Sermon James 2 for September 6,2009

 

Both of our passages reflect wisdom literature, advice from the sages to the rest of us. Wisdom literature has faith walk the talk. Wisdom literature is concerned about lived human experience. We are in part of the Scriptures that speaks of making judgements that discriminate. James imagines an ideal church where we look at everyone equally and as equals.  We are equal in that all of us fall short of the royal law of love of God and neighbor. Being judgemental prevents us from doing that.  For James , we do have an impartial judge and lover of us all: God. We should not arrogate to ourselves God's role as a judge. We cannot walk a mile in another's shoes. We lack the insight to truly grasp intent. Our judgments may seek objectivity, but subjective standards come into play. Indeed, I sometimes think judgment is applying our standards to everyone else, as if we should control action, intent, and even preferences.

 

Both Proverbs and James remind us that we find it easy to discriminate on the basis of social class based mostly on money. Proverbs reminds us that both rich and poor are made in the image and likeness of God. Since we are all made in the image and likeness of God, it is difficult to fathom that we would elevate one group and disparage another. Proverbs also knows a social reality, that the poor have some responsibility for their plight, but it is also within a system structured against them. In 2009, Proverbs have words that may chill most of us; God is on the side of the poor.

 

Judgement blinds us to the person underneath appearances. That applies both to elevating people who may not deserve it and denigrating people who may not deserve it. We have gotten better as a society of being aware of our tendency to make invidious discrimnations. Society has taught the church lately. We have not changed since James wrote in that we often make judgments based on social class, especially income level. We blame people for their plight, even as we blame outside forces for our own failures.

 

I think the temptation to judge comes from our own insecurities. Vulnerable to the opinions of others, we shield ourselves by making judgements about others, usually invidious ones.Beaten down, we are unsure of our own worth. When we judge someone harshly, that elevates our standing in our own minds, buttresses our uncertain opinion of ourselves. It's the same impulse that makes us feel better when someone is behind us in a long line, the feeling of resentment when we switch lines and ours becomes longer.

 

In the end, James is a version of the Lord's Prayer. We will be judged by the measuring stick of our own judgement. We may give others the short end of the stick but not God. If we realize that, we will b e induced to be more generous in our measurements of others out of self-interest. It is the same as wanting our measure of forgiveness to move toward God's measure,  as we cannot face God using our own stingy levels of forgiveness.