James With A Slice Of Pi

March 2, 2009 by admin.

There are a lot of different thoughts swirling in my head after yesterday’s message, which covered James 2:1-13. Instead of filling this post with my own thoughts, I’d like to post an excerpt from The Life of Pi by Yann Martel.

**Disclaimer: the context of this excerpt is referring to Pi’s decision to convert to Christianity, Islam, and Hinduism all at once. I do not agree with the concept that all roads lead to heaven, and neither does Jesus (see John 14:6).**

While I do not agree with the moral relativism suggested by Pi, I still see a degree of truth to the argument, especially in light of yesterday’s message about showing favoritism by choosing to exclude other denominations within the Christian faith. See if you can recognize the echoes of the apostle James within this excerpt:

“There are always those who take it upon themselves to defend God, as if the Ultimate Reality, as if the sustaining frame of existence, were something weak and helpless. These people walk by a widow deformed by leprosy begging for a few paise, walk by children dressed in rags living in the street, and they think “Business as usual.” But if they perceive a slight against God, it is a different story. Their faces go red, their chests heave mightily, they sputter angry words. The degree of their indignation is astonishing. Their resolve is frightening.”

“These people fail to realize that it is on the inside that God must be defended, not on the outside. They should direct their anger at themselves. For evil in the open is but evil from within that has been let out. The main battlefield for good is not the open ground of the public arena but the small clearing of each heart. Meanwhile, the lot of widows and homeless children is very hard, and it is to their defence, not God’s, that the self-righteous should rush.”

“As if this small-mindedness did God any good. To me, religion is about our dignity, not our depravity.”

If I may be so bold, I’m going to add to Curt’s list of self-administered tests. Ask yourself this question: “Over the last week, how many people did I discuss/debate theology and doctrine with? How many people did I offer help to, in the form of emotional comfort, prayer and petition, or material needs?” Discuss.

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