How Then Should We Live?
When I was in college, we had to read “How Should We Then Live: The Rise and Decline of Western Thought and Culture” by Francis Schaeffer as part of my Western Civilization class my freshman year.
The book was written by Francis A. Schaeffer, a presuppositionalist theologian. A presuppositionalist is one who believes that one belief you have has to take precedence over another belief you have. Generally, the belief that presuppositionalist theologians adhere to is the infallibility of Scripture, and therefore the content of Scripture overrides everything else, will, reason, empirical experience and subjective feeling.
Schaeffer, in his book attack, attacked the influences of the Renaissance, the Enlightenment, and Charles Darwin on our thought and forming of society. A series of films was produced off of his book, and they inspired a number of the leaders of the conservative Evangelical movement including Jerry Falwell.
Schaeffer's central premise is: When we base society on the Bible, on the infinite-personal God who is there and has spoken,[4] this provides an absolute by which we can conduct our lives and by which we can judge society.
Schaeffer’s book was brilliant, though you may not agree with all of it, nor with his presuppositions, and some rightfully argued with his views on Thomas Aquinas, and his harsh criticism of the Catholic church at times were over the top, but the title is what has always stuck with me.
How Should We then Live?
The premise was,
If God exists, if we hold that the Bible is the Word of God, if we hold that we hear is true, How should we then live?
Our lectionary passages this morning all deal with this same question -how do we live (and why)?
In our Old Testament passage, Moses is telling Israel to obey the law, and all that he was teaching them to observe -the laws given from the Lord - and exhorting them to observe these laws diligently.
Adherence to the law in Deuteronomy is to not only be in right relationship with God, but also it was a testament to other people about the God that they worship. Their adherence to the law demonstrates their “wisdom and discernment”.
Moses reminds them to take care and watch themselves closely, to not forget, nor let them slip from their minds all the days of their lives. Moses commands them to make them known to their children and their children’s children.,
Your behavior teaches others people about the God you worship.
So the law is important. But…there is balance.
In our Gospel passage in Mark, the Pharisees were questioning why the disciples did not live according to the tradition of the elders? Why aren’t your disciples Jesus following the rabbinical law? Jesus let them know that what he was most concerned for them was whether nor not their hearts were in the right place —not whether not they adhered to the letter of the law.
The question for them, as it is for us now… is…
How Should we then live?
What is important?
Our passages tell us.
We should live so that our lives teach others about the God we worship. We should live so that observers would describe us as “wise and discerning”. We should live demonstrating and teaching these things to our children. We should live in awareness of the law, but not becoming pharisaical about its teachings and adherence to things that no longer matter. We should live in perfect freedom and not let the “rules” of our religion as we perceive them to exclude others.
Church attendance nationally is down. In our nation, the number of those who check “none” in response to questions about religious affiliation continue to climb higher, while those who claim affiliation with any type of faith group; the numbers continually are going down.
It might be time for the church to ask, “What message are we presenting about the Divine?”
James is our Epistle for the next 5 weeks. The Book of James continues the question, “What does it mean to live as a Christian?” and so for the next 5 weeks we will look at this together.
Another way to say it is it is a book that answers the question,
“How then Should we live?”
The past two weeks we have heard two stretching personal sermons about giving and personal stewardship, and we have all been challenged to prayerfully reflect upon our giving.
Today we are told in James that , “Every generous act of giving…comes from above.” Every generous act of giving. Not some generous acts. But all generous acts of giving.
“Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above…”
All that we do to offer acts of mercy, or advocacy, or support, or friendship. All we do that is good, and all that we receive that is good, comes from God.
How then Should we live?
We have to be open to receive and be a conduit through which God is able to move and act and have being. Our works of giving, acts of giving of ourselves in service to others, are gifts we are receiving from above.
How then Should we live?
“Be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger.”
How many of us begin forming in our minds responses to people before we have taken time to fully listen to another, or even yet, interrupt them before they are finished speaking? Be slow to speak James reminds us. Take time to consider what the other has truly said before you respond and speak.
Watch your reactivity to others. Be slow to anger.
“Be doers of the word, not merely hearers who decieve themselves.”
Your faith should call you to do stuff. Your faith calls you to action.
And perhaps the most difficult part of this section of James,
“If any think they are religious, and do not bridle their tongues but deceive their hearts, their religion is worthless.”
If you are not able to bridle your tongue, your religion is worthless. The importance of us, as Christians, of being mindful of our speech - of shunning gossip, of turning from harsh words - cannot be overstated.
How then Should we live?
“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.” James 1: 27
Caring for “orphans and widows” is a synecdoche for all actions taken on behalf of the less fortunate and vulnerable members of society. And watch yourself from becoming stained by the world. Your life, my life, our lives, as believers, should look and be different. Be with, and among, but not part of the world.
So, “How then Should we live?”
If we were to follow James precepts, consider the book of Deuteronomy, listen to the words of Jesus to his disciples, we would do a lot less talking and a lot more listening. We would turn aside from our anger and self-deception. We would measure our faith by our personal relationships and how we treat others. We would look at our actions in our community and with others. Our expression of our religion would be in outreach to the poor and overlooked.
And by doing this James tell us, we become a kind of first fruits of God’s creatures. Think about that this week… how are you becoming in our life —in your living —in your giving— a first fruit of God’s creation. How are you living? Amen.
The book was written by Francis A. Schaeffer, a presuppositionalist theologian. A presuppositionalist is one who believes that one belief you have has to take precedence over another belief you have. Generally, the belief that presuppositionalist theologians adhere to is the infallibility of Scripture, and therefore the content of Scripture overrides everything else, will, reason, empirical experience and subjective feeling.
Schaeffer, in his book attack, attacked the influences of the Renaissance, the Enlightenment, and Charles Darwin on our thought and forming of society. A series of films was produced off of his book, and they inspired a number of the leaders of the conservative Evangelical movement including Jerry Falwell.
Schaeffer's central premise is: When we base society on the Bible, on the infinite-personal God who is there and has spoken,[4] this provides an absolute by which we can conduct our lives and by which we can judge society.
Schaeffer’s book was brilliant, though you may not agree with all of it, nor with his presuppositions, and some rightfully argued with his views on Thomas Aquinas, and his harsh criticism of the Catholic church at times were over the top, but the title is what has always stuck with me.
How Should We then Live?
The premise was,
If God exists, if we hold that the Bible is the Word of God, if we hold that we hear is true, How should we then live?
Our lectionary passages this morning all deal with this same question -how do we live (and why)?
In our Old Testament passage, Moses is telling Israel to obey the law, and all that he was teaching them to observe -the laws given from the Lord - and exhorting them to observe these laws diligently.
Adherence to the law in Deuteronomy is to not only be in right relationship with God, but also it was a testament to other people about the God that they worship. Their adherence to the law demonstrates their “wisdom and discernment”.
Moses reminds them to take care and watch themselves closely, to not forget, nor let them slip from their minds all the days of their lives. Moses commands them to make them known to their children and their children’s children.,
Your behavior teaches others people about the God you worship.
So the law is important. But…there is balance.
In our Gospel passage in Mark, the Pharisees were questioning why the disciples did not live according to the tradition of the elders? Why aren’t your disciples Jesus following the rabbinical law? Jesus let them know that what he was most concerned for them was whether nor not their hearts were in the right place —not whether not they adhered to the letter of the law.
The question for them, as it is for us now… is…
How Should we then live?
What is important?
Our passages tell us.
We should live so that our lives teach others about the God we worship. We should live so that observers would describe us as “wise and discerning”. We should live demonstrating and teaching these things to our children. We should live in awareness of the law, but not becoming pharisaical about its teachings and adherence to things that no longer matter. We should live in perfect freedom and not let the “rules” of our religion as we perceive them to exclude others.
Church attendance nationally is down. In our nation, the number of those who check “none” in response to questions about religious affiliation continue to climb higher, while those who claim affiliation with any type of faith group; the numbers continually are going down.
It might be time for the church to ask, “What message are we presenting about the Divine?”
James is our Epistle for the next 5 weeks. The Book of James continues the question, “What does it mean to live as a Christian?” and so for the next 5 weeks we will look at this together.
Another way to say it is it is a book that answers the question,
“How then Should we live?”
The past two weeks we have heard two stretching personal sermons about giving and personal stewardship, and we have all been challenged to prayerfully reflect upon our giving.
Today we are told in James that , “Every generous act of giving…comes from above.” Every generous act of giving. Not some generous acts. But all generous acts of giving.
“Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above…”
All that we do to offer acts of mercy, or advocacy, or support, or friendship. All we do that is good, and all that we receive that is good, comes from God.
How then Should we live?
We have to be open to receive and be a conduit through which God is able to move and act and have being. Our works of giving, acts of giving of ourselves in service to others, are gifts we are receiving from above.
How then Should we live?
“Be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger.”
How many of us begin forming in our minds responses to people before we have taken time to fully listen to another, or even yet, interrupt them before they are finished speaking? Be slow to speak James reminds us. Take time to consider what the other has truly said before you respond and speak.
Watch your reactivity to others. Be slow to anger.
“Be doers of the word, not merely hearers who decieve themselves.”
Your faith should call you to do stuff. Your faith calls you to action.
And perhaps the most difficult part of this section of James,
“If any think they are religious, and do not bridle their tongues but deceive their hearts, their religion is worthless.”
If you are not able to bridle your tongue, your religion is worthless. The importance of us, as Christians, of being mindful of our speech - of shunning gossip, of turning from harsh words - cannot be overstated.
How then Should we live?
“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.” James 1: 27
Caring for “orphans and widows” is a synecdoche for all actions taken on behalf of the less fortunate and vulnerable members of society. And watch yourself from becoming stained by the world. Your life, my life, our lives, as believers, should look and be different. Be with, and among, but not part of the world.
So, “How then Should we live?”
If we were to follow James precepts, consider the book of Deuteronomy, listen to the words of Jesus to his disciples, we would do a lot less talking and a lot more listening. We would turn aside from our anger and self-deception. We would measure our faith by our personal relationships and how we treat others. We would look at our actions in our community and with others. Our expression of our religion would be in outreach to the poor and overlooked.
And by doing this James tell us, we become a kind of first fruits of God’s creatures. Think about that this week… how are you becoming in our life —in your living —in your giving— a first fruit of God’s creation. How are you living? Amen.