The Letter of James
As we move to this short letter, we enter an unusual and odd piece of writing for the New Testament. While we are not sure when it was written, or by whom, it is unique in its complete lack of theological discussion. Unlike Hebrews and Galatians, which deal with the large picture of God’s activity in the world, and the Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, James goes straight to the subject of proper Christian behavior. Nothing is truly off limits. The author addresses gossip, discrimination within the community, fashion, business practices, and the facing of trials and difficulties. The exclusive concern here is “Walking the Talk.” Are you a
Christian? Is Jesus Christ your savior? Then how does that look in your life?

A hunger expresses itself here; a hunger for integrity — for the profession of faith of the Christian community to match the actions of the Christian community. In a world where the institutional church continues to lose credibility and attractiveness for a whole generation of young people, James’ concern seems very modern and up-to-date. While saying very little about Jesus (in fact, Jesus is only mentioned twice in the whole letter) this letter speaks volumes about the way the Christian community can be viewed by outsiders.

This is Holy Week. This is the week we remember the great passion of our Lord, and we celebrate God’s great gift of salvation: For God so loved the world, He sent His only begotten Son, that those who believe in Him shall not die, but have eternal life (John 3:16).

What Good News! The book of James reminds us that this great gift is for everyone – and that our words, our attitudes and our actions can matter as those around us decide whether or not to respond.

“But be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves.
For if any are hearers of the word and not doers,
they are like those who look at themselves in a mirror;
for they look at themselves and, on going away,
immediately forget what they were like.
But those who look into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and persevere,
being not hearers who forget but doers who act
— they will be blessed in their doing.”
(James 1:22-25)

James 2:1-4; 8

My brothers and sisters, do you with your acts of favoritism really believe in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ? For if a person with gold rings and in fine clothes comes into your assembly, and if a poor person in dirty clothes also comes in, and if you take notice of the one wearing the fine clothes and say, "Have a seat here, please," while to the one who is poor you say, "Stand there," or, "Sit at my feet," have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts? …You do well if you really fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

“I wish those children wouldn’t wear blue jeans to church”... “The new people coming to the church; they just aren’t like us, you know what I mean?” … “Let’s send flyers to the new, fancy housing development; there is no sense in sending them to the apartments across the
street”… “I can’t stand the way these people just show up at Easter… They make it hard on us‘regulars.’ We can’t find a parking place, and they take our place in the Sanctuary!”

In twenty years of ministry I think I have heard it all. I am sure you have as well. The author of James puts it quite plainly: the way you treat people in the “assembly” — the gathering of Christians on Sunday morning — either glorifies Christ or denies Christ. The way we welcome or snub; the way we make distinction or show no favoritism, matters. It matters to God, and it matters if we are to spread the Gospel.

Our young people get this, and live this more closely than those of us advanced in age. Young people can spot hypocrisy a mile away, and the irony of the Body of Christ making distinctions and judging others is not lost on our youth. The Christian rock group, Casting Crowns, has captured this idea in a hit song many of our kids know by heart. The song is called “If We Are the Body.”

“But if we are the Body, Why aren't His arms reaching?
Why aren't His hands healing? Why aren't His words teaching?
And if we are the Body, Why aren't His feet going?
Why is His love not showing them there is a way?
Jesus paid much too high a price
For us to pick and choose who should come,
And we are the Body of Christ.”

James 3:5-11

So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great exploits. How great a forest is set ablaze by a small fire! And the tongue is a fire. The tongue is placed among our members as a world of iniquity; it stains the whole body, sets on fire the cycle of nature, and is itself set on fire by hell. For every species of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by the human species, but no one can tame the tongue--a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse those who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this ought not to be so. Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and brackish water?

With this section of the Letter of James, we sense the author wading into sensitive territory. Who among us hasn’t been hurt by careless words? Who among us hasn’t relived a painful confrontation, wishing beyond hope that we could take back hastily, carelessly spoken words? James touches on a profound truth here. Our tongue has great power – both for good and for evil. The words of our mouths also betray us and our spiritual condition. We know this, and we have each experienced this. But the author of James pushes believers on this point. No excuse of “I just can’t help it… I have to express myself…I can’t help how I feel” will do. The author suggests that mature people must learn to discipline the tongue, and that such discipline is the beginning of wisdom. The spiritually mature person can remain silent when necessary, and knows when to speak up. The spiritually mature person can speak the truth, but speak it in love. The spiritually mature person can speak out of kindness, and leave unkind things unsaid. The author of James takes a tough stance, declaring that our actions and our words must“prove” our faith; “show” our faith; “line up” with our faith.

A little boy asked his mother one day, “Mommy, how can you tell the difference between someone who’s a Christian and someone who isn’t.” “Well,” said the mother, “You can tell by the way a person acts. Christians are kind to other people. They don’t use bad language. They are helpful.” “Wow,” said the little boy, “we could use more Christians in the third grade at my school.” That little boy had a point. The world desperately needs people who do more than listen to the Gospel, who do more than read the Bible and tuck away inspirational verses for their own use. The world needs people who can live out the Word of God in everyday ways, week after week and year after year. It’s easy to sit in a pew and say “I believe in God,” but it’s a different thing all together to act upon one’s faith. May this Easter be a time for each of us to renew our faith. And may we rise up and act upon that faith as well.