Neighbors, The Epistle of James, and Eric Clapton

A few months ago the ten month old twin girls and their older sister lived with their mother a few miles from our suburban home. They were our neighbors, albeit unknown neighbors; a family doubly filled with the joy of new life, neighbors that we had never met. Now, we sat around a table at the homeless shelter for women and children where my unknown neighbors found themselves living. We sat, sharing laughter, a meal, and the presence of Christ in the middle of the troubles of life in the world. This family, my own family, and my faith family as one.

As I lived (and reflected upon) this experience, I could not help but be drawn to two verses from the book of James (1:26-27) that have been working on me lately. Now you need to know that I was raised of Scandinavian Lutheran heritage which is code in my tribe for reminding each other that we don’t speak too loudly of the good works that we do in the world and we certainly do not think that any good works that we may do would bring any favor for us in the eyes of the Lord. Like many Lutherans of my generation, I was taught in confirmation that Martin Luther had reservations about the book of James and its place in the Bible. Too much emphasis on doing things I was told and not enough emphasis on what Christ has done. Doing things does not save you I was taught. (What a message to give to Christ’s youth about their role in tending to God’s creation and our calling to share the gospel!). I hope that the message learned by my own children by virtue of sitting around that table would be a different one.

But it begs an age old question. So how then are we to live in faith? What is the relationship of faith to the works that we do in the world? Consider these two quotes from Luther:

We have no other reason for living on earth than to be of help to others. If this were not the case, it would be best for God to kill us and let us die as soon as we are baptized and have begun to believe. But He permits us to live here in order that we may bring others to faith, just as He brought us.

And what is this faith that Luther speaks of?

Faith is a living, daring confidence in God’s grace, so sure and certain that the believer would stake his life on it a thousand times. This knowledge of and confidence in God’s grace makes men glad and bold and happy in dealing with God and with all creatures. And this is the work which the Holy Spirit performs in faith. Because of it, without compulsion, a person is ready and glad to do good to everyone, to serve everyone, to suffer everything, out of love and praise to God who has shown him this grace. Thus it is impossible to separate works from faith, quite as impossible as to separate heat and light from fire. Beware, therefore, of your own false notions and of the idle talkers who imagine themselves wise enough to make decisions about faith and good works, and yet are the greatest fools. Pray God that he may work faith in you. Otherwise you will surely remain forever without faith, regardless of what you may think or do.

On the drive home from serving and sharing the meal at the women’s shelter, an old Eric Clapton song came on the radio. My daughter commented that she did not think it sounded like Clapton (when did she get so old as to have opinions about such things?). The words of the song resonated to the depth of my soul:

Then we’d go running on faith
All of our dreams would come true
And our world would be right
When love comes over me and you
When love comes over you

Love (as the fruit of the Holy Spirit) coming over us (overtaking and oozing out us) in order that the world would be right.

Is this James’ dream?

Indeed.

Is it Martin Luther’s dream?

Certainly.

Is it Eric Clapton’s dream?

Apparently.

Is it my dream?

I hope and pray that it is.

Is it your dream?

[fill in the blank here]


But the more I think about it, maybe my daughter was right. Maybe it wasn’t Eric Clapton singing that song at all...

Maybe it was the Spirit of Christ himself- singing of God’s very own dream for our world.

and

just

maybe…

We are simply asked to keep running on in faith (all the while singing along in order that the world might hear).