If You’re Holding Heaven, Then Spread It Around

There is a Turkish story about a wise man, a funny little wise man, who wore a huge white turban and a worn-out coat with patches upon patches. He rode a little grey donkey, and wherever he went, he helped people in whatever way he could. He was on his way to the banquet of a rich friend, when he realized that there was a commotion inside a hostel for travelers, and when he went inside, he found that a goat had gotten loose in the kitchen and knocked over the pots and pans, spilling cooking oil everywhere. Being helpful, he cut up an apple and coaxed the goat back into her pen. Then, smelling of cooking oil and goat, in his tattered and torn coat held together by patches upon patches, he continued to his friends’ banquet, a little late, a little dirty, he just didn’t have time to go change. When his friend opened the door, he was shocked. He was afraid the other guests would make fun of him for being friends with such a shabby, smelly man. The other guests simply turned away from the man, talking amongst themselves as though he wasn’t there. Then, the meal was served, and the servants brought food to everyone but him. He was left sitting alone with nothing to eat. He tried yelling, but no one listened and no one answered. So, he slipped out, went home, bathed and dressed in new shoes with tasseled toes, and a new turban, sparkling with jewels, and a fine new shiny silk coat with golden threads. He returned to the banquet, noticing the nods of the people he met in the street, welcomed by the servants he was ushered to the table and served food and drink, he was greeted by the guests, and was the most popular man at the banquet. He picked up the choice lamb chop he was served and opened his coat, “Eat, coat. Eat!” he said. He did the same with the roasted vegetables, the pilaf, the raisins, the pistachios, “Eat, coat. Eat!” chicken, baklava, persimmons, figs, “Eat, coat. Eat!” Finally, he opened his coat and poured a whole bottle of wine inside. Then, closing his coat as best he could around all the food tucked inside, he patted his belly and smiled at his host. The guests were bewildered. The host asked, “Tell me, my old friend, why are you feeding your coat?” “Surely you wanted my coat to eat!” came the reply. When I came first in my old tattered and torn coat with patches upon patches, you gave me nothing to eat. Yet, when I came back in this fine coat, you offered me every kind of food. Clearly, you invited this coat, and not me, to your banquet.

“The royal law of Scripture,” says James, “is the love command, love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you show favoritism, the word here literally in Greek means “receiving the face” – determining the way you receive someone is based on their face value, you are breaking the royal law of Scripture, the love command. Discrimination is sin, no different than adultery or murder.

Throughout, James appeals to the church as siblings, brothers and sisters. He moves beyond community, beyond friendship, to family. In 1st Century Palestine, the family was the only social unit where one good deed didn’t require a corresponding deed in return. Christians are to live without distinction of class rank. The gold ring and the narrow-striped tunic were signs that a person was of the Equestrian class, meaning in today’s terms that they were a multi-millionaire. Should that person who drives up in a Farrari, dressed like a corner-office exec, get more attention during the greeting time and Fellowship Coffee than the person who arrives looking disheveled and bedraggled, who might even be looking for help? What if one is a person of color? Does it matter whether the person is British or Syrian? Whether the person is Costa Rican or Guatemalan? Whether the person’s skin is light or dark? Whether the person’s lifestyle is like yours or different? These things should be no more defining information for how we interact with them than whether the person puts cream and sugar in their coffee or not.

British New Testament Scholar, formerly the Bishop of Durham, NT Wright recalls with chagrin and regret an Easter service he attended. He arrived in what he thought was plenty of time, but the church was already packed with a line out the door. As he was wondering what to do, he heard a familiar voice. He recalls, “I turned round and saw a man I knew a bit, a very senior and distinguished person in the city. I was flattered to be recognized and singled out….’Come with me,’ he said conspiratorially. He led me forward, past the [line], to one of the ushers. ‘I am Lord Smith,’ he said to the man, ‘I would be grateful if you could find my friend and myself somewhere to sit.’ Before I had time to think, the two of us were escorted right to the front of the church, where we were given excellent seats with a full view of the service.”

Would that happen here? Would a person who appears to be living on a fixed income receive less attention from other members than a person who appears to be doing well in business? I’ve had people ask me about visitors. “Who was that…?” sometimes asked with awe and other times asked with trepidation. Before you ask, check your motivation, is it to get to know the person or decide whether you should get to know the person. For God, there is no distinction based on face value, there is no favoritism, the love command applies equally to all.

The Turkish story about the man and his coat ends, “He who wears heaven in his heart is always well-dressed.”

Which reminded me of a Johnny Cash song, that I think James would like. It’s about being so focused on getting into heaven that you don’t do anything in response to the needs reaching out to you here and now. Listen to the words of the refrain: “If you’re holding heaven, then spread it around. There’s hungry hands reaching up here from the ground. Move over and share the high ground where you stood. You’re so heavenly minded, you’re no earthly good.”

Faith and works are inextricably linked. What you believe must impact how you live, or you don’t really believe. You can pray to accept Jesus into your heart, but if your heart remains unchanged, you didn’t let Jesus in. It isn’t that God’s acceptance of you is dependent on your good deeds, none of us can earn God’s love. But, when we have experienced God’s love, when we realize what God has done so that we are God’s children, we cannot help but love our brothers and sisters. When we have experienced God’s love, it is not enough for us to see someone walking down Summer Avenue on a hot day with no shoes and pull over, roll down the window and say, “The pavement is hot. Be sure and keep your feet moving. I am praying for you.” When we have experienced God’s love, it is not enough for us to acknowledge a situation is terrible and declare that we wish it was different. It is not enough for us to just pray because we believe that God can and wants to help, when we have experienced God’s love. When we are holding heaven, when we believe God’s love has been poured into us, so full that it is overflowing, we have to spread it around, or we don’t really believe it. This is our story, and this is our song. Christ is risen. Christ is risen indeed. God loves you. God loves me indeed. Let us spread it around.