James seems to be a little ADD flitting from one topic in a few verses to another in the next. But somehow Beth's managed to show his transitions well.
This morning we were finishing up James 1 with the oft-quoted verses on "true religion." I'm gonna quote them here from the message just to let us hear them in a different way...
Anyone who sets himself up as "religious" by talking a good game is self-deceived. This kind of religion is hot air and only hot air. Real religion, the kind that passes muster before God the Father, is this: Reach out to the homeless and loveless in their plight, and guard against corruption from the godless world.
Religious. We've grown to resist that word. At least we want to. Someone asks if we are religious and we'd immediately answer "no ..." followed by some subtle turn of phrase because being "religious" has at best a pious tone and at worst, an offensive one. But, if we stop and think about our lives, our activities, our allegiances, we are, indeed, religious.
That's why James took the time to set us straight. I think God's pretty clear in Scripture that it's not our sacrifice, our rituals, our devotion, even, that He is looking for. He's not looking for the best worshipper, the most disciplined faster, or the most studious reader of His word. He is looking for the one who puts feet to that message, who lives out that truth! Over and over, God has called His people to look out for the most helpless and vulnerable in our world ... widows, orphans, homeless, those unable to care for themselves.
So, if that is the case, why is our heart not most drawn to these? Does our heart not beat with the passion of our Father?
Yesterday I was sitting around the table at GHSU talking with a couple of guys. Ironically, all three of us were familiar with a homeless man in Augusta named Clarence. I met Clarence at David and Callie's. He has been a part of their life in some amazing ways in the year they've lived here. A 54 year old, African American, HIV positive, homeless man ... and this twenty-something little family of three. It's pretty beautiful! Clarence started coming by David and Callie's looking for money, work, food, and sometimes a ride. I have been challenged, convicted, overwhelmed as I've seen how the Murrays have brought Clarence into their lives. They've had so many conversations about how to be wise and gracious, how to love Clarence and Christ in the best ways. They've been consistent and gracious with him, telling him they will give him jobs/money on the 1st and 15th . They let him use their lawnmower to earn some money mowing grass for other people. They've given him food and drink. They've listened to his stories ... always wondering how they can do more. I've LOVED Clarence stories! They are always laced with child-like shenanigans on Clarence's part and a sweet grace and light on the part of David and Callie.
As I moved to Augusta and started to build relationships, the topic of Clarence would sometimes come up and I found out that Clarence also frequented a house where several GHSU guys lived and he was also a common visitor in the offices at the Hill Baptist Church. Clarence was a great little networker. We laughed at how many of us knew Clarence.
As the topic of Clarence came up, once again, at the lunch table yesterday, Patrick (who had lived in the house iwht GHSU guys) said, "You didn't hear? Clarence was hit by a car this winter and he died." Several times over the past two months, Callie had commented that they had not seen Clarence and were worried. And all the while, he had died.
I called Callie on my way home, knowing it would be a hard thing for she and David to learn. And immediately, her heart was to let the world know something about Clarence ... to contact his family if she could find them, to let people know, somehow, what Clarence had taught them and who he was.
She found the report of his death in the paper.
5 lines for a life ...
The Coroner's Office confirms 54 year old Parnell Davis was killed after he was hit by a car last night.
Davis was homeless. He was struck while crossing 15th Street on his bike.
Davis was taken to the Georgia Health Sciences University, where he died from injuries he received in the accident.
Davis was at fault for failing to stop at an intersection with a red light.
That last line made me mad. If someone else had been killed while riding their bicycle, would their "fault" be noted? Doubtful. 5 short lines had reduced Clarence to a homeless man who was killed riding his bike and it was his fault.
His obituary was equally short, listing only a few surviving siblings.
I am thankful that there were people who cared about Clarence. These people are certain about his salvation. They had conversations that gave them confidence that Clarence had a relationship with Christ. Yes, in Clarence's case, death truly is God's protection from the future ... a future of living alone on the streets, of dying of AIDS or pneumonia or an infection, of trying to figure out where his next meal, next shelter, never money would come from. But it's still a tragedy.
I wondered today as I thought about Clarence if I would have been as open and loving toward Clarence as David and Callie have been. I wondered how many people ignored him, were ugly to him, thought him undeserving of love or grace or a hot meal.
Clarence was one of those whom James referred to when he talked about true religion. There are many more. How are we living out a life that reflects the heart of our Savior? What are WE willing to give up to love them?
Callie plans to write the story of Clarence. I cannot wait to hear her heart for this man who changed their lives. I cannot wait to see who God brings into their lives next, knowing He can trust them to love well. I cannot wait to see what God will do in my life when I start asking Him to let me see as He does.
What do the faces of those whom God loves look like?
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