In the early chapters of the book of James, the writer addresses the ideal congregation
or faith community. The writer promotes an ethic of integrity that emphasizes building
one another up and espouses these qualities of an ideal congregation.

• Committed to sharing one another’s joys and burdens
• Has no divisions, especially in terms of class- wealth and poverty
• Has an emphasis on truthfulness
• Sustains a high degree of mutual trust to confess their sins to one another

These ideals are great and I imagine all congregations want to meet this ideal. They
want to be this loving, cooperative, vital community of faith.

The ideals don’t just apply to congregations. Rostered ministers, both pastors and
deacons, seek these ideals for themselves. They often set themselves up to be all
things to all people- a prophetic preacher, a wounded healer, a dynamic teacher, a highly organized administrator, an influential communicator. They, like congregations, want to be all things to all people and they want to do it well.

But we all know that doesn’t happen in real life. Authority and the seeking of power and authority are often at the centre of who we are as human beings. This can lead to conflicts.

Conflict also often occurs because there are unmet expectations and there are unmet expectations in all aspects of life, especially and often in a church. We expect everyone to ACT LIKE CHRISTIANS.

Some conflicts occur because there are clashes of personality. We react differently to different people depending on our history and baggage. Some conflicts occur because some people have done some really stupid stuff, either to hold on to power they never had, or to prove competence, or in response to something stupid and inappropriate that someone else said.

Society’s demands and expectations, as well as our own, give us a sense that we need to be this perfected being- this ideal leader, this ideal parent, spouse, partner, colleague, dad, mom, friend, even Christian communities. And we beat ourselves up, worrying about and striving for this ideal. We carry guilt and weariness in striving for this ideal.

The point is that there is no ideal woman, no ideal man, no ideal rostered minister, no ideal leader, no ideal congregation. It is only a figment of our imagination- something that we wish for.

There is however, one ideal being – and that is God.

The writer of James urges readers to receive the gospel of transforming grace - and in receiving the gospel to permit their lives to be transformed into the image of that grace so the world sees God’s grace. Most people have not been as transformed as the writer of James would wish for them.

But what the writer of James suggests, and by the very example Jesus gives in all that he does as he wanders Galilee and makes his way down to Jerusalem to face the cross, is LET OUR SELVES GO AND LET GOD WORK IN AND THROUGH US, TO OPEN POSSIBILITIES for how grace and acceptance for our shortfalls becomes part of the ideal.

That’s how Christ deals with his.

When one thinks of the work of the church, of the local congregations, the rostered ministers, it can be with a sense that – yes we could do more and be more- but let’s do the best with what we have got- the love and forgiveness of Christ, the gift of community and resources that are in abundance, the willingness of God to use us in the world.

The more fully we can trust God and others with our inadequacies, the more readily we can share with them and the world of the saving grace of Jesus Christ. Forgiveness releases us from the power of perfection and idealism which is held within us and enables us to more fully in mission with others for the sake of the God’s world.