James has always held a special place in my affections. In so many ways, it feels like it was written directly to me. It is not couched in all kinds of archaic language and unintelligible examples - it is pretty straight forward. The message is not always comfortable - but it is quite clear.
As a teen I often felt like life wasn't fair (what teen doesn't?) - but James starts off with - if you face trials of ANY kind (even teenage angst) consider it nothing but joy (1:2). Barely into the letter and already being challenged. With adolescent earnestness I wanted to know WWJD (What would Jesus do) - and James promised that if one asked God for wisdom, it would be provided "generously and ungrudgingly." (1:5) Sometimes it felt like everyone else, well at least some of the other girls, had more money, nicer clothes, fancier vacations (etc.) but James assures us we should "boast...in being brought low" (1:9) and on and on it went. This was a book that spoke to me then, and still does today.
One of the biggest challenges for me was (and is?) the challenge to tame the tongue. I have a tendency to argue, to use sarcasm, to subtly (and not so subtly) bring another person down in order to win an argument and/or to make my position stronger, or just in an attempt to be funny. It is taking a lifetime of working at speaking the truth in love, building up not tearing down, and having my words be a blessing to those around me. I fail on a regular basis but the words of James still ring in my ears and I keep working on it.
And I guess that is the beauty of James. Almost every section provides a challenge that is still a challenge today. When I read it right after reading Romans, especially reminding myself of the emphasis on salvation as in the present, it is even more powerful. Romans talks about the power of faith and James tells us more about that faith - how it can make a difference in our day to day lives, how it is revealed through actions. If our faith, our trust and reliance on God as revealed through Jesus, does not give us the ability to act differently, to live differently, it is not real. The faith that saves us gives us the love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control (Gal 5:22-23) that enables us to seek wisdom, rejoice in suffering, control our tongues, avoid judging, and so on. While many people in the past, most notably Martin Luther, saw James as in contrast to Paul - arguing it was faith alone that brought about salvation and that James promotes salvation through works - I would say they work together beautifully.
In some ways I am amazed that I still like James so much. After all these years I still do not manage to live up to the challenges found in this document. It can be rather harsh in its condemnation of those who fail. Yet I still find it inspiring and encouraging. This is what being a Christian is about - "Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world."(1:27). All the politics and superficial pretention we bring to our churches and our services really have nothing to do with following Christ - and James cuts through all that. Menno Simons agreed. He speaks of true evangelical faith which does not lie dormant but comes alive through the words and deeds of the Christian. Sometimes I wonder how we have strayed so far.
In conclusion I claim another promise found in James: "The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective." (5:16). I may not be righteous, as a matter of fact I know I fall short of that in many ways, but prayer is still powerful for even the likes of me, and I pray that I and my fellow Christians will grow in faith and that our faith may change into a living thing that makes a difference, in ourselves but also to those around us. May our faith truly come Alive!
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