Christianity Really Is About Inclusion, Love and Justice

James 2:14-26 (NRSV)

What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but do not have works? Can faith save you? If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food, and one of you says to them, "Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill," and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that? So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead.

But someone will say, "You have faith and I have works." Show me your faith apart from your works, and I by my works will show you my faith. You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe - and shudder. Do you want to be shown, you senseless person, that faith apart from works is barren? Was not our ancestor Abraham justified by works when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was brought to completion by the works. Thus the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness," and he was called the friend of God. You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. Likewise, was not Rahab the prostitute also justified by works when she welcomed the messengers and sent them out by another road? For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is also dead.

Over this past year two groups have been started on Facebook.  One group is called: Christians Tired of Being Misrepresented.  The other is called: The Christian Left.  There is also a group called the Progressive Christian Alliance.  All three of these groups have something in common.  We are really fed up with all Christians assumed to be like the Christianists and arch-conservative Catholics with their hate rhetoric towards women, LGBT, immigrants and so on.  It is our conviction that the real meaning behind Jesus Christ is not a message that excludes people.  Rather, the Gospel is about inclusion, love and justice for all people.

This reading from James makes an unmistakable reference to the relationship between the Christian Faith and the works of justice, inclusion and love.   We can claim our belief in all of the creeds and prayers found in the Book of Common Prayer as much as we want.  Yet if our faith does not include working to love our neighbor as ourselves, to work for the justice and inclusion of those marginalized by society and the Church,  our faith becomes worthless.  The Gospel becomes another legendary story book.  The Sacraments are a big party, but mean very little.  

On the other hand, when our faith lives in our work for love, justice and inclusion the Gospel becomes a live through us.  Our faith figuratively speaking grows legs with a heart and body with the ability to bring healing and reconciliation.  When our hearts are broken by Arizona's immigration law and Christians along with all people of good will rise and call attention to the fact that all American's are really immigrants on the land of Native Americans, the Gospel of Jesus Christ is living and acting on the principles of the love of God and neighbor.  When we call our United States Senate this week and ask them to pass the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell and the DREAM Act, and the extension of unemployment benefits during the lame duck session of Congress, the call of the Bible for love, inclusion and justice is a story that is still being written into the hearts of Americans today.  

One of the most powerful music video's still available is the Judd's Music Video-Love Can Build a Bridge.  I am including it as part of my blog today.

As Christians and people of Faith in a so called "free society" I think we need to ask ourselves some important questions.  How free of a people can we really be when individuals are made captives to a political and religious system that excludes loving people who are different than ourselves?  What lessons are children being taught by a Church and society that remains silent or is counterproductive to equal justice for immigrants, LGBT, Native Americans, women, African Americans, Muslims and other religions, languages, abilities etc?   How can Christians be examples of love, inclusion and justice for all people who still live on the margins of society and the Church?

As the conversation at the end of the Judds music video and the late Harvey Milk suggested there is always hope, when people of good will rise to give all people some kind of hope.   The Bible is full of texts that talk about the need for hope.  Without hope we cannot move forward with a sense of confidence.   In the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, Christians have been given hope that the work, love and justice we do in this life will be rewarded in the life to come.  What in the world are we waiting for?

Blessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which you have given us in our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Proper 28, Book of Common Prayer, page 236).

Eternal God, you blessed your servant Samuel Seabury with the gift of perseverance to renew the Anglican inheritance in North America: Grant that, joined together in unity with our bishops and nourished by your holy Sacraments, we may proclaim the Gospel of redemption with apostolic zeal; through Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Collect for Samuel Seabury first Bishop in the United States, Holy Women, Holy Men, Celebrating the Saints, page 679).

O God, you made us in your own image and redeemed us through Jesus your Son: Look with compassion on the whole human family; take away the arrogance and hatred which infect our hearts; break down the walls that separate us; unite us in bonds of love; and work through our struggle and confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth; that, in your good time, all nations and races may serve you in harmony around your heavenly throne; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Prayer for the Human Family, Book of Common Prayer, page 815).