James 5

I have just been reading James 5 and it got me to wondering; in a society where no one goes without, where money - through loans, credits and benefits - is readily available, where even the poorest amongst us can have clothes to wear, food in their bellies, a roof over their heads, and access to amazing health facilities, how can this warning to rich oppressors apply to us? In the end the answer comes swiftly and once again we have to stop thinking on an individual basis and think corporately, or in this case globally. Our country along with many countries in the world qualifies as a "rich oppressor" of other nations that do not have our wealth and opportunities, the question is "how do I challenge this?" but the answer does not come swiftly in this case. Perhaps as individuals and corporately as the church we can use what opportunity we have to change the status quo, and perhaps as the Church we can start with ourselves. I love Pope Francis and all that he is trying to do with the Catholic Church, what a man of God he is. I see Justin Welby in a similar light however I think his job is much more difficult than the Pope's as the Anglican Church is so intertwined with our government and the laws of this land. But enough of that, I am called to take the plank of wood out of my own eye before I try to take the speck of dust out of my brothers eye and there is where I need to begin.

Let it snow!!

Apparently there is a storm front on its way that could result in us having a white Christmas? In spite of all the disruption it causes I love snow. I love it when one gets up in the morning to find the world covered in a blanket of white, I love it even more when the snow is virgin, there are no footprints to disturb its perfect, unbroken covering. Or when you can see the footprints made by the little birds as they forage about for food. When walking in it I love it when in crunches under your feet, and the way it seems to deafen the sounds and brings a little quiet into our noisy world. It seems that all that purity, that whiteness can cover up the brokenness and detritus of our world, and just for a time the earth is perfect once again.

The cleansing that the snow seems to bring and the purity of its brilliant radiance is reflected in the words of King David in Psalm 51 who, when pleading for mercy and forgives after Nathan the Prophet admonished him for his affair with Bathsheba and his treachery towards Uriah, wrote "Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow." David goes on to say "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me." Like washing away our sins, snow is only temporary in our part of the world, like the first verse we can wash and be clean but that doesn't change our hearts, we can still be unclean on the insider, which is why David asks God to do a work within him.

We are reading James at the moment and in 4:8 it says "wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded." Emphasising the fact that it is not just our exterior that needs to show the mark of holiness and salvation, but what is inside as well, echoing the teaching of Jesus in Matthew 23 "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish,but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence." Jesus then goes on to instruct that we should "clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean."

Cleansing, renewal and recreation are fundamental to our faith but they all start with what is going on inside such as our minds being renewed (Romans 12:12). All of this is perhaps summarised best by Ephesians 4:22-25 "You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness."

As we approach the end of another year through the gateway of Christmas and our celebration of the birth of Jesus, let us all think about ourselves and ask "do we conform to the pattern of this world?" is our faith like snow; a beautiful, pure blanket yet covering something not so beautiful underneath? If that is the case then why not join me in a prayer of David:

Have mercy on me, O God,

    according to your unfailing love;

according to your great compassion

    blot out my transgressions.

Wash away all my iniquity

    and cleanse me from my sin.

For I know my transgressions,

    and my sin is always before me.

Against you, you only, have I sinned

    and done what is evil in your sight;

so you are right in your verdict

    and justified when you judge.

Surely I was sinful at birth,

    sinful from the time my mother conceived me.

Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb;

    you taught me wisdom in that secret place.

Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;

    wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

Let me hear joy and gladness;

    let the bones you have crushed rejoice.

Hide your face from my sins

    and blot out all my iniquity.

Create in me a pure heart, O God,

    and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

Do not cast me from your presence

    or take your Holy Spirit from me.

Restore to me the joy of your salvation

    and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

Then I will teach transgressors your ways,

    so that sinners will turn back to you.

Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God,

    you who are God my Savior,

    and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.

Open my lips, Lord,

    and my mouth will declare your praise.

You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;

    you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.

My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit;

    a broken and contrite heart

    you, God, will not despise.

Amen