James: Perfectly practical

Okay, I know I just wrote that Isaiah is one of my favorite books in the Bible, but so is James.

It's just so practical and down to earth. There's hardly anything in James that I have to puzzle over. Other books in the New Testament are filled with thoughtful theology. James just has good advice about how to live a godly life as a Christian believer, especially in community. He insists that true faith is demonstrated in good works and godly living. Faith and works go hand in hand. I believe that, too.

I wish more so-called Christians would take to heart James 2:12-13. "Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment." I chafe at the words of holy people who are so quick to condemn or disdain others. I just don't think that's how Jesus would be.

Many scholars believe this book was written by the brother of Jesus. Presumably he was the head of the Christian church in Jerusalem. Certainly, if he was Jesus' brother, he would have had a special place of esteem among the disciples. He is mentioned in Acts and by Paul in 1 Corinthians and Galatians (maybe other places, too). I have heard that "tradition" says he was such a devout and pious man, always at prayer, that he was called "Camel-Knees" because of the calluses he developed.

Side note: The issue of "who actually wrote the books of the Bible" is a perennial hot topic among scholarly types. The controversy keeps guys (and a few gals) supplied with material for papers, theses, and dissertations. I went to a conservative seminary that tends to support more traditional views of who wrote what. And that's fine with me. I don't think that the message in the Bible is significantly affected by different views of who the actual authors were. I'm just saying that I'm aware that not everyone would agree that James wrote James or that James was a sibling of Jesus. Not my issue.

I saw something new when I read James this time. James 2:8-10 reads, "If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, 'Love your neighbor as yourself,' you are doing right. But if you show favoritism, you sin and are covicted by the law as lawbreakers. For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it." I always thought the main thrust of this passage (i.e., breaking one part of the law is breaking all of it) was support for the tenet that observing the Law will not bring you to salvation. That's true, I think.

Yet, the focus may be more on the issue of loving your neighbor as yourself. Maybe it's trying to say that if we break that law (the royal law) in any way, we break that whole law. And don't we do that about a million times every day? Who among us really really really loves his neighbor as much as he loves himself--and acts accordingly?

Every time I read James, I end up doing a lot of soul-searching, and finding myself coming up short in virtue. It's almost like James reads my mind--and my dirty little secrets.

Here are a couple of verses that I want to characterize my life:

3:13 -- Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.

3:17 -- But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure, then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.

5:16b -- The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.