James 1, True Religion

As we complete Hebrews we move on to another letter aimed at Jewish believers, the letter of James.

This short book is a little depressing (to me) at times, since it assumes that Christian believers are struggling and suffering under some persecution.  That they are always financially very poor!  Yet there are benefits to reminding us (yes, even us rich Americans) of this point of view.

Here we examine the first chapter of the letter (epistle) of James.  This letter is written to Jewish believers and contains numerous "wisdom" teachings, short pithy sayings, similar to the book of Proverbs.

James 1:1, Greetings to the Jews far away,
James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations: Greetings.          

Although tradition has it that James was the brother of Jesus (and leader of the church in Jerusalem), the author merely claims to be a servant of God.  Right away we see that this letter is aimed at Jewish believers, that is, remnants of the twelve tribes of Israel. It is intended for a variety of groups, many of them presumably not in the area around Jerusalem. But no more details are given.

The word "servant" is sometimes translated "bondservant" or "slave".

The Messiah Jesus is not mentioned much in this letter. Only here and one other time.  (If James is the brother of Jesus, why does he not mention this?)

The Greek word translated "Greetings" here is chairein, and occurs only two other times in the New Testament as part of a greeting. One of those times is in Act 15, in a letter written by James, the leader of the church in Jerusalem. This is apparently a fairly standard (and secular) greeting.

James identifies himself very simply, as a servant (‘doulos’ = servant or slave) of God and Jesus Christ. ‘Servant’ is a significant, serious term, indicating permanent commitment. It the same word that is translated "bondslave" at the beginning of Philippians.

James 1:2-4, Trials and Temptations

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.          

Apparently trials (testing, struggles) are to be expected in human life and have some type of goal.  If so, we are develop perseverance, endurance -- it is more of a marathon than a sprint -- and James encourages us to allow the struggles to strengthen us, to create a stable, mature individual, someone who is complete.

In the Star Wars science fiction world, young Luke (or anyone seeking to be a Jedi master) must be developed.  They must mature.  Luke groans and struggles against master Yoda's statements that he is "not yet ready".  Luke is impatient.  James would agree with Yoda -- let time and training build you and don't quit early.

What are we to consider joyous?  Is the author deliberately slapping us with an opposite?  Rejoice in pain??  How healthy is that?  Why are we doing this?

There does seem to be a goal here – that suffering brings perseverance and (here is the point) that if we persevere, perseverance will “finish” its work and bring us maturity.  Wouldn’t it be wonderful to be “mature and complete, lacking in nothing”?

Perseverance is personified, as if Perseverance were looking over our shoulder, working on our character.

James 1:5-8, Seeking wisdom in faith
If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.  But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.  That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord;  he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does. 

We are encouraged to ask for wisdom from God who is willing to give it generously, without chiding us for past mistakes or past stupid actions.  But then there is an aspect to this request; after asking for wisdom, we should trust that it is being given to us (although possibly given rather slowly, in my experience!) and we should move on in confidence, not timidly blown around like seafoam.

But what about those of us who ask while doubting?  Indeed, won’t most of us have doubts the first time we try to apply James 1:5?  This doesn’t seem fair.  Or maybe something else is meant by doubting here – the doubter is describe in further detail as someone of two minds, unstable, blown and tossed by the wind.  Instead we are to be steady, to persevere.  So doubting may be more closely linked to our long-term action?  

Obviously there are several types of doubts.  If one is being encouraged to believe something, a certain type of doubt is acceptable, or we would not even do the encouraging.  Any transition from one set of opinions to another includes a place where new beliefs are challenged.

James 1:9-11
The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position.  But the one who is rich should take pride in his low position, because he will pass away like a wild flower.  For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich man will fade away even while he goes about his business. 

A major theme of James: chiding and scolding the rich.  Here the rich are viewed as unrealistic, expecting their "blossoms" to last awhile, when instead they collapse in the summer heat. The humble and the proud are sharply contrasted, as is one’s status and God’s development of it.  God lifts the humble, reduces the proud and rich.

James is about to bring an accusation against these believers; it will run throughout the book.  These believers have become too complacent and comfortable.

There is a sharp tone to all of this that I now find a bit disconcerting.  Am I now too content?  Too rich?  What should I do?

James 1:12, Transition
Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. 

Instead, we (the people of humble circumstances) are to patiently endure, completing our marathon, a demonstration (in some way?) of God's love.  I'm not sure that this is especially encouraging to me....What does it mean to receive “the crown of life”?  (What is that?)

James 1:13-15, Birth of sin
When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone;  but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed.  Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. 

What does it mean, that God does not tempt anyone?   Isn’t God in charge?  Is it really any different to say, “God allows temptation”?

We are told not to blame our difficulties and temptation on God.  Apparently much of it is our own faults, deeply embedded in our own selfish desires.  (Notice the progression of sin, as something that comes to life and grows.)

Surely, if we examine ourselves carefully, much of our own suffering is due to our selfishness and unwillingness to look up and care for others. But not all of it....  Some of it is part of the "natural" living in a broken world.

James 1:16-18, Heavenly lights
Don't be deceived, my dear brothers.  Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.  He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created. 

Verse 16 (“Don’t be deceived…”) may be a transition verse.  But both Barclay and Jensen split the paragraph before it.  (I am reading a commentary by William Barclay, as I study the letter of James.)

James 1:17-20, True religion
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.  He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.

My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,  for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.

James digresses to emphasize "true religion".  The phrase “change like shifting shadows" might remind us of verse six, where we are told not to be unstable.  We are reminded that although we might be unstable, constantly shifting, God is constant.

Firstfruits is an Old Testament term, used for the best things, put forward as a tithe.  So this is our role as the Church…..Verse 19 – more brief pithy advice.  Quick to listen, slow to anger ….  Note the simple, short contrasts.  Jensen has 19 as a new paragraph.

James 1: 21-25, Applying the Word of God
Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.           

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves.  Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.  But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it--he will be blessed in what he does.

It is better to know the truth, even when it is painful, and begin to respond to it, than to conveniently forget.James’ metaphor:  what good is it to have a mirror if you look at it and then forget what you saw?

How does the Law give freedom?

James 1: 26-27, More short proverbs
If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.            

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

Verse 27 seems to have a positive and a negative component.  The positive: reach out to the vulnerable and help them.  The negative: avoid the world’s “pollution.”