Let's start today by simply rereading last week's verses. James 1:1-12:
(1) James, of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, a slave.
To the twelve tribes-- to the ones in the dispersion:
Greetings.
(2) All joy consider it, my brothers, whenever various testings/trials you encounter,
(3) knowing that the process of the testing of your faith produces steadfastness/fortitude/endurance.
(4) Now, steadfastness/fortitude/endurance, its perfect/fully developed work/effect, must have,
in order that you may be perfect/fully developed and complete/whole, in nothing lacking.
(5) Now, if anyone of you lacks wisdom, he must ask from The God Giving To All Simply/Straightforwardly/Generously and Not Demeaning/Criticizing,
and it will be given to him.
(6) Now, he must ask in faith, without any wavering.
For the wavering one is like waves of the sea, being moved by the wind and blown away.
(7) For that man must not think that he will receive anything from the Lord--
(8) a double-minded/souled man, unstable/restless in all his ways.
(9) Now, the brother of humble circumstances must boast in his greatness/high position.
(10) Now, the rich one in his humiliation,
because like a flower of the grass/field he will disappear.
For the sun rises with its heat,
and it dries out the grass/field,
and its flower falls off,
and its lovely appearance perishes.
Thus also the rich one in his course/trajectory will gradually disappear/fade/die out.
(12) Blessed is the man who endures testing,
because, tested/approved being, he will receive the crown of life
that He promised to the ones loving him.
Verse 12 functions as a hinge of sorts. So James has been talking about "testings," right? It's through testings that your faith(fulness) is tested. It's through testings that steadfastness is produced. And God gives the crown of life to those who steadfastly endure the testing by living rightly toward God, and toward people.
So we know what "testings" are. We know what they accomplish. And we know we should consider them with "only joy." It's through testings that we level up spiritually.
But James was very careful, throughout this section, to avoid talking about God, and God's role in testings. This week, in this section, that sort of changes.
(13) No one being tested should say that "By God, I am being tested."
For (the) God, not tested by evil, He is.
Now, He himself tests no one.
Let's pause here. Every English translation, as far as I know, will translate this differently than I did. They will all say, "No one being tempted should say that, "By God, I am being tempted." And then, from this point on in chapter 1, you will find yourself reading about temptations, instead of testings. And you will find yourself thinking that James is talking about a different topic.
The awkward thing here, is that it's the same Greek word James has been using to talk about testings.
So why does every Bible start translating it as "tempt," rather than "test"?
Our problem here, I think, is that we know from our (Greek) OT that God does test people. God "tests" Abraham, by asking him to sacrifice his son Isaac (Genesis 22:1). God "tests" Israel in the wilderness (Exodus 15:25; 16:4; 20:20; Deuteronomy 13:3; etc.). And in the Lord's prayer (Matthew 6:13), Jesus tells us that we should pray, "Don't lead us into testings, but deliver us from the evil one."
So if we know our Greek Old Testaments-- the Bible translation that (almost?) every Christian in the first century used-- we find ourselves wrestling hard with James here. Does God really not "test" people? Or is something else going on here-- the idea of temptation? And the translators, who also wrestle hard with this, translate it as "tempt" to try to help you.
But when they do this, I think something is lost. Let's read verses 12-13 together:
(12) Blessed is the man who endures testing,
because, tested/approved being, he will receive the crown of life
that He promised to the ones loving him.
(13) No one being tested should say that "By God, I am being tested."
For (the) God, not tested by evil, He is.
Now, He tests no one.
My translation is the natural reading of the Greek. In verse 12, James says the one who endures testings is blessed eternally. In verse 13, James says that God is not the source of testings. [And verse 13 has no indicator that James is advancing his argument-- no "de."].
In fact, James says, God can't be the source of testings. God isn't tested by evil, and God tests no one.
How can this be? Let's add verses 14-15, and see if James doesn't help us:
(14) Now, each one is tested by his own desires,
being dragged away,
and being lured.
(15) Then the desire, having conceived, gives birth to sin.
Now, sin, being brought to term, gives birth to death.
I haven't eaten at Red Lobster in forever, but it used to be (at least, this is how I remember it as a kid) that when the main course was done, they would wheel around a dessert tray, showing you all the amazing ways you could finish off your meal for another $6 or $7. You are presented, in that moment, with a choice. You can have the biggest, most beautiful piece of chocolate cake in the world, or you can get your check and go home.
Pretend the chocolate cake is sin. You have this opportunity in front of you, on a silver platter, to do something evil. Do you find yourself wanting to do it, or not? [Going to use this as a prop.]
My guess is that lots of times in life, we have the opportunity to do the wrong thing, and it hardly even registers. Someone drops $20 in front of us in line at the grocery store, and we find ourselves bending over, picking it up, and offering it to the person. We never really have a moment where we think to ourselves, "That $20 would look great in my wallet."
Or when that woman was sexually assaulted on the bus somewhere out east, my guess is that lots of us wouldn't sit there, and do nothing. That would be sin, right? We would find ourselves on our feet, running over, and subduing the guy using whatever force was necessary.
What determines if something is a "testing"? What is a "testing"?
Last week, we learned that a testing is something that tests your faithfulness toward God and people. It's an area of weakness, where you have to make a conscious decision about what you will do.
Here, we get a tiny little piece added to it. A testing, is an opportunity to do evil.
For most of us, a $20 bill dropped on the ground in front of us isn't a testing. We have the wisdom to know the right thing to do, and to do it.
For most of us, a woman being assaulted on a bus or train isn't a testing. We have the wisdom to know the right thing to do, and to do it.
And this is how God is. There is no evil on earth that God is tested by. He hasn't once in his life thought about joining in evil, or imitating it. What makes something a testing, is that it's connected to a spiritual vulnerability. To a weak spot in your character. And since God doesn't have any, He's not tested.
So what determines whether or not something is a testing? You do. When you see the chocolate cake on the platter, it's your desire that determines whether or not it's a testing. If you don't like chocolate, or you'd rather eat something good for you, it's not a testing. But if you find yourself responding with desire-- it's a testing.
So let's say there's a sin, where you feel this pull, or draw, to do it. You find yourself reaching for the fork. In that moment, your desire has conceived. And here, James uses language related to the birds and the bees. I'll do my best to keep this PG. But think about the birds and the bees, okay?
So first you have the opportunity. Then, maybe, you have desire. When desire comes together with evil action, it leads to a conception. A pregnancy. And then you give birth to sin. And sin, as a way of life (=coming to term), gives birth to death.
So it turns that men and women can get pregnant, give birth, and have kids. You heard it here first. But this is a different kind of baby-- this is a baby named "Sin" who will grow up, and kill you.
And how did it all start? It started with an opportunity, and desire, and you giving in. There were a clear moment, when desire was united with action, and a baby was born.
Is this what God wants for you? Does God want you to give birth to the ugliest baby in the world? Does God want you to die? When you give in to desire, and give birth to sin, do you get to blame that on God, and claim it's his fault?
[My guess is that this discussion alludes to the Lord's prayer, and Jesus' testing in the wilderness. We are supposed to pray that God wouldn't lead us into "testing"-- a better translation than "tempting," and it's the same word we've read over and over in James 1. We know that God does lead people into testing-- this is what He did to Jesus in Matthew 4. God led Jesus into the wilderness, to be "tested" by the devil. Maybe we could say, He put Jesus in front of a chocolate cake. Does that mean that God wanted Jesus to sin? Possibly, we could go on to say, that this "testing" is a gift. God presents you with an opportunity to do evil, as a way for you to grow in faithfulness. All of this is maybe true, but James doesn't unpack it, and his argument moves in a different direction. I don't think every testing, even if this is right, is from God. The world is an evil place, and we all have opportunities to do evil. And it's important we pray that God doesn't lead us into testing, because we know that how we respond to testing is no guaranteed thing.]
Verse 16-19a:
(16) Don't be deceived, my beloved brothers.
Every good gifting/benefaction, and every perfect/complete/whole gift, from above it is,
coming down from the Father of Lights,
with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.
(18) Wishing/desiring, He gave birth to us through the word of truth,
for the purpose that we would be a type of first fruits among his creatures.
(19) Understand, by beloved brothers.
God did want to see new life, and a new birth. In fact, God gave birth to us-- the church. But this birth leads to a very different kind of result. God gave us new life through the word of truth-- through the gospel-- so that we'd be a type of first fruits among his creatures.
What type of first fruit are we supposed to be? James continues (and here I think is where an interpretative approach that sees this as one giant argument shines. James is now unpacking what type of "first fruits" the church is supposed to be):
Now, everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger.
(20) For human anger, the righteousness toward God, it doesn't produce/work.
(21) Therefore, taking off/putting aside every moral uncleanness and abundance of evil, in humility/meekness be receptive toward the implanted word-- the one able to save your lives/souls.
(22) Now, become doers of the word,
and not hearers only,
deceiving/defrauding yourselves,
(23) because if anyone, a hearer of the word, he is, and not a doer-- this one is like a man staring at his own face in a mirror.
(24) For he stared at himself,
and he departed,
and immediately he forgot what sort of person he was.
(25) Now, the one studying the perfect law-- the one of freedom-- and staying in it--
not a forgetful hearer being,
but a doer of work--
this one, blessed/happy, in all he does, he will be.
(26) If anyone thinks, religious, he is--
(while) not bridling his tongue,
but deceiving his heart--
worthless, this one's religion is.
(27) Religion pure/clean and uncontaminated in the sight of our God and Father is this:
(A) To help/look after orphans and widows in their affliction;
(B) Blameless/spotless, to keep oneself from the world.
Everything James talks about in this section, has to do with how we treat each other. We, as a church, are a type of first fruit, who live as a clean people. We've taken off the moral filth. We've set aside evil, and are done with it. The chocolate cake is no longer appealing. Or, if it is, we don't grab a fork. We live in peace, and kindness, and patience, and mercy toward each other. We give extra help to the people on the margins-- people like widows, and orphans, who need someone to speak up for them, and help them.
We are the type of first fruit who are better listeners than talkers, and who don't get worked up easily. We are the type of fruit who produce righteousness toward God, and others. We live rightly, as a new creation.
All of this, I think, is what James would call "the gospel." The good news is not just about God forgiving us, and cleansing us of our sin through Jesus. It's not just about having a relationship with God, and the hope of eternal life. The gospel is bigger than that. The good news is that God has given birth to us, the church. It's like we are day 8 of God's creation, and God's hope is that He can look us, and say, "This church is very good. This church is what I originally created the world to look like."
And our challenge, is to be what God created us to be. God wants us to be a type of first fruits, living rightly toward him and toward others. So that's what we should be. God is particularly concerned with the people on the margins-- orphans, widows. So that should be our concern. The easiest way to tell if a church is healthy or not, is by how it treats the people at the edges-- people who are poor. Who have bad jobs. Who the world thinks are nothing, and ignores. Who are a different skin color, or gender. Who have a different first language.
Those are the people that the world oppresses, or ignores. And God made us a new creation, so that this wouldn't happen here. If a widow is being mistreated by her landlord, we are the ones who pay a visit to the landlord, and tell them that this is not going to continue. If a widow is struggling to pay the bills, and lives as a new creation (1 Timothy 5:5-6), we will help.
If a widow's voice isn't being heard in the church, we will speak up on her behalf (Acts 6:1). Actually, let me unpack that a little. In many churches across the U.S., men are the only ones in positions of leadership. They are the pastors, and elders, and deacons. They run all the committees, except maybe for anything involving the kitchen or children's ministry. Whether or not that's biblical (and to what extent this should or shouldn't be), to be honest, I'm not sure. I've waffled on this back and forth forever.
But at many churches like this one, men are the ones who make all the decisions. And when women have concerns, how is their voice heard?
Lots of times, in my experience, women aren't taken seriously. A woman will speak up and say that something is a problem, and the male leadership hears it as "complaining." They struggle to take it seriously. Or, they take it as a challenge to their own leadership. If a woman says something critical, they find themselves thinking that women should be silent in church, and submit to their leaders with reverence. There is something about the female voice, that men often don't take seriously.
If the husbands here saw this happen to their wives, they would speak up. At least, we tell ourselves, we would speak up, and make sure that our wives are heard, and respected, and honored.
But who will do this for the widow who is neglected, or mistreated? Who will speak up for the widow, in her distress, whatever it might be? I will. And hopefully, you will. We will speak up for them, as though they are our mothers.
So that's one half of true religion. We spend time with orphans and widows. When we listen, we listen to what "distresses" them, and we do what we can to help.
And the other half of pure religion, James 1:27, is that we keep ourselves blameless, or spotless, from the world. Our goal is to become a clean, and pure, people. We walk around, as a holy, consecrated people. We've taken off the moral filth, and do what's right.
Many Christians-- Calvinists, in particular-- struggle to view themselves this way. I saw an article in the Babylonbee about how you can tell a Christian's denomination by how you pray. A Calvinist, before eating, will pray "about how terrible, awful, and undeserving we all are of the food we're about to eat." When I hear people pray this way, or talk this way, I find myself wondering, "Are they slaves to some terrible sin? Or do they think this is what piety, and humility, are supposed to sound like?" I don't know.
But James thinks that we can go through the world as blameless, and spotless, people. This is what God wants-- a church that lives carefully and wisely. We are careful about how we entertain ourselves. We are careful to avoid compromise. And when we are tested, we don't give in to the desire.
At this point, let's back up, and reread verse 21:
(21) Therefore, taking off/putting aside every moral uncleanness and abundance of evil, in humility/meekness be receptive toward the implanted word-- the one able to save your lives/souls.
What is the "implanted word" here? Most scholars, I think, say it's the gospel. The good news about Jesus Christ. It has to be, really. Let's reread verse 18:
(18) Wishing/desiring, He gave birth to us through the word of truth,
for the purpose that we would be a type of first fruits among his creatures.
The word of truth is the gospel. But if it's the gospel, verse 21 is confusing. How you can "be receptive toward" the gospel, if you are already Jesus' disciple? Didn't you already do that, when God gave you new birth?
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BDAG: d???µa?
? to indicate approval or conviction by accepting, be receptive of, be open to, approve, accept, of things (Appian, Bell. Civ. 5, 66 §277; Ath. 2:3 ??f??) Mt 11:14. t? t?? p?e?µat?? what comes fr. the Spirit 1 Cor 2:14 (Herm. Wr. 4, 4 [N-F.] t. ????); t?? pa?????s?? request, appeal 2 Cor 8:17 (of a request also Chion, Ep. 8); love for the truth 2 Th 2:10; t?? ????? (since Eur. and Thu. 4, 16, 1; also Polyb. 1, 43, 4; Diod S 4, 52, 1; Pr 4:10; Zech 1:6; Jos., Ant. 18, 101; Just., A I, 9, 1) teaching Lk 8:13; Ac 8:14; 11:1; 13:48 D; 17:11; 1 Th 1:6; 2:13; Js 1:21; the reign of God Mk 10:15; Lk 18:17; grace, favor (Plut., Themist. 125 [28, 3] d??as?a? ?????) 2 Cor 6:1; d. s?µß????? accept advice 1 Cl 58:2. t? µ?µ?µata t?? ??????? ???p?? Pol 1:1.—S. also ?aµß???. Schmidt, Syn. III 203–33. DELG. M-M. TW. Sv.
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What this verse shows is that the gospel is far bigger than we think. The good news is not just about sin, and forgiveness from sin, and entrance into God's family, and our hope of eternal life. That's part of it. But the bigger picture, is the good news that God has given birth to the church. God has established the church to be a type of first fruits among all his creation. God has created a religious people-- a family, a kingdom-- who can live rightly toward him, and toward each other. In verse 18, James specifically says that this is God's goal.
When we became Jesus' disciples, one of things God did, was implant this gospel word inside of us. The gospel is a seed, that God planted in the soil of our hearts. And part of our job, is to be open, and receptive to it. We water it, and fertilize it. And when we do that, we become the first fruits God made us to be.
So part of the good news is that we can grow in wisdom, and become a people who easily, and naturally, do good (h/t Dallas Willard). We can be a type of first fruit, who live rightly toward God and others. This is possible.
And over time, we should be finding that we are more and more like God/Christ. God is not tested by evil. The chocolate cake has no appeal to him. He feels no desire, or pull, toward it. And as we grow in wisdom, we find that this becomes more and more true of us. There are less things that are a testing, where we have to consciously decide not to give in to desire, and do or say something evil. We encounter testings less often (James 1:2), because we are more and more committed to God and each other.
And as we become this type of people, we are blessed:
Verse 12: Blessed is the man who endures testing,
because, tested/approved being, he will receive the crown of life
that He promised to the ones loving him.
So when you're in a testing, understand four things (make this the outline):
(1) Every testing is a signal to you, that this is an area of your life where you don't yet naturally, and easily, do the good (h/t Dallas Willard).
(2) Every testing is an opportunity to level up spiritually. You can respond to that desire for evil by steadfastly doing what's right.
(3) That desire for evil comes from you. Some of us here know what it's like to live as a slave to Sin, after being saved. There was some area in your life, where the urge to do evil felt completely overwhelming. This is especially the case, I think, if you've made a habit of giving in to it. If you find yourself feeling stuck, you're going to want to blame your desire on someone else-- either God, or Satan. It's so powerful, it has to be from one or the other, right? But James says, that desire, is your desire. You are the source. And part of breaking free from that sin, is accepting that, and then asking for God's wisdom to help.
(4) God's desire (the opening participle in James 1:18) for us, as a church, is that be a type of first fruits among God's creation, doing what's right, obeying his word. This is what God created us to be.
So let's be, what God created us to be. Let's let the word of the gospel grow inside of us, so that we become the type of first fruit God intended. We will live rightly toward God, and others.
And let's keep in mind that we are only as strong as our weakest, and most vulnerable, members. When God looks at the health of this church, He looks first at how the people on the margins are treated. So let's practice true religion.
Translation:
(12) Blessed is the man who endures testing,
because, tested/approved being, he will receive the crown of life
that He promised to the ones loving him.
(13) No one being tested should say that "From God, I am being tested."
For (the) God, not tested by evil, He is.
Now, He himself tests no one.
(14) Now, each one is tested by his own desires,
being dragged away,
and being lured.
(15) Then the desire, having conceived, gives birth to sin.
Now, sin, being brought to term, gives birth to death.
(16) Don't be deceived, my beloved brothers.
Every good gifting/benefaction, and every perfect/complete/whole gift, from above it is,
coming down from the Father of Lights,
with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.
(18) Wishing/desiring, He gave birth to us through the word of truth,
for the purpose that we would be a type of first fruits among his creatures.
(19) Understand, by beloved brothers.
Now, everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger.
(20) For human anger, the righteousness toward God, it doesn't produce/work.
(21) Therefore, taking off/putting aside every moral uncleanness and abundance of evil, in humility/meekness be receptive toward the implanted word-- the one able to save your lives/souls.
(22) Now, become doers of the word,
and not hearers only,
deceiving/defrauding yourselves,
(23) because if anyone, a hearer of the word, he is, and not a doer-- this one is like a man staring at his own face in a mirror.
(24) For he stared at himself,
and he departed,
and immediately he forgot what sort of person he was.
(25) Now, the one studying the perfect law-- the one of freedom-- and staying in it--
not a forgetful hearer being,
but a doer of work--
this one, blessed/happy, in all he does, he will be.
(26) If anyone thinks, religious, he is--
(while) not bridling his tongue,
but deceiving his heart--
worthless, this one's religion is.
(27) Religion pure/clean and uncontaminated in the sight of our God and Father is this:
(A) To help/look after orphans and widows in their affliction;
(B) Blameless/spotless, to keep oneself from the world.
