Just Do It

But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. James 1:22

Have you ever stumbled onto a good idea by accident? Nike did. Their “Just Do It” campaign was, well ... an accident really. Dan Weiden, while complimenting Nike about the determination in their attitude, said at a meeting in 1988, “You Nike guys, you just do it.” And that was the start of an almost 20-year slogan that has catapulted their company to the number one spot. Between the years of 1988 and 1998, they went from 18% to 43% of the market share, from $877 million in sales to $9.2 billion. Three small words, enormous dividends. As the phrase took shape, it captured the idea of grit, determination, and passion, and the world bought it. Literally and figuratively. Today, whenever you see the Nike symbol on a shoe, on an item of clothing or on a billboard, you can’t help but think … just do it.

The slogan isn’t new. I suppose a good lawyer could make a case that the concept was stolen from a first century Jew that lived around Palestine. In fact, a pretty important Jew, the brother of Jesus himself! James was a “do it” kinda guy. Put up or shut up. Show me, don’t tell me. He most definitely would have been a Nike man. With a catch, that is ... you see, when he tells the church to be “doers of the word,” he is mindful not to eliminate, “not hearers only.” Hearing is as important as doing. Both are essential for authenticity. Motivation matters as much as mission. Like the Pharisees and Sadducees that surrounded Christ with their spiritually saturated minds and sat on their listless hands and feet so much that Jesus called them whitewashed tombs, it appears that the church that James was reaching out to had slipped into the habit of accumulating knowledge and had neglected an incredibly important aspect … application. It is one thing to know what to do, quite another thing to do it. On the other hand, it’s quite easy to go through the “doing of something” without thinking. Religious activity isn’t sufficient if it’s based on faulty theology. The “doing” has to be based on the right “what” with the right “why” in order to receive the anticipated, “Well done.” Get it?

So, the question I have for you today is quite simple, “How are you doing?” And if not, or not very well, why not? You see, for those who call themselves Christians, like Nike, it’s easy to simply wear the label. In fact, one of the reasons Nike was so successful was that they gambled on the idea that people would wear their shoes simply for the fashion statement. And they did. Their customers could be identified with the aura and image of those who have sacrificed, worked hard, struggled and defeated the odds, experienced the pain in order to make the gain, and yet, never had to go through any of that. The truth is, it simply remains an aura. And so it is with the “Christian” life … there are many who like the benefit of looking Christian, even feeling Christian, without getting involved with the daily grind. The result? It’s an aura rather than an authentic relationship. James reminds us today that it’s not enough to simply know the truth; you’ve got to engage in it.

From the desk of Pastor Dave Kennedy

ROCK NOTES

Authentic Christianity

James 1:22-27

INTRODUCTION

4 Areas to Test…

1. Examine our _______________________vs. 23-25

2. Examine our _______________________vs. 26

3. Examine our _______________________vs. 27a

4. Examine our _______________________vs. 27b

CONCLUSION

What will you DO differently this week?

______________________________________

Hold your tongue, ask forgiveness, give of your time or finances, serve, study, love your neighbor as yourself, forgive one another as Christ forgave you, serve one another in love, run from evil, draw near to God.