Today we launch our exploration through the book of James. Let’s start off with some James trivia. Bible trivia is great to play because everyone wins. If you know the answers, you get confirmation of your Biblical knowledge. If you don’t know the answers, you learn something new. It is a win-win scenario for everyone. Here we go:
Question #1 – James is located in the Old Testament or New Testament?
Question #2 – James is the what numbered book of the 27 New Testament books?
Little harder. . .okay, next question. . .
Question #3 – How many different “James”s are there in the New Testament. . .not books, but people? 4
They are James, the son of Zebedee and brother of John who you see mentioned in Matthew 4:21. This James is a disciple and apostle of Christ. Then you have James, the son of Alphaeus named in Matthew 10:3, also called “James the Less” or “James the Younger,” and also one of the apostles. The third James is James, the father of an apostle named Judas, referenced in Luke 6:16. And then finally, James, the half brother of Jesus, also known in church tradition as “James the Just”, identified in Matthew 13:55.
So, your next question. . .
Question #4 - Who is the author of the book of James, and simply saying “James” does not count. . .which James?
This one is a bit tougher. In fact, the authorship of this book is one of the more disputed ones in the New Testament, if not the entire Bible. But we can try a little process of elimination.
For instance, when you look at Acts 12, that seems to give us an indication that James, the son of Zebedee, died by about 44 A.D. That date, which will give you a hint for a future trivia question, makes it unlikely that he was the author of the book of James. Still possible, but not probable.
Then you have someone like James the son of Alphaeus. He is so unknown, and referenced so little, that it would not seem he would have been able to get away with a simple self-designation of James. Have you ever had one of those phone calls from someone? You say “Hello”, and then you ask who it is, and they say “Tim.” And maybe you know 12 “Tim”s in your life, so that doesn’t help you a whole lot. That would be the case of James the son of Alphaeus. He was so unknown, and such a non-prominent figure, that to write the letter and simply say, this is from James. . .wouldn’t have made much sense to the audience reading it back in the day.
So that brings to James, the half brother of Jesus. It appears that this James, “James the Just,” is in all likelihood the author of the book. Not only do we have the process of elimination, but we also know that this James became the leader of the Jerusalem church according to the books of Acts and Galatians.
What is interesting is that if he was the author, as you have read through the book and as we study it together, you will notice that he does not mention his relation to Jesus in this letter. That fact has been a factor that has kept the door open regarding who authored this letter. People will argue that if he was in fact the half brother of Jesus, how could he go the entire letter without making reference to that fact. But if we assume that James the half brother of Jesus wrote this letter, the next question is. . .
Question #5 – When was the book of James written? mid to late 40s
Now, again, this is not universally agreed upon. What we do know is that the evidence is strong that James is one of the oldest books in the New Testament. However, there are not only no references from James to his relationship with Jesus, but there are also no specific references to time or events that would indicate a particular date. So, about all that can be done is to compare the issues and topics of the letter with the issues and topics that would have been going on in the early church.
A number of people will give the book a date somewhere between AD 44 and AD 62. The first date, AD 44, is the time when James became the leader of the Jerusalem church, taking Peter’s place after he was released from prison in the year Herod Agrippa I died. We can find this in Acts 12. The second date is the date given by a famous first-century Jewish historian named Josephus. And he gives the date of AD 62 as the time of the martyrdom of James. So in the end, most people go with an early date of around AD 46. Which depending on your age you might argue is mid-40s, and not late 40s.
Question #6 – Who was the book of James written to? Jewish Believers
Now, you will notice something different here compared to Philippians or many of the other letters in the New Testament. Rather than being to a specific church, in a specific town or area, James indicates that this is for the “twelve tribes which are scattered abroad.” Why is that important to us?
Well, rather than addressing a specific issue that would impact a given congregation, James is a more general letter. He isn’t writing to the problem in Lexington, or Louisville, or Sacramento, California. He is writing to the problem that a type of believer might experience wherever they are at. In other words, it isn’t geographically cultural where it would only make sense to people in a certain area. It is more racially cultural. Where it would make sense to a Jewish believer in any number of locations. Do you see the difference there?
And it is at this point that our trivia game probably switches direction. Rather than me asking you questions, you probably now want to ask me a question. For instance, why would we study a book of the Bible, with arguable authorship, questionable dating, and apparently a target audience of Jewish believers? Good question.
In fact, those types of issues make this letter of James probably one of the most overlooked books of the New Testament. In fact, it was one of the very last books to be added to the New Testament Cannon. In other words, one of the last documents that the crafters of our Bibles felt belonged in this thing we would come to refer to as the word of God.
But there are a few reasons why I think this is a great book to look at. First, because it is one of the most overlooked books of the New Testament. Think about how many quotes, references, studies, sermons, and all other forms of referral you see to the Gospels, the book of Acts, and all the letters written by Paul. In fact, even Revelation, which will leave even the most scholarly among us thoroughly confused, gets more attention than this simple little book. Even a book series, movie series, and now TV series. So the sheer volume of New Testament work, and ability to ignore this book draws me to it.
Another reason is understanding that the twelve tribes have really been expanded. This fall we are going to look at a series just dealing with the “twelve tribes.” They are referenced over and over again in the Word of God. Almost start to finish. But we have little understanding of the meaning and depth that is carried with each tribe’s designation and reference.
While such a term as “the twelve tribes” initially referred to the Jews that were scattered throughout the Mediterranean world, outside of Israel, having been scattered to these lands during the captivities of the Old Testament. It also reached a point of including the Gentile believers as well, having become part of what is known as “spiritual Israel” after the death and resurrection of Christ.
You may have heard undertones of this debate from time to time. When God refers to His chosen people, does that just mean the original nation of Israel, or through Christ’s death did all believers become part of that “spiritual Israel”? If you look at what Paul writes, he says there is no designation based on race or nationality in the kingdom of God. So while James wrote this to the “twelve tribes scattered abroad”, I believe as history has unfolded, he is now writing to all believers, and writing to us with practical life application.
Another reason to study the book of James is because the message of James has been so twisted and misquoted. From early church history, this book was not without its critics. In fact, Martin Luther, the great reformer despised and detested the book, because he thought it centered too much on works, rather than faith.
But what I hope you will understand through our journey is that James was not teaching that good works can lead to salvation, but moreover that doing good works is an expression of ones faith. This letter isn’t so much a guide on how to become a Christian, as it is a plea to his readers to live a vital, active, and practical Christian life. To get real about living their lives!
That is why I have entitled this series “The Search is On. . .for a Faith that Works.” If we believe what we say we believe, the result should be a life of faith that carries us through the best of times, and the worst of times. There should be something different about how we walk out each day of our lives as compared to those who don’t know Christ.
So you will see that in many ways James is a book of wisdom, like Proverbs. Not only does he name sin openly, but he gives ways to live without it. He gives directions that lead to spiritual maturity. He talks about how mature Christians should continue to grow after their born again. So I think that makes it a book worthy of our reflection and study.
Now, I think there are a couple more important things to know about James before we dive into this book. Despite being a brother of Jesus, it is important to know that there were times when he was an opponent of Jesus. James and Jesus had spent most of their lives together. Jesus was about 30 years old when He left home. However, we read in John 7:5 that His brothers actually rejected His Messiahship. And not only did they reject Him, but they openly opposed Him. They even came to the conclusion that he was mad. Nuts. We read in the book of Mark that they tried to take Him away so that He couldn’t shame them or His home. It got so bad that Jesus eventually made some rebuking statements about His own family.
Yet while we know James opposed His brother during His earthly ministry, this opposition didn’t last. In fact, we see that after the death and resurrection, he was no longer an adversary, but he was an Apostle. Meaning someone who saw Jesus, in the flesh, following his resurrection. Convinced by Christ’s victory over the grave James and his brothers join the body of believers early in the book of Acts. From this time forward James starts to distinguish himself among the believers, and eventually he becomes the leader of the Jerusalem Church.
When you think back to our study of Philippians, there are some striking similarities between James and Paul. Both of them were ardent defenders of the Mosaic Law. Modern scholars even accuse James of being too Jewish. They both held Jewish views, until they met Jesus. Then they went from one extreme to the other. Ardent Jew to ardent Christian.
There are also some noticeable similarities between Jesus and James. Both of their teaching styles were straight forward and to the point. In fact, those of you who know my legal name is James Alan Monck II. I think by the time we get done looking at the book of James, you will agree that I was appropriately named. Very blunt, direct, no mixing words.
Both Jesus and James were easy to understand, simple explanations so all could get the point they were trying to make. Jesus and James pull no punches when it comes to the facts about things. A minister once preached a sermon series on James and entitled it “James, the ‘in your face’ epistle.”
You also see that James, just as Jesus did with his listeners, urges obedience from his readers. He tells them to get real about life. James and Jesus also ended their days in very similar ways, including ancient accounts that as James was being killed he was echoing the words that his brother has spoken when He was killed, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they do.”
Well, that is a lot of background information, but I think it is important stuff at the start of our exploration together. So let’s look at a few verses from this book this morning. James, chapter 1 (read through verse 8).
I want you to look at two things this morning. The first is sort of an exercise in reverse logic. In these first 4 verses, James walks us through a path of connected activities or emotions. This is similar to something you see a few other places in the New Testament.
Keep your finger in the book of James, and turn over to the left and find Romans. Romans, chapter 5. Listen to these first 5 verses, and see if you can pick-up on any similarities (read). Some similar language, and logical progression of tribulations leading us to a more Godly character.
Then move back past the book of James to I Peter. Right between James and Revelation, I Peter 1:6 (read through verse 9). Again, similar language. Testing, leading to a greater character.
Now, back in James, jump to the end of this little progression with me. He says in verse 4 (read). So the end goal here is to be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
If you have attended an “Introduction to Membership” course here at Stonewall, you have seen us talk about our heritage. We utilize this funnel that starts at the top with Orthodox Christianity, and then we funnel our way down to Wesleyanism. On the way down we go past Evangelical, and another filter known as Holiness. The journey to the Wesleyan church takes us through the development of Holiness denominations. Those denominations that emphasis holiness, sanctification, or Christian perfection.
And I say that because one of the key scriptures that holiness denominations utilize is found in the book of Matthew when Jesus says, “Therefore, be ye perfect, as your Father in heaven is perfect.” And in this command from Jesus you find that same word that we have here in James. Teleios. Perfect.
So James is leading us to this place that we as a denomination and a body believe we are to be striving for. That place of wholeness. Completeness. And look at how we get there. As we step back through this passage, we see it takes patience. The work of patience is to make us perfect.
Just think about how many sins, whether actions or attitudes, come about simply due to impatience. Patience is essential to perfection. It has been said that patience is something you admire in the driver behind you, but not in the one ahead.
But how do you get patience? According to James, take another step back, we obtain patience through the testing of our faith. This is important. You know, God is often more patient with us than we are with ourselves. We assume that if we fall, we aren’t born again. If we stumble, then we aren’t truly converted. If we have the old desires, then we must not be a new creation. That isn’t what God’s Word says. It says that these faith tests, or as we will see in a moment, these temptations are part of the process of building patience which is part of the process of becoming perfect.
Remember what we read in Philippians, “God began doing a good work in you, and I am sure he will continue it until it is finished when Jesus Christ comes again.” The work isn’t done yet, but that doesn’t mean we aren’t saved. It means we are in the midst of this process that James is describing here. A process of perfection. Holiness. Sanctification.
And how is our faith tested? Through various trials. Now, what does that mean? I don’t often make a big deal about various translations. In fact, I use all kinds of translations and Bible versions in my preaching. But here, I would actually prefer we use the more accurate translation. Some translations refer here to “trials.” Some use the words “many kinds of troubles.” But the word there, pirasmos, really means temptations.
This is important for a couple of reasons. One of them, you will understand more in a few weeks when we get down into verses 12-18. In those verses James addresses temptations, where they come from, whether God tempts us, and good issues related to that topic. So we will think back to these verses when we get there.
But there is a second reason I want to make sure we use the right translation here that applies to how these verses get used by people. Let’s say that you utilize a translation like “many kinds of troubles.” “Count it all joy when you experience many kinds of troubles.” Then you carry that on through the logical sequence, and say that these troubles test my faith, and that produces patience, and that will eventually lead to my perfection or holiness. And it all starts with many kinds of troubles.
Here is the problem with that. . .many kinds of troubles can come from all sorts of sources, and are often of our own doing. Right? And this can lend itself to, and can become “the Devil made me do it” argument. Following this with me. Everything that goes wrong in our lives, any trouble we experience, “Oh, this must be from Satan, and God wants me to go through this so that He can make me holy.” Not necessarily. Maybe we just made a stupid choice. Maybe our own moronic behavior got us in deep bandini.
Take for instance my now well documented inability to keep my gas tank full of gas on a cold winter night in Illinois. I was out of gas. The snow was falling, the family freezing, and my patience was being tested. But I don’t think that fits into this passage as an example or experience where I was supposed to count it all joy. Because that wasn’t some temptation from Satan thrown my way. . .that was a lame, all be it common, male tendency to want to find out just how far you can go with that little gas pump flashing on your dashboard.
Are you following me here? I want us to avoid the mentality that every time something goes amiss, every time something is not right in our lives. . .or the life of someone else, we don’t just look at them and say, “Bible says to count it all joy!”. Don’t count it all joy if you are just behaving in an incompetent manner, and need to get it together. That should trouble you. Not make you happy. That isn’t what James is writing about here.
But he is saying, when you are facing a wide variety of temptations, count that joy, because that is a testing of your faith, and it produces patience, and when the full work of that patience production is complete, you will come to a point of completeness, and perfection, lacking nothing.
Do you follow the difference there with me? If not, hang in there. I think this will become clearer in a few weeks when we explore further this idea of temptation, and the source of temptation. Where these events come from that we are supposed to consider with joy.
Now, James completes this logical progression by saying you will be lacking nothing. You will be complete. Then in verse 5 he gets more specific. When you come to that point of perfection, you will be lacking nothing. In the mean time, you are lacking some things, and one of them is wisdom. So if you are lacking wisdom, James writes, let me tell you what to do. Ask God.
This is where misinterpretation number two of this little part of James comes in to play. The first was the idea that any problem you face is something to consider with joy because it is leading to your perfection. Not so. James is talking about temptations, not just all the other kinds of trouble we get ourselves into. But a second misinterpretation from this passage deals with this idea of asking God.
When you follow this passage through, it does not say that if you ask God for anything, and you ask in faith without doubting, you will receive it. Nor does it say that if you ask God for anything, say a healing or financial blessing, and have some doubts in your mind about it, that you are double-minded. That is a common misinterpretation of God’s Word. To take a specific item, and then generalize it to everything.
This is a common trap of a prosperity gospel and theology. Look at what James says here. If you want to reach the point of lacking nothing, one of the things you will see that you need is wisdom. If you lack wisdom, not if you lack everything else, if you lack wisdom, then ask God and He will give it to you. He will give you wisdom.
Turn quickly to II Chronicles 1:8. I need to keep moving, so I’m going to go ahead and read as you find your way there. II Chronicles 1:8 (read through verse 12). Great Biblical example of someone asking God for wisdom, and receiving it.
Do you see how easy it is for us to stretch God’s Word? We take a verse that says if you lack wisdom, a specific thing, ask God for it, and He will provide it, that same specific thing. Then we take it to mean, if you lack anything, ask God for it and He will give you it. That type of loose interpretation leads to such things as “name it, claim it” theology. I can ask God for anything, without doubting, and He has to give it to me.
This is important though. Verse 6 (read verse 6-8). How do we have to ask for wisdom? In faith. With no doubt. James is clear that when it comes to asking God for wisdom, if you doubt, you have no reason to believe you will receive it. Other translations use the word wavering. Picture the boat on the sea. Back and forth. Circumstances, weather, storms of life guiding it sometimes towards belief, sometimes further away.
Then notice this. “He is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.” Catch this with me. Double-minded. Very literally, two minded. In fact, if you get to the heart of those words, there can even be extrapolated the idea of two souls. Two allegiances in your very spirit. Thinking of life in two different ways. Sometimes thinking of life through the perspective of a mighty God, able to provide wisdom when needed. Sometimes through the perspective of helplessness. Can’t figure anything out. Where is God? Guess I’ll have to search other places for wisdom. Maybe my horoscope. Maybe my co-workers. Maybe some tea leaves or an Ouija board.
And check out the implications of that type of thinking. That person is ”unstable in all his ways.” And here you can make a larger generalization. Because here it doesn’t say that this person is unstable in their wisdom. Or is unstable in their methodology of asking God for direction. No. . .the person that is double minded, the person that asks God for wisdom but doubts he will really get it. That person is unstable in all of his ways. Every area.
I have been sharing in personal discussions, Network classes, messages, just about anywhere that I can, that I am very uncomfortable with the distance we have put between ourselves and the divine leading of the Holy Spirit. If I read this correctly, as a believer, when I lack wisdom I am to ask God to provide it. And I am to ask Him to provide it in a manner that believes He actually will. And according to His word, He will provide that wisdom.
Unfortunately, churches today have become double minded. We want to look other places for solutions, directions, and guidance. . .places other than God. And God forbid if someone actually comes to us and tells us that they have asked God for wisdom, and He has provided it. We don’t know how to handle that anymore.
But follow this with me, because I don’t believe this is too big of a stretch, if any stretch at all. Just replace the “you”s and “him”s with church language. (read passage).
Some people feel this walks a fine line of spiritual cockiness, or egotism. However, as a pastor and leader, called by God to guide His people, I recognize the need to seek God’s leading when I lack wisdom. So I go to Him, and ask Him for wisdom. And I believe He speaks to me and provides that wisdom. And that when He does, it is my job to lead with that wisdom. I’m not looking to be double-minded and unstable. I want to trust God’s ability to impart wisdom into my life. I want to ask in faith, with no doubting.
Listen to what one commentator writes about these verses, “The author, then, concludes his description of this doubter with a strong condemnation: his divided mind, when it comes to trusting God, indicates a basic disloyalty toward God. Rather than being a single-minded lover of God, he is one whose character and conduct is unstable, even hypocritical. No wonder he should expect nothing from God! He is not in the posture of the trusting child at all.”
This is the “in your face” style of James. Let’s put this all together. You are going to experience a wide gamut of temptations in your life. When you do, you should consider them with joy because that testing of your faith is increasing your patience. A fruit of the Spirit is being harvested in your life. And if you allow that patience to complete its full work, you will be perfect and complete. You will lack nothing. So consider those temptations with joy. They can lead to your holiness.
In the mean time, if you lack the wisdom to deal with these temptations, ask God. He will give you the wisdom you need. But you better not ask with doubt. Don’t be double-minded, asking God to help you, but not really believing He can. Not totally sold out to the confidence and assurance that God loves you, and desires to help complete you. Because if you show that doubt, you are showing yourself to be a very unstable person. Your faith is not sincere, and your loyalty does not reside completely with God.
Let me close with the story that is told about a mountain climber with great ambition who had a lofty goal of climbing a mountain near his home. He was desperate to complete his climb and after years of training and planning began the climb. But seeking to gain glory for himself alone, he decided to make the climb alone.
As he climbed, he began to realize that he would not complete his feat before dark. He was not prepared to camp so he decided to continue climbing. Soon it was dark. There was no moon. Clouds obscured the stars. All that he could see was all consuming darkness that enveloped him.
As he groped his way toward the top, nearing the completion of his climb, his feet slipped on some loose granite and he fell into the vast darkness. Just as he was sure death had come, he was jolted to reality. Like any good mountain climber, he had driven a peg and tied off the safety line, which, though nearly tearing him in half, had just saved his life.
Suspended in darkness, he did the only thing he knew to do – he held on to the rope with all he had and cried out “God save me – help me!”
God heard his cry and answered with, “Do you think I am able to save you?”
“Of course. You are God. Save me!”
“Then take your knife and cut the rope that is holding you up.”
The man stared blankly and silently into the darkness, holding on to the rope more tightly than before.
The next morning the rescue squad found the man, frozen to death, suspended at the end of his safety rope – two feet off the ground.
I do not desire to be a double-minded man, or pastor. I do not desire to come across those moments in life when I need God’s help, God’s direction. . .and my prayer life suggests that I’m not really sure God can impart His wisdom to me. No, I want to learn that in those moments when my faith is being tested, when my patience is being strengthened, when I am lacking the wisdom to know what to do next. . .I can boldly go to the Father, ask Him for wisdom, and He will provide it. And when He does, I want to be someone who acts on it. Rather than hanging around, waiting for a second opinion or hoping maybe God will provide some other options.
What about you? Whatever situation you are facing today. Financial, emotional, spiritual. That place where you are at a loss, without a clue. There is an answer available. God, in His infinite wisdom, can guide and direct you, if you will ask. But let me caution you. If you are ready to ask God for wisdom, believe He will provide it. And when He provides it, be willing to act.
