Loving God, as we look into our hearts before you, we know how much we are in need of your grace and mercy.  Help us to drink deeply of your Spirit as we gather together today, that we might emerge forgiven and renewed and ready for life in your service; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

    Where does evil come from?  If God created everything good, what’s up with the evil that we see in this world?  This question may or may not have been on your mind as you came to worship this morning.  Either way, it is a question that is addressed by at least two of our readings this morning, and one that has been asked by many people of faith throughout history.

    As you heard the Scripture readings this morning, did any of you happen to catch where evil comes from? [responses] It comes from within.  It comes from in here - from the human heart.  This is what Jesus teaches as he has various conversations with people about “surface” sorts of traditions versus a heart that is in the right place.  This is also the answer that James gives in the verses that come just before the reading that we heard today.  James writes about how we are tempted by our own desire, and then the desire gives birth to sin, and then the sin gives birth to death (Jas. 1:14-15). 

   The passage from Mark, of course, goes into far more detail.  Essentially, Jesus is saying, “Don’t be worried about humanly created rules that are only meant to make you look good.  Instead, look into your own heart, for that is where evil comes from.  These are the things that make you unholy and unclean.”  And then there is a list of evil things that come from the heart: Fornication, which is essentially any sex outside of a committed marriage relationship.  Theft, murder, adultery.  Avarice, which is uncontrolled greed.  Wickedness.  Deceit - which includes lying.  Licentiousness - letting your appetites take over - especially your sexual appetite.  Envy, slander, pride, folly.  If you’re going to be concerned about something, be concerned about these things!

    And so, where does evil come from?  It comes from in here - from within - which means that any of us have the potential to choose the evil and ignore the good.  However, James also reminds us today of where everything good comes from.  Did you catch it? [responses] Everything good comes from above.  “Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights” (Jas. 1:17).  In other words, every perfect gift is also open to all of us.

    Notice that Jesus’ answer to the evil in the world is not to get out there and hunt down all of the worst offenders and get rid of them.  Rather, his answer is to love us and to die for us.  His answer is to call each one of us to repentance, inviting us to be honest in looking at our own hearts rather than judging everybody else.  Jesus’ answer is, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Mt. 5:44).  As for vengeance and punishment, leave that to God.  “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord” (Rom. 12:19).  And how hard it is for us to trust God with the judgment!

    There are far too many times when those who bear the name of Christ are quick to judge, quick to get angry, and quick to condemn others.  I have witnessed more bad behaviour from those who call themselves Christians than I would ever want to see again in the future – especially when anything related to sexuality is being discussed.  Yet, as the letter of James reminds us today, a far different standard of behaviour is expected from those who are in a right relationship with God through Jesus Christ.  “Be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger; for your anger does not produce God’s righteousness” (Jas. 1:19-20).

    Depending on personality type, this can be a difficult thing for some people.  Some have a shorter fuse than others and can snap just like that if something makes them angry.  Yet, this is not an impossible thing that those who follow Jesus are being asked to do.  In fact, the Spirit of God within us cultivates the ability to be patient and gentle and slow to anger.

    Oddly enough, the best example I can think of in this respect is a man who is both a Palestinian and a Muslim.  Izzeldin Abuelaish is a doctor from Gaza who has worked in hospitals in Israel.  Three of his daughters were killed by an Israeli rocket.  He grew up hungry and poor and dirty in a refugee camp in Gaza.  Many times he has suffered the indignity of being held at checkpoints or border crossings for hours, while simply trying to get to work, or to get home, or to get medical attention for people who need it.  Yet, the title of his book is “I Shall Not Hate.”  He is quick to listen and slow to anger and believes that Palestinians and Israelis are more alike than most people want to admit.

    Dr. Abuelaish has more excuse to be angry and judgmental than many people in this world, and yet he believes in the way of peace.  Surely those who trust in the Spirit of God and who believe in Jesus Christ can do the same!  They will know us by our love.  They will know us by our behaviour!  They will know us because we are doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive ourselves (Jas. 1:22).

    As far as being doers of the word goes, James mentions listening and being slow to anger.  He also mentions watching your tongue – being careful that others are blessed by your words and not cursed by them.  However, perhaps most interesting is James’ definition of pure religion: “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world” (Jas. 1:27).  This is the behaviour of those who follow Jesus Christ.

    There is a rather unique Christian community in Minneapolis called “Solomon’s Porch.”  When they were first forming this community in the year 2000, this verse from James was key in their thinking about what Solomon’s Porch would be all about.  This wasn’t to be a community that was only for themselves.  They were called to be both a benefit and a blessing to all the world.  And so they have made a conscious effort to care for those who are in distress – both those who are part of their community and those who are outside of it (Doug Pagitt, Community in the Inventive Age, sparkhouse press, Minneapolis: 2011).

    Some examples of how they have done this include providing meals for families with new babies or for those recovering from illness, running a story time for children in the area, or helping people in their community to find a job, or find safe housing, or get the medication that they need.  They have traveled to Guatemala to build houses and have funded homes for AIDS orphans in India and Africa.  Whether the need is right next door or across the world, they use whatever gifts and resources they have in order to further God’s kingdom here on earth.

    I should also add that these things are not programs that somebody thought up and started to run, but simply the outgrowth of people using their ideas, passions, resources and abilities for the work of the kingdom.  In addition, these things are not run by staff people or pastors, but by members of the community who are willing to use their passions and gifts to comfort those who are in distress.

    Granted, every congregation and every Christian community has different gifts and passions, but why wouldn’t we be a benefit and a blessing to all the world?  Otherwise, why are we here?  We have not come here today simply to look in the mirror – to hear the word – and then walk away and forget all about it.  We are here to be strengthened for service, and to be inspired, and to rekindle in ourselves the good and perfect gifts that come from above.

    Yes, we all have the capacity for evil within us.  Yet, we also have the capacity for repentance and forgiveness and being filled with the grace and love of God through Jesus Christ.  Let us then fill our cups today at the table of the Lord, ready to be doers of the word, and blessed in order to be a blessing.  Amen.

Lectionary 22(B)                            Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23
September 2, 2012                            James 1:17-27
St. Luke’s Zion Lutheran Church
Pastor Lynne Hutchison

© 2012 Lynne Hutchison  All Rights Reserved