the leading supporters of Habitat for Humanity among local churches since its inception. Our church had more founding board members on Habitat than any other church, although were far from the largest church in town. We overspent our benevolence budget last year, giving over $42,000; including special offerings such as the One Great Hour of Sharing, the Christmas Offering and the giving of our Presbyterian Women, we gave well over $50,000 beyond our churchs walls. Our members and staff give many hours in volunteer and benevolent service throughout the community. We should not be proud, we should not feel we do "more than enough", for the needs are great. I share this to point out that as a church, we DO try to take seriously James admonition to "BE DOERS OF THE WORD, AND NOT HEARERS ONLY." Its sad to say, but there are churches that spend almost all their income on themselves, keeping their own plant going, attending to the needs and desires of only their members. We arent one of those churches!

George Matheson was a great Scottish preacher who served in Edinburgh. Maxie Dunnam tells (THE CHRISTIAN WAY, Grand Rapids: Francis Asbury Press, 1987, pp. 60-61.) of a poor woman that began to slip into the worship services of that great church. She lived in a dingy cellar, but then moved to an apartment that was light and airy. Someone asked her 'Why are you moving out of that apartment where you have lived all these years?" Her answer: "You cannot hear George Matheson preach about Jesus Christ and live in a cellar!" The word of God should have that affect on us as well. We cant hear of Gods great love for us in Jesus, of Christs sacrifice, and His forgiveness of us, we cant hear his great commission to "Go into all the world" and remain the same! Gods Word challenges us to change, and to become not just hearers but DOERS of this Word, to make a difference in the lives of others!

Philip Yancey has written "I do not get to know God, THEN do his will; I get to know him more deeply BY doing his will. I enter into an active relationship, which means spending time with God, caring about the people he cares about, and following his commands--whether I spontaneously feel like it or not." (CHRISTIANITY TODAY, "Living With Furious Opposites", Sept. 4, 2000, p. 73) Thomas Merton wrote "We receive enlightenment only in proportion as we give ourselves more and more completely to God by humble submission and love. We do not first see, then act; we act, then see.. .And that is why the man who waits to see clearly, before he will believe, never starts on the journey." (Ibid, p. 73)

It is not simply by believing or thinking that we get to know God. It is by DOING the things He commands us. Theory without practice isnt worth much! Can you recall someone trying to tell you all the rules of a new game? After a period of time, you begin to forget everything they say. Then you interject: "Lets start to play, and let me learn THAT way!" We get to know God by DOING Gods will.

While working on this sermon, I opened the most recent Focus on the Family magazine, and the lead article was entitled "A Doer of the Word". The fact that the title of this article was almost identical to the title of my sermon, made me think that maybe I ought to read it. Have you ever eaten at Chick-fil-A? The article is about its owner and founder, Truett Cathy. Maybe youve seen his billboards, where one cow is boosting another up that paints a sign which reads "EAT MOR CHIKIN." Truett was born in 1921 in rural Georgia. His father, according to Truett, 'Wasnt the kind of man I would have liked to have asa father. He ruled the house with a leather strap, and he wasnt afraid to use it. ..~He] never went to church or helped me in any way. I cant ever remember him telling me he loved me." (Sept. 2,000, Tom Neven, p. 2) But Truett Cathy, a man without a loving earthly father, came to know a loving Heavenly Father. He became a devout Christian, and has taught a Sunday School class for 45 years.

Truett Cathy has done far more than talk about his belief in God. Hes been a "doer of the Word." He started a foster home system that now numbers 11 homes in the south, and Brazil. Truett has also developed a summer camp for children, and gives college scholarships to needy youth. Kids meal toys are selected with care. Truett says "We try to give children something that will improve their character. We try to fulfill our corporate purpose: To glorify God by being a faithful steward of all that is entrusted to us and to have a positive influence on other people who come in contact with Chick-fil-A." (p. 4) Chick-fiI-A restaurants are closed on Sundays. They may lose money that way, but their employees seem to appreciate it; the employee turnover rate is only 4%, a very low figure for the fast food business. Perhaps Truett is more concerned with pleasing God and making life good for his employees than making all the money in the world. What a radical idea! Woody Faulk, a 13 year old orphan who sat in Truetts Sunday School class and grew up to become a company vice president, says of Cathy: "Hes the personification of James 1:22." (p. 4) "BE DOERS OF THE WORD, AND NOT MERELY HEARERS WHO DECEIVE THEMSELVES."

The worship is about to end. Its time for the service to begin!

David Layman

First Presbyterian Church

Richmond, Indiana