Some Reflections On James

FRI., NOV. 21, 1991, 6:15 AM
FARM, STUDY

This week you completed (or so it seemed) a unique study of one of My rather short Scriptural “books,” the letter of James. The group was small, and the early morning breakfast in your church’s Narthex which preceded the study gave it the unique quality. It was a good experience, and if you have some other comparable opportunity in the future, go for it!

Exactly who this James was is not critically important. Biblical scholarship is understandable, given the inquiring mind that many of My good servants have, as a blessing from Me. Yet you are not surprised to hear Me give little importance to such scholarship and the higher criticisms it produces. That which I push for is faith, and faith is not based in scholarly certainty. So let James be James, whoever he might have been.

One powerful theme emerges early, and it truly is a balance, of sorts, to the theology of Paul. Now you are comfortable with Paul’s proclamation on the centrality of faith, with his ringing affirmation that the deeds of My life, as Jesus, were sufficient to “cover” you. Grace is sufficient to “bring you home.” Good works are not the “coin of the realm”… are not the means to salvation.

But then there is James’ equally powerful truth that faith without works is dead. James cannot be pleased with one who depends solely on My life and My works. He says this faith, this enlightenment, must produce good works or it has no depth of spiritual reality. I also call this truth, even as I can acknowledge that these are competing truths.

Again… hear that I love variety. I love servants who give no thought to working for Me. They accept, with no strings attached, My invitation to walk with Me. They may do occasional great works… or no works at all. Neither is superior. “Doing something” with your life is not the issue. Being, with your hand in Mine, is what it’s all about. These servants know that faith without works is Life, not death.

This is one path. It is one not comfortable to all… even to many from your middle class culture. So I had to raise up James to proclaim that what you do, as faith in action, is what is important. I would identify your position as somewhere between these two “poles”, with more leanings toward Paul’s doctrine. You are not concerned about the necessity of myriad good works as a necessary precursor to close relationship with Me. And yet you cannot be satisfied with this as only a spiritual relationship. You act. You take up your pen and write, so that what I say to you may be retained, for your later reading and for the benefit of others. This is not necessary. And yet it is. You even must share the imperatives, knowing that I encourage both/and thinking.

Another vital theme in this letter from James is his condemnation of the rich. That obviously was a cultural condition of the time and not an absolute condemnation for all times and cultures. You are rich, in terms of all humanity on the earth now. Your riches are not flagrant and you would deny being rich, but you know that, relatively, you “qualify.” My call to you is to share your substance. Stay out of debt, but don’t build up a store of riches by withholding your contributions to causes that seem important to you. Be somewhat discriminating, and yet also hear My call to give to Me, wherever the money actually goes.