A Word From James

The letter James wrote to the church is regarded by some as not spiritual enough.  Some might say it is filled with too much talk about nitty gritty practical living and not enough talk about prayer and worship. James is the preacher of the "faith without works is a dead thing" theology.  He will not let us off the hook when it comes to seeing those in need and doing something about it.  It is not enough to point to the number of hours we spend praying, or the number of times we worship each week.  As far as he is concerned if our hands our not getting dirty in serving, we are missing the mark.   

There is no mistaking where he stands.  When we want to rationalize our short temper, we hear him saying, "let everyone be quick to listen and slow to speak, slow to anger, for your anger does not produce God's righteousness." (James 1:19).  If we want to pat ourselves on the back because we know so much Scripture, he says to us, "be doers of the Word, and not merely hearers."  (James 1:22)  His letter speaks to the church about bridling the tongue, feeding the hungry, and not speaking evil against one another.  It is clear to James that the gospel is just a bunch of words if it does not come forth from the heart to make a difference in the world.  

Some folks want to live with a "Jesus and me" way of life, but the Apostle would call them out for heresy.  If the love and grace we have received from God is not making a difference in the way we respond to human need and human suffering as well as the soul needs of those around us, then according to James we are deceiving ourselves and the righteousness we claim is merely our sin.