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Text: James 4; Joshua 23 * I grew up in Dayton, Ohio which was close enough in proximity to Cincinnati to allow my allegiances to be offered to the Bengals and the Reds. But, having moved on a few occasions, I have attempted to embrace whichever sports team best reflected the support of the community (i.e. moved here and immediately bought a UW hat, which was met with certain disdain from other members of the community!). * What I have realized is that in so many ways, I have demonstrated an interest in other teams, but have really demonstrated no loyalty (i.e. I have a closet full of hats representing a variety of teams/interests). * So, I have realized that… …old loyalties are not easily abandoned (I feel like I have so much of myself invested in them), and …when competing loyalties collide, there is the inevitable conflict (I am forced to side; I cannot remain neutral). * James reminds us that when it comes to life, we daily face a clash of loyalties; a confrontation with who or what will become the object of our affection… to whom/what will we give our energies. * In his description, James uses various types of relational terminology: envy, adultery, enemies, hatred, friendship. The question of our loyalty is, then, intensely personal. His question: “Whose friend will you be?” * I must admit that these challenges to my allegiance make me uncomfortable and seem a bit harsh (“adulterous” Isaiah 54:5; Hosea 2:19-20, “enemy of God”). I am not as taken aback by the suggestion that I have broken a commandment or failed in some point of the law, but to suggest that I’m an “adulterer” seems much more personal and painful. * James sets the context as (2) competing loves: world vs. God. World… The Bible uses the term in various ways. Sometimes it is used to refer to creation in general. Sometimes it is used as a reference to the general populace (to people: John 3:16 “God so loved the world…”- personalized). Sometimes it is used to describe a system of thought or structures which train us to live as if God did not exist. From that system naturally flows certain attitudes (we might call this the “spirit of the world”; motivating/shaping influence; involves certain assumptions about the way things really are). * The world simply says, “You can find true life apart from God”. * Interestingly, this use of the word is never offered as “benign” or “morally neutral”, but is always seen as in direct opposition to God. * The world’s agenda (I know that sounds like I’m a “conspiracy theorist”) is to create “dissatisfaction”. It’s what drives our economy. The world actually sustains itself by catering to human desires. It markets them and makes them available to us… the “consumer” (interesting word used to describe those with a pre-occupation with ‘getting’). * If you think about it, our commerce is simply a reflection of our depravity- not that we’re generally ‘rotten’, but ‘broken’; of our propensity to satisfy ourselves apart from God. * This clash of loyalties seems to manifest itself in: 1. Interpersonal conflict (4:1) 2. Compromise (4:4) 3. Presumptuous living (4:13) 4. Self-imposed goodness (4:17) Interpersonal conflict… (in terms of interpersonal conflict, let me just say…) * James once again demands a posture of self-examination… “What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you?” “desires” (Gr. Word from where we get our English “hedonism”)- appealing to the senses; suggests that the ultimate goal in life is to satisfy your pleasures. “I want what you have”. The result is that our relationships disintegrate because the inner-conflict that we are experiencing begins to manifest itself as dissatisfaction with others. It dismisses others because when it comes down to my pleasure or what’s best for you… “you lose!” (which prevents us from experiencing the fullest expression of love… of God and others). And, it dismisses God. We become hesitant to involve God (‘don’t ask’) because we have spent our whole lives aspiring toward self-sufficiency. “Asking” is a sign of dependence and we choose to go it alone! We even look down on those who seem to need help!
(continued on 2-18-07) |
