Us Vs Us
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James- Blackbelt Christianity.
James- Blackbelt Christianity.
You ever talk to someone that beats around the bush and just hints at things.
James ain’t that way. Hist letter is meat and potatoes. Its high level Christian ju-jit-zu. For me, it more often than not hits me right between the eyes. And if you are not in a right fellowship with God, it will step on your toes. If you are in fellowship with God, it will pump you up like a pregame speech.
Can’t we all just get along?
Can’t we all just get along?
In James chapter 4, he takes on conflict within the Church.
What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members?
We like to think that conflicts in the Church are these big doctrinal issues that are worth the battle that we wage. James is arguing that it’s not. It’s our selfish sinful approach to pleasure that cause the strife.
Thomas S. Rainer’s website Growing healthy Churches, together did a poll on twitter as to the nature behind some church disputes and splits.
He gave 25, and I’m not going to give them all, but I will read some.
An argument over the appropriate length of the worship pastor’s beard.
A church dispute of weather or not to install restroom stall dividers in the woman’s restroom.
A fight over which picture of Jesus to put in the foyer.
A petition to have all church staff clean shaven.
A dispute over weather the worship leader should have his shoes on during the service.
An argument over weather or not the Church should allow deviled eggs at the church meal.
An argument over whether to have gluten-free communion bread or not.
A disagreement over using the term, “potluck” instead of “pot blessing.”
A dispute in the church because the Lord’s Supper had cran/grape juice instead of grape juice.
You lust and do not have; so you commit murder. You are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask.
You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures.
James 4:
Murder: , You have heard that the ancients were told, “You shall not commit murder”, and “Whoever commits murder shall be liable to the court.” But I say to you that everyone sho is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court.
Most miss applied, incomplete use of scripture. You do not have because you do not ask.
I’d like to preach the perfect sermon so that people would praise me.
or Lord, don’t let me make a fool of myself.
Lord, let me be true to your Word, so that You are glorified, and that Those that hear would receive You.
As we look at these causes of Church division, we want to start pointing the finger. But James has a word of caution.
Do not speak against one another, brethren. He who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks against the law and judges the law; but if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge of it.
There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and to destroy; but who are you who judge your neighbor?
James 4:
Holy spirit enough for one.
Turn on any news network and you will see and argument quickly turn into a character assignation.
Back is on up
You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
James 4:
World: Kosmos
Universe
Surface of the Earth
People
World system: Godless world standards.
Or do you think that the Scripture speaks to no purpose: “He jealously desires the Spirit which He has made to dwell in us”?
But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
James 4:
We were created incomplete on our own. We were created in the image of God, but we are not gods, nor can we ever be god. We were created to have communion with God. No big buck on the wall, or new bike in the garage will give us the desire of our heart. There are not enough shoes in the world to be enough.
Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
James 4:7
Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom.
James is not being a Debbie downer to Christians. He is not talking about taking the peace and joy we know as followers of Christ, but talking about those that don’t take sin seriously.
james
For as the crackling of thorn bushes under a pot,
So is the laughter of the fool;
And this too is futility.
Eccl
He’s talking to the eat drink and be merry crowd.
Jesus also warned:
“Woe to you who are well-fed now, for you shall be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep.
Luke 6:
Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.
For His anger is but for a moment,
His favor is for a lifetime;
Weeping may last for the night,
But a shout of joy comes in the morning.