Rev. David Holwick ZH Book of James series
First Baptist Church
Ledgewood, New Jersey
September 11, 1994
James 5:19-20
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I. We are prone to wander.
There is a quaint story out of the Jewish tradition about a rabbi
who went on a journey with his servant named Jacob.
Their cart was drawn by a lively horse of which the rabbi was very
fond.
When they came to a roadside inn, the rabbi went in to rest, leaving
his horse in Jacob's care.
In the meantime, a horse trader passed by and, seeing Jacob, soon
made friends with him.
He loaded him up with beer and Jacob got so drunk it was easy for
the horse trader to get him to sell the horse for a song.
Although drunk, Jacob was frightened by what he had done.
What would the rabbi say when he came out of the inn?
An idea occurred to him.
He placed himself between the empty shafts of the cart and started
to chew hay.
When the rabbi came out, he was struck speechless by what he saw.
"What's the meaning of this?" he finally managed to stammer.
"Where's the horse?"
"The horse? That's me!" replied Jacob, and he uttered a loud
whinny.
"What on earth are you doing?" murmured the terrified rabbi.
"Have you gone out of your mind?"
"Don't be angry with me, Rabbi," pleaded his servant Jacob.
"Years ago a great misfortune happened to me.
I was a young man then, a little wild and foolish, and, may God
forgive me, I sinned with a woman.
So to punish me, God turned me into a horse -- your horse.
For twenty long years you have been my master, Rabbi, little
suspecting who I really was.
Well, it seems my punishment is over.
I'm again a man, praise God!"
When the rabbi heard Jacob's story he began to tremble and prayed
for God's mercy.
However, there was a practical difficulty to attend to.
He could not continue his journey without a horse, so he went into
the marketplace to buy one.
Suddenly, he stood face to face with his old horse.
It was munching a wisp of hay at the horse trader's corral.
Going up to it in alarm, the rabbi whispered into its ear,
"For goodness' sake, Jacob! Again, so soon!"
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A. Prodigals.
1) Famous Bible story of prodigal son. Luke 15
a) Prodigal doesn't mean to stray, but to immerse self
in sin.
b) We love stories about those who destroy themselves in a
big way.
2) Bible's perspective is that all have sinned, and wandered
from God.
a) Some do it in a big way, others in a small way.
b) It is our natural condition.
c) God wants to bring wanderers back.
B. Even Christians can wander.
1) Salvation of non-believers is NOT in view here.
2) Focus is on wandering Christians. "brothers"
a) All Christians wander at one point.
b) Some make it a significant part of their theology.
Rev. Jack Hyles is the pastor of one of the largest
churches in America.
He is a strict Fundamentalist, and he has some interesting
attitudes about sin.
Hyles thinks all Christians have wheat & weeds (good and
bad) in them, and shouldn't try to root out weeds.
We can sin as long as we repent.
Backsliding is a normal part of the Christian life - if
we don't backslide, we won't grow.
I might mention that several investigators believe Hyles
has had a long-term affair with his secretary.
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3) Some Christians stop going to church, or stop praying, or
even turn against God.
C. James wants us to bring them back.
II. What causes Christians to wander.
A. Sin can be a major factor, especially habitual ones.
1) We become desensitized.
2) Nibbling our way to doom:
Mike Yaconelli wrote in The Wittenburg Door:
"I live in a small, rural community.
There are lots of cattle ranches around here, and, every
once in a while, a cow wanders off and gets lost...
Ask a rancher how a cow gets lost, and chances are he will
reply,
'Well, the cow starts nibbling on a tuft of green grass,
and then it nibbles on that one near a hole in the fence.
Then it sees a tuft on the other side, and goes through to
nibble it, then the next one, and the next...
The next thing you know, the cow has nibbled itself into
being lost.'
Many Christians are in the process of nibbling their way
to lostness...
Pleasures entice us to move just a little away from God,
then a little farther, and yet farther, until we are
completely lost.
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3) Since we don't like to feel divided, we separate ourselves
from the source of tension, God.
Phyllis Schlafly wrote a fascinating editorial this week
on how the most destructive theories and philosophies
of our time originated in flawed individuals.
Margaret Mead, Karl Marx, Sigmund Freud, and Pablo Picasso
all created new ways of thinking.
But the theories put forth by these enormously influential
intellectuals are simply rationalizations of their own
sexual desires.
Christians are also good at rationalizing their sins.
God is reduced to a vague concept of love.
And their spiritual lives disintegrate.
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B. Failings of other Christians.
1) All Christians are sinners, so it's easy for us to get
offended.
2) A special danger is hypocrisy - we present ourselves one
way, then act another.
3) Christians can also be cruel to each other.
C. God has failed them, or doubts arise.
1) We are told warm platitudes that may not measure up to
reality.
a) (God loves you, will always deliver you ...)
2) Christianity is just one of thousands of religions, and
it's not very scientific.
a) Assaults on the Bible, pressure from TV and Hollywood,
all take their toll on believers.
3) Why go to church if you don't believe it anymore?
a) (experience of one in Ledgewood)
D. They get out of the habit.
1) Very common experience.
2) Sickness may keep you from church for a few weeks.
You're not a pagan - you watch a television preacher.
He's a lot better than the local pastor.
God doesn't strike you dead, so he must approve.
After a while, you are too embarrassed to go back
because everyone is going to stare at you.
III. Wandering is serious stuff.
A. Death is the potential result. What kind?
1) Spiritual death.
a) Note "soul."
b) Only true if a fake Christian.
2) Physical death.
a) Soul often represents the whole person, not just spirit.
b) Context deals with physical death and healing.
c) Paul warns of illness and death to sinning believers.
B. Who is saved from death?
1) The Sinner.
a) Emphasis on sins supports this.
2) The Helper.
a) When we help someone return, we also receive a spiritual
benefit.
b) We have a spiritual obligation to help wanderers.
Ezek 3:18; Dan 12:3; 1 Pet 4:8
3) Both are saved.
a) Note James's emphasis on mutuality.
b) Helping a hurting brother brings great rewards to all.
IV. Bringing them back.
A. What NOT to do.
1) "We haven't seen you. Come now, and plaster will fall on
your head."
2) Wanders are hardest to reach, according to church growth
experts. Few come back.
B. What to do.
1) Love is the greatest weapon Christians have.
a) Too often, it's a secret weapon!
b) Use encouraging words, and let them know positive things
they are missing.
2) For doubters, listen to them and show reasonableness of faith.
3) If hurt by others, attempt reconciliation between parties.
4) If sin, ask God to show them where it will lead.
C. Church attendance is not the goal.
1) It is Jesus they need.
2) A church full of sincere believers should be the best
place to find out about him.
3) Individualistic faith is shallow and unsatisfying.
D. The covering of sins.
1) Salvation for eternity.
2) Sins forgotten on earth, by other Christians. 1 Peter 4:8
V. Anyone can be brought back to God.
A. No sin is so great God cannot accept us.
1) Some here are living proof.
B. Perhaps you are still outside.
1) Come home to God.
2) Pray for others who are still outside.
Copyright © 2024 by Rev. David Holwick
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