8 Jul 18: Rebel Without a Cause

Visualize the scene from Rebel Without a Cause, where Jim tells his parents that he’s going to the police.

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Passivity.

Passivity has plagued mankind since the Beginning. Genesis 3:6 records that Eve, after eating, turned and gave it to Adam. He was right there with her as she did it.

James 1:22-27

The saying, “talk is cheap”. James is writing about walking out our faith, by doing what we say and believe, not just lip service. Once you have met the Living God, once you have been “changed”, your life should reflect that. Ore, removed from the ground, refined into metal, is formed into something that does work.

If you love someone, you will be drawn to do things for them. Not that you do things to earn their love, but because of your love you do it for them. Avoiding sin, likewise, does not make you a Christian. “I swear less now than I used to, so I must be a Christian.” Wrong. Granted, you may want to improve in this area because of your love for Christ, but you will also want to be plugged into a community, want to share with and care for other people. Jesus said, “If you love me, you will…” Mind your tongue? Avoid sinners? No, “obey my commands.” “Feed my sheep.” Love each other in word and DEED.

Overlook offenses. Be neighborly. Go out of your way to help other people. When you see wrong in the world, speak truth into it.

James 4:17 – Whoever knows the right thing to do, and fails to do it, that is sin. The Holy Spirit may have nudged you to go visit your neighbor, or love on some people who need some love. Or whatever. That’s sin, whether you swear about it or not. You can’t deceive yourself, and you can’t deceive God. It’s rebellion. Culture teaches us that sin is an individual issue, that is, my sins are mine and only mine. But the Bible tells us that we are part of a greater body, and so an ache in the toe affects the back, the hands, and the heart. How you sin affects the body, and it affects how the community around you perceives Jesus.

The misperceptions about the church don’t come from the Bible and what God and Jesus wrote. It comes from the convictions and failures of Christ’s followers.

If a non-believer enters the church body with their sin in tow, then we can love on them and pray for them. But when a member of the body hides their sin at home, we fellows have an obligation to call them out. If you don’t look after your brother or sister, then where is the love? And if you can’t love a brother or sister, then how can you begin to love your neighbor? How can you love yourself?

In the movie, Jim wants to do the right thing. His parents are the little devil on his shoulder offering up what should be his excuses: you’ve learned from this, that’s the most important thing.

Talking about it doesn’t change anything. Yes, learning is important, but choosing passivity at each opportunity is a sin. “You can’t just turn it off.” What does Jesus say about it, and then what is your responsibility?

Its time to live out our faith. The younger generation notices hypocrisy. We need to truly live out the faith that we profess. Not that we will achieve perfection, but we can live out the truth that we know right now. Do what you CAN do, and what you can do will grow GREATER.

Stop pretending, stop deceiving ourselves, stop hiding in the shadows of “community”. I’m accountable to you, and I’m going to hold you accountable. SO don’t go around saying your a Christian unless you are doing the things you know you should do.

Col 1:9-10 “And so from the day we heard, we have not stopped praying for you”… Live in a manner that is worthy of Christ’s calling on your life.