James 3:13-18
Since the Renaissance, we’ve been exalting the individual and not the community. That, coupled with modern social mobility, has only entrenched that emphasis. Therefore, in modern times, we are all in a diaspora and all exiles in our own land. Therefore, the need for community and the re-learning of the skills to build community around the world is essential.
– Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi
It was my idea to preach my way through James this fall, but I’m beginning to regret that decision. It’s not that I disagree with what James says, but when I read the scripture and sit down to write, I think, “Well, that’s the truth. What else can I say?” James is writing to groups of people who have heard about Jesus’ teachings and want to put them to practice in their lives. Why do they want to do that? Because they see other people doing it and those folks’ lives are better for it. These people are choosing to follow Jesus because it’s the best way to live. If we’re going to be Jesus-followers in our own time, then we need to pay attention to how to live this way.
There are vast differences between the first/second century and the twenty-first century. Early Jesus followers lived in the Roman Empire. Some of that was good – safe roads, relatively stable government, most people worked, nice public baths to enjoy, great shows in the colosseums for entertainment. Some of living under Empire was hard – most people were slaves or peasants living at a subsistence level, there were no rights for most folks, there was no getting ahead, violence was everywhere, death and disease were rampant. Compared to the first century, we live in paradise. We are solid middle-class citizens with health care and pensions, education for ourselves and our children, even better roads, modern conveniences. We have it pretty good.
Some parts of life are the same in every century.
There’s a divide between rich and poor. In our lifetime that’s become more extreme in our country. We think no one’s hungry, but that’s not true. There are folks in our neighborhoods going without meals. When I listened to the church’s phone messages this week there were six calls from people facing eviction and wondering if we could help.
Those in charge want to pit us against each other. This election season there’s talk of immigrants destroying our cities and taking our jobs. We know immigrants; that’s not true. There’s talk of folks who practice other religions being a threat – Moslem, Jew, Christian Nationalist, atheists …Some extremists in any movement can be dangerous, but we know folks who claim these beliefs; some of them are our family.
Most of us have been taught that our country is the best in the world. Patriotism is a good thing, but as we travel and learn more about the world, we realize that there are good things in many places. We can be proud of who we are without having to destroy others or fear others.
In just over two weeks we’re going to finish an election. It looks closea. Each side thinks it’s essential to win because the “others” will destroy our country. Somebody is going to lose. Then what? How are we going to be a community on the other side of this great divide?
James tells us that we’re going to get along with everyone by treating everyone with dignity and honor. Just because we’re told those of different viewpoints (or genders, or colors, or languages, or…) are dangerous, doesn't mean we have to believe it. Believe the best of all our neighbors.
Rabbi Schacheter-Shalomi suggests we learn the skills of community.
Listen to one another.
Understand where each one is coming from.
Pay attention to what people fear and what they hope for.
Value what people offer to the group, particularly those who come at things differently from us.
Trust that we can find common ground.
Don’t give up on possibilities.
We’re told that American individualism is a barrier to community building. But in the same years that we were claiming to be self-made and self-sufficient, we were also looking out for each other. We were threshing grain together. We were taking soup to sick neighbors. We were buying stuff we didn’t really like or need from kids’ fundraisers. We know how to do this. We have built community before and we can do it again.
Some things Family of God does through groups: Connections, Justice Conversation, Valley Senior Living
Some things we do out there where we each live: Connecting with neighbors, supporting lots of difference causes we believe in, speaking up for truth or kindness at work or card club
As a group or on our own, we’re still in this together. We are becoming a community of people who follow Jesus’ teachings because they show us a better way to live. They help us create a better world, take care of one another, stand up for those who can’t protect themselves.
It’s a big job, this world-changing. It happens one word or one kindness at a time. To be like Jesus isn’t to set ourselves above everyone else and claim great wisdom, it’s to do the best we can to be a good neighbor to our real life neighbor in this moment, one day at a time. We do it because Jesus asked us to. He asked us to do it because it’s the best way to live.