This sermon, based on James 1:17-27, was preached by Rev. Marissa Galván-Valle on September 1, 2024 (Proper 17). It is part of a sermon series on the book of James called: “Reflecting Christ in Times of Challenge.”
Am I a Bad Person? The Gospel of Winning
During the Olympics and Paralympics, Nike unveiled its newest campaign, “Winning Isn’t for Everyone,” featuring a collective of the world’s greatest athletes—all motivated by victory. Nike and its athletes remind the world that there’s nothing wrong with wanting to win. Willem Dafoe, in his best villainous voice, asks, “Am I a bad person?”
Then, according to Brad Stulberg, a well-known author, speaker, and coach specializing in topics related to mental health, well-being, and human performance,
“The commercial proceeds to link greatness to being deceptive, obsessive, selfish, obsessed with power, maniacal and delusional, not respecting your competition, having zero remorse, no empathy, and no sense of compassion.”
In an article titled “Why Nike’s Olympic Ad Gets Greatness Dead Wrong” Stulberg makes an interesting point. He says that…
“The ad completely misses the mark. Yes, the best athletes in the world are focused, determined, a little bit crazy, at times obsessive… But the best athletes in the world also have deep respect for their competition, develop identities outside of sport, learn compassion for themselves and others, and do a good job of being realistic about their capabilities…”
The Rev. Chris Currie, the former pastor at St. Charles Presbyterian Church, quotes Boston Globe sports columnist Jeff Jacoby when reflecting on the commercial. Jacoby notes that Nike uses the “Ode to Joy,” a hymn that has promised “hope and unity” and “an uplifting vision of humanity in which all people become siblings.” He argues that Nike’s commercial mocks that aspiration and tries to pass off a toxic narrative that world-class athletes achieve glory not by striving to be their best, but by reveling in their worst, darkest, and most ruthless impulses. Jacoby continues:
“Nike is preaching a gospel of winning at any cost, of suppressing every instinct for decency and generosity, and it is hard to imagine a message more hostile to good sportsmanship and the Olympic spirit.”
So, I’m not the only one who does not like Nike’s message! That’s good. I love watching the Olympics and had been looking forward to the start of the Paralympics. It is true that the Olympic motto, "Citius, Altius, Fortius" (Faster, Higher, Stronger), reflects the pursuit of personal and collective improvement, but the Olympic values—excellence, friendship, and respect—underscore the importance of striving for one's best, building bonds across cultures, and honoring the dignity of all participants. The core message of the Olympics is promoting peace, unity, and the harmonious development of humanity through sport. Does that sound like it connects with a message of “Winning Isn’t for Everyone”? Sounds like a gospel of winning at any cost to me!
A Gospel of Humility
In the book A Guide to Bible Basics, Tyler Mayfield tells us that the letter of James begins with a brief greeting and then introduces a summary of the major themes of the epistle:
• an exhortation to endure trials and seek divine wisdom,
• a warning against double standards,
• advice to avoid careless speech,
• an admonition to wealthy people,
• and a statement about keeping God’s perfect law.
James 1 begins with a greeting, an explanation of how trials produce patience, and an exhortation to embrace humility over wealth. The author discusses the consequences of temptation and then sets the stage for the call to a moral life aligned with God’s will. We are empowered to live this moral life because of the gift we have received from above. God “gave us birth by the word of truth, so that we would become a kind of first fruits of [God’s] creatures” (v. 18). This divine gift enables us to follow the imperatives that the author of James presents to us.
The author of James draws inspiration from the teachings of Jesus, but he also finds guidance in the book of Proverbs. He understands that in Jewish ethics, listening to the law is intimately connected with obeying the Word. According to theologian Giacomo Cassese, “the word of God is for living it out.”
We cannot merely quote Scripture without understanding how it must translate into action in our lives. It is easy to wear shirts with biblical messages, and it is easy to pose with a Bible in our hands. But for James, true religion is living the Word.
As the Rev. Dr. Margaret Aymer reminds us, true religion involves guarding our speech and acting out our faith by caring for those who have been marginalized and impoverished by the society that is supposed to care for them. She says that James invites us to answer this question: “What does it mean to live as a Christian?” I think it is a question to ask of ourselves every day of our lives.
According to this passage, living as a Christian means recognizing and being thankful for God's gifts, accepting and acting on God’s Word, controlling one's speech and emotions, and practicing a faith that is demonstrated through care for others.
Personal holiness is not about remaining outside the world, pointing a judgmental finger at others, or trying to live by a gospel of winning at any cost. Personal holiness is living a life of integrity, where our actions reflect our faith in God and our care for God’s creation, recognizing with humility that “every good gift comes from Jesus.”
Together Wins
Another commercial that has been airing during the Olympics and Paralympics features an array of global Olympic and Paralympic athletes. More importantly, it honors the heroes behind their success—the coaches, teammates, parents, and fans—the community that fuels their journey.
It is something to behold: world-class athletes running alongside a group of people who support them, who pick them up when they fall in battle, who celebrate with them in victory, and who cry with them in defeat. Toyota describes it this way:
“The commercial reinforces the universal belief that, despite our diverse origins, we all rely on our communities to achieve our dreams. It’s a story about communities coming together for a common goal: to help their athletes achieve the impossible.”
Every person here who is an immigrant understands the feeling of being supported by a community larger than ourselves. Our success is our family's success. Every win is a victory for the community. Every gain is shared with those who raised us, who love us, and who depend on us.
I believe that every human being was not created by God to be deceptive, selfish, obsessed with power, maniacal, delusional, or disrespectful to others, without remorse, empathy, or compassion. We were created good, to be good!
Similarly, I believe that the church was not created to uphold values that perpetuate rejection, hatred, enmity, oppression, gossip, slander, power struggles, or hypocrisy.
God gave birth to human beings and the church “by the word of truth, so that we would become a kind of first fruits of God’s creatures.” We were created to be the best we can be, to love as God loves, to care as God cares, and to not only hear the Word of God but to obey it and live it out in the world. To win, but to win together. To live out the wonder of grace, knowing that in Christ, everyone deserves to win. To be the good creation that God meant us to be! That is what true religion should be about!
[1] Brad Stulberg, " Why Nike’s Olympic Ad Gets Greatness Dead Wrong," The Growth Equation, https://thegrowtheq.com/why-nikes-olympic-ad-gets-greatness-dead-wrong / July 30, 2024
[2] Tyler Mayfield, Guide to Bible Basics (p. 244). Presbyterian Publishing Corporation. Kindle Edition.
[3] Margaret Aymer "Commentary on James 1:17-27", Working Preacher. https://www.workingpreacher.org/commentaries/revised-common-lectionary/ordinary-22-2/commentary-on-james-117-27-6
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