Every Action Has a Consequence

If you thought I was done talking about the movie Pig, you were wrong (see: Pig or the Counterpoint to John Wick). In fact, when I was assigned James chapter three for my sermon last weekend and read about the role of peacemakers, I decided it was time to share this gem with the world. Which also meant I had to bag on John Wick a bit.

In the message I explained that unfortunately, we live in a world where John Wick portrays the best response most of us can imagine. It's a fun movie to watch, but hopefully, we aren't solving our own problems like that. That's where James comes in with an invitation to trust the wisdom of God as we live differently.

“But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and the fruit of good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere. And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness.” James 3:17-18

That list doesn't sound like a John Wick movie. It may even sound foolish to us. But that's the way God's wisdom works. One of the fundamental questions becomes: How do I respond to pain and loss in my life?

John Wick and Pig offer two dramatically different stories. James shows us which actions lead to each story. The story you find yourself in will reveal which wisdom you are living by.