MESSY: How Messy Is it, Really?

Whenever relatives come for a visit at our house, there is inevitably an argument.
 
Julianna says, “We need to clean up this mess.”
I say, “What mess? Looks good to me.”
 
She says, “There’s dog hair all over the floor.”
I say, “Define all over.”
 
She says, “There’s dirty dishes on the counter.”
I say, “They need to soak.”
 
She says, “There’s Dorito crumbs all over the couch.”
I say, “I wonder who did that.”
 
She says, “It’s messy.”
I say, “But how messy is it, really?”
 
Today we’re continuing our sermon series called MESSY. We’re going to ask the same question about sin. How messy is it, really? But before we begin, a prayer: O Lord, strengthen us by the truth, your Word is truth. Open our eyes to see what you want us to see, our ears to hear what you want us to hear and our hearts to believe what you would have us believe. Amen.
 
I. The Truth about “Minor” Sin
 
The Scripture today is from the book of James. It’s a letter written by a church leader named James to believers “scattered across the nations.” (1:1). Since we are believed and we are in a nation, it’s a letter written to us.
 
Look at what he encourages us to do: “My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show FAVORITISM. (2:1)
 
Favoritism means to give partial treatment to someone at the expense of another.
 
For example, if you are stuck in traffic on I-440, haven’t been moving for minutes and suddenly a car comes from the on ramp and tries to cut in front of you, but before they do you notice a “Go Tarheels” sticker on their back bumper, well…
 
If you’re a UNC fan, you smile and let them in. Favoritism.
If you’re an NC State fan, you speed up to make sure that they stay behind you. Anti-favoritism.
 
Another example from James 2:2-4
Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes…The original Greek language of this letter actually says, “shiny” clothes. If you’re clothing is “shiny”, you’ve got some money: Jewel-studded Armani, diamond decorated Gucci, or maybe a big old Nike Symbol that glimmers in the sun.
And a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. (v.2) He’s got tears in his jeans and a stain on his shirt. He smells a bit stale – of sweat and cigarette smoke.
If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you…” In fact, take my seat. Let me fluff the pew cushion for you, I’ll go grab a bulletin. Did you want a coffee? Some sugars? Should I run to the store and get you a Frappucino? Don’t worry. I’ll take care of it. Just, sit by me.
But you say to the poor man, “You stand there.” We need to save the seats for the rich people.
Or “Sit on the floor by my feet.” (v.3) You’re dirty already, so a little more dirt shouldn’t hurt.
 
That’s favoritism.
Partial treatment to someone at the expense of others.
 
And to be fair showing favoritism is common in this world.
Whether it’s favoritism because that person is rich.
Or poor
Or a man.
Or a woman.
Or young.
Or old.
Or white.
Or black.
Or Latino
Or Asian.
Or they enjoy a certain worship style.
Or they vote a certain way.
Or they were cheering for a certain college team yesterday.
 
That’s showing favoritism.
Because it’s so prevalent it might not seem like a huge deal.
But look what James says next: Have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with EVIL thoughts? (v.4)
 
To put it another way:
Wasn’t that favoritism…EVIL?
 
Even if it was just once.
Even if it was just a minor case.
Even if all that happened was that you took two chocolate chip cookies just to ensure that the person that you like got that last cookie and the other people you don’t favor as much didn’t, the favoritism is still evil.
 
TRUTH: “Minor” sin is a MAJOR mess.
 
It’s true for favoritism.
The same would be true for any other “minor” sin.
White lies? Evil.
A bit of gossip? Evil.
Secret racism? Evil.
Selfish pride? Evil.
Pinching your brother? Evil.
 
“Minor” sin is a MAJOR mess. Here’s some reasons why
 
(1) It Makes a MAJOR MESS of Kingdom Work
 
Look at what James writes next: Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? (v.5)
 
Jesus didn’t have favoritism.
He chose Bartimaeus, a blind beggar and went out to assure him of God’s love.
He chose a Samaritan woman, a non-Jew, non-male, and told her about her Savior.
He chose a prostitute, the type of person that no religious leader would ever choose and he told her about forgiveness.
Jesus didn’t show favoritism.
 
In fact, it’s because of that reason that you and I are ok. Because God is holy and favors holy things. Yet, he didn’t show favoritism to the “Holy”… (If he that would have been his mode of operation, he would have shown favoritism to no one.) Instead, Jesus showed love to sinners.
He showed love to you and me.
 
God’s kingdom doesn’t involve favoritism.
And if we, as part of God’s kingdom, show favoritism, then, we’re making a mess of his kingdom work.
In fact, if we do any minor sin, we’re making a mess of kingdom work.
Because kingdom work doesn’t involve sin.
A while back, a first-time visitor joined us for worship. When a visitor does that, I usually follow up with a THANK YOU email. In that email, is a brief survey they can take to talk about their experience. It’s a great way to gather feedback about what first time visitors feel about our worship.
 
And in the comments the person said: “I like the message. I like the music. But afterwards, in the fellowship hall I overheard some people complaining about the type of fellowship snacks available. To be honest, it really turned me off to the church.”
 
Even if the complaining was just a couple of seconds, a “Minor” sin.
It still left a big mess of kingdom work.
 
(2) “Minor” Sin makes you a Lawbreaker
 
Our Scripture continues: If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right. But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. (V.8-9)
Check out the word “convicted.” It’s a courtroom term. If you are convicted, then you have been called a lawbreaker.
 
You might be convicted of: speeding, a misdemeanor, fraud, even a felony.
Once you are convicted it’s on your record. Employers will look at your record and forever know you as a lawbreaker.
 
When you do a “minor” sin, it isn’t the circuit court convicting you.
It isn’t the district court.
It’s the county court.
It isn’t the state court.
The appellate court.
Or the Supreme Court.
 
It’s the Divine Court of our Heavenly King.
It’s God calling you a lawbreaker.
And it’s on your eternal record.
 
(3) “Minor” sin Leaves the Law Broken
 
Verse 10 says it this way: “For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.”
It’s like God’s Law is a balloon. He blew it up. Full of divinely inspired air. He gave it to us and said: “Don’t pop it.” You’ll need this law, fully together and not broken in order to enter eternal life. So…be careful.
If you commit adultery, Kaboom!
If you commit murder, Kablam!
If you steal, Kablammo!
If you do anything wrong, the law will be broken!
 
And we take the Law.
And we don’t commit adultery.
We don’t murder.
We don’t steal.
 
And we think…you know…just a little bit of about some church members…and…POP!!!!
The law is broken.
That’s a big deal.
 
(4) “Minor” Sin means Eternal Death
 
Because we don’t have a fully together LAW necessary for eternal life.
 
In fact…
Ezekiel 18:4 says, “the soul who sins even a “minor” sin is the one who will die.”
Romans 6:23 says, “The wages of sin any type of sin is death.
Matthew 5:19 says, “Anyone who breaks one of the least of my commands…will be called least in the kingdom of heaven.”
 
“Minor” sin is a Major Mess.
 
II. Not a Minor Savior
 
Let’s do some math. If you averaged one sin per minute, not unlikely at all.
And you lived an average lifetime of 70 years.
And for every one sin during those seventy years, you place one inch of manure into a pile.
 
By the end of your life, that pile of manure would be 663 miles high.
 
Which…
When you realize that…
It can you leave you feeling mighty concerned.
 
Because if “minor” sin is a major mess.
If “minor” sin is actual sin.
Then, I’ve got a problem!
 
The things that I think…
The words that I’m not careful with…
The things I don’t without even thinking…
 
I’ve got lots more sin on my heart than I ever imagined.
How can I ever be free of this mess?
 
Simple.
Jesus.
 
Look at what James says next:
Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom. (v.12)
But…what Law gives freedom? It isn’t the Ten Commandments.
The Ten Commandments just pile up your guilt.
Pile up your shame.
Pile up with reminders of all your “minor” sin and how major their guilt is.
That’s not freedom.
 
The Law that gives freedom isn’t actually a law at all.
It’s the Gospel.
The Gospel is that Jesus lived perfectly without even a “minor” sin.
The Gospel is that Jesus suffered death for your “minor” sins
The Gospel is that Jesus resurrected and left that “minor” sin behind.
This is good news if you are feeling troubled by your “minor” sin, because…
The Gospel includes “minor” sin.
It’s not like the visit from the Health and Sanitation Inspector. When they visit, they peruse ever nook and cranny of your building. They rub their white glove for dust. They test waters for PH balance. They look under table, behind doors, and inside locked closets, on the back corner of the highest shelf for any unsanitary practice.
 
God isn’t like that.
He doesn’t miss a “minor’ sin hidden in some nook and cranny of your heart.
 
He found it all.
He didn’t miss a sin.
He didn’t forget to check for “favoritism.”
He didn’t accidently leave some “minor gossip” under a rug.
 
He thoroughly cleaned up all your sins.
 
All of your “Major” sins.
All of your “minor” sins.
All of your sins.
And understand:
The reason isn’t because the minor sins aren’t a big mess, they are.
The reason is that
Jesus is bigger than the BIGGEST messes.
 
Even the mess of death.
 
Because crucifixions are BIG messes.
Blood everywhere.
Sweat dripping on the ground.
Dirt & decay stuck to stained pieces of wood.
 
But Jesus was bigger than that mess.
He came out of the grave alive.
He came out of the grave and left the mess of death behind.
He was bigger than that HUGE, VISUAL mess…
 
…and that’s great news. Because it means Jesus is bigger than your HUGE, INVISIBLE mess:
In fact, look at verse 13: Mercy triumphs over judgment.
 
Mercy is Jesus.
Mercy is forgiveness.
Mercy is God’s message to you right now:
In Jesus, you are forgiven.
 
III. What Now?
 
(1) Live as Those Set Free
 
Look at James’ own WHAT NOW.
He says, because you are free in Jesus, Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom. (v.12)
 
Because it’s so easy to think that these “minor” sins are just part of life.
That we are stuck doing them.
That we’ll never be rid of them.
 
But that’s inaccurate.
Jesus died.
Jesus rose.
You are free.
 
That means you are free
Free from gossip.
Free from white lies.
Free from occasional porn.
Free from complaining.
Free from arrogance.
Free from favoritism.
 
None of those sins control you.
 
You are free.
Free to speak kindly.
Free to speak truth.
Free to be pure.
Free to compliment.
Free to be humble.
Free to treat all people with respect and kindness.
 
(2) Be Merciful
 
Because we tend to want mercy for our “minor” sins.
“I know, I can be grouchy, please forgive me. It’s just a ‘minor’ thing.”
“It’s just one lie, please forgive.”
 
But when others do the same thing to us?
 
“He wasn’t polite to me, so I’ll be impolite to him.”
“He gossiped about me, so I’ll gossip about him.”
“He didn’t save me a spot in church, so I’ll hate him forever.”
 
James writes, “…judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful.”
 
In other words:
If you want to judge others for their “minor” sins.
Then, God will judge you for yours.
 
And the punishment won’t be minor.
 
Instead, be merciful, because God has been merciful to you.
He forgave you all your sins, forgive others theirs.
Be merciful.
 
It happened at PreK this past week.
A friend was riding his tricycle and he rode it directly into another friend’s leg.
 
The other friend began crying, sobbing, screaming.
 
So, the culprit came over.
It hadn’t been a purposeful hit.
It was relatively minor.
 
Yet he said to his tearful classmate:
I’m sorry.
 
The other friend immediately stopped crying and said: “I forgive you.”
 
Moments later they were playing together like nothing had happened.
 
Friends, that’s what God is talking about.
Recognizing sin is serious.
But recognizing we have a serious Savior.
We live freely apart from “minor” sin.
We forgive “minor” sins from our neighbors. Amen.