...Help Others
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James 1:26 If anyone thinks he is religious
and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless. 27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world. |
“Not so much religion as worship in the sense of the outward expression of religion. Real worship did not lie in elaborate vestments or in magnificent music or in carefully planned services; it lay in the practical service of others and in the purity of one’s own personal life.” William Barclay |
Don't shoot the messenger - everybody's convicted today!
We’re supposed to be in the world! – yes, but we shouldn’t be of the world. There should be some sort of difference. People should see something different. You may think, “I can do that, but verse 26 is beating me up.” The outcome of hearing and doing the word is that you should start seeing these things happen. Bridle the tongue, watch what you say, watch how you say it, and watch what you listen to. There’s a whole message just ready to beat everybody up on just how ridiculous the power of your mouth and tongue can be. “Well, sticks and stones…” There’s another lie you believe. Words hurt. They cut deeply. And James is already alluding to it.
If you’re going to start working on self-control, and let your faith start working on every part of you, then that means your actions, and that means your self-control, and here’s what’s going to start falling out – you’re going to start listening to what you’re saying. I’m not talking about cussing – if that’s what you’re stuck on, you just missed the boat. Some of us are fantastic about sharing prayer requests that turn into a complete gossip session. And we just rip people up and down, “Did you see what they were wearing, where they went, did you see…oh my word they need prayer, bless their hearts.” You’re laughing, but it’s an uncomfortable laugh! It’s what you say and how you say it, not about cussing.
Who were the worst off in society in that day? Widows and orphans. If you didn’t have a father or husband in your life, you were hosed. There was no chance. Life was going to be horrendous if there wasn’t someone who could step in and do that. This is not just about you needing to become foster parents (though if God is calling you to do that you better do it). This is not just about making sure you’re taking care of the old folks. You should, you better, but who are the people in our society who are hurting right now?
Who are the people in your community who could use help? That’s what it’s talking about! Did you know, 100 years ago mental health institutions and providers were churches and pastors and church leaders? People that struggled with depression and disorders and addictions didn’t go to homes, they came to church because they knew they could find help.
How many people have walked through our door asking for help? We get a few phone calls every week and we try to help as much as possible. But this, this building, maybe someday it will be an indoor skate park. This is not church! We met in a Zumba room at the YMCA for a while! We met in a living room for a while! That’s not church – you’re church! I don’t care if this building is here or not! We will find a place to meet, to worship, and we will move on. Praise the Lord that He provided this, it blew my mind, and we should take care of it and make sure it’s presentable and in order, that’s being a good steward. But this isn’t church!
Religion/faith – your faith in Jesus that is pure and undefiled is you helping others. Stop worrying about you and start worrying about who you’re missing. That’s what it’s about! At CommUNITY Church, we love Jesus, we love who Jesus loves, and we serve who Jesus serves. Really, really simple. Not easy, but very simple. Stop trying to complicate your faith, stop thinking that you don’t know enough. Start doing what you’ve already been given to do. And see what happens.
We’re supposed to be in the world! – yes, but we shouldn’t be of the world. There should be some sort of difference. People should see something different. You may think, “I can do that, but verse 26 is beating me up.” The outcome of hearing and doing the word is that you should start seeing these things happen. Bridle the tongue, watch what you say, watch how you say it, and watch what you listen to. There’s a whole message just ready to beat everybody up on just how ridiculous the power of your mouth and tongue can be. “Well, sticks and stones…” There’s another lie you believe. Words hurt. They cut deeply. And James is already alluding to it.
If you’re going to start working on self-control, and let your faith start working on every part of you, then that means your actions, and that means your self-control, and here’s what’s going to start falling out – you’re going to start listening to what you’re saying. I’m not talking about cussing – if that’s what you’re stuck on, you just missed the boat. Some of us are fantastic about sharing prayer requests that turn into a complete gossip session. And we just rip people up and down, “Did you see what they were wearing, where they went, did you see…oh my word they need prayer, bless their hearts.” You’re laughing, but it’s an uncomfortable laugh! It’s what you say and how you say it, not about cussing.
Who were the worst off in society in that day? Widows and orphans. If you didn’t have a father or husband in your life, you were hosed. There was no chance. Life was going to be horrendous if there wasn’t someone who could step in and do that. This is not just about you needing to become foster parents (though if God is calling you to do that you better do it). This is not just about making sure you’re taking care of the old folks. You should, you better, but who are the people in our society who are hurting right now?
Who are the people in your community who could use help? That’s what it’s talking about! Did you know, 100 years ago mental health institutions and providers were churches and pastors and church leaders? People that struggled with depression and disorders and addictions didn’t go to homes, they came to church because they knew they could find help.
How many people have walked through our door asking for help? We get a few phone calls every week and we try to help as much as possible. But this, this building, maybe someday it will be an indoor skate park. This is not church! We met in a Zumba room at the YMCA for a while! We met in a living room for a while! That’s not church – you’re church! I don’t care if this building is here or not! We will find a place to meet, to worship, and we will move on. Praise the Lord that He provided this, it blew my mind, and we should take care of it and make sure it’s presentable and in order, that’s being a good steward. But this isn’t church!
Religion/faith – your faith in Jesus that is pure and undefiled is you helping others. Stop worrying about you and start worrying about who you’re missing. That’s what it’s about! At CommUNITY Church, we love Jesus, we love who Jesus loves, and we serve who Jesus serves. Really, really simple. Not easy, but very simple. Stop trying to complicate your faith, stop thinking that you don’t know enough. Start doing what you’ve already been given to do. And see what happens.
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Stop going through the motions! Stop showing up because it’s Sunday! Show up because you want to be fed in order to take it out there and DO IT! There are a few things that I’m passionate about, and this is one of them. The first thing you’re being called to do is this: Repent of your apathy. Repent of your contentment. It’s time to do.
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“All through history, people have tried to make ritual and liturgy a substitute for sacrifice and service. They have made religion splendid within the church at the expense of neglecting it outside the church.” William Barclay |