The Book Of James: A Gut Punch For Christian Hypocrisy

I’ve heard the book of James described as a gut punch to Christians. I like that. The book of James, written by Jesus’ brother, somebody who grew up with Jesus, and saw Jesus’ during his whole ministry, writes to us, challenging us to really practice what we believe. That is one of the main themes of James.

Theologians and historians believe James was written at about AD 50. So about 50 years after death and resurrection of Jesus. This letter is not directed to a particular ancient church, but seems to be more generally written to Jewish Christians who are suffering persecution across the ancient world. The opening of James focuses in on the concept of suffering, and how we should view suffering as a gift in our lives that is making us more like Jesus.

Then we see the theme of living what we say, in James 1:22-25 which says, “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.” James 1:22-25

This is one of those things that keeps me up at night, about each of you. I always wonder to myself, are they living the faith during the week. Are they really praying everyday? Are they really reading their bibles everyday? Are they really helping others and loving others? It drives me crazy because there’s just no way for me to know. Unless I followed you around all day. That wouldn’t work though. So, live it.

We all as humans struggle with this, the concept of consistency. We struggle to take the list of things we believe and then live that way. This is easy to see in others right. If someone is talking about how much they love Jesus, but they’re insanely drunk as they do, we think, ok, there’s a problem here, they aren’t being consistent. If someone claims to love Jesus, but then treats people rudely, is rude to the waiter at the restaurant, or if they’re neglectful of their family, or friends. We think to ourselves, they’re a hypocrite. They aren’t consistent.

But guess what, as much as we judge others, which we shouldn’t do, it’s hardest to see ourselves, and where we’re being inconsistent in our lives. So as we’re going through James, I want you to keep that in your mind: How can I make my faith life more consistent?

So in Chapter 2, we find the next concept that James wants us to understand about being a Jesus follower: Don’t show favoritism. Keep equal balances. I have scales of justice up at my house, to remind me to treat people equally.

James 2:1-4 says, “My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. 2 Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. 3 If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” 4 have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?”

This is harder than it sounds. How do I treat someone who can’t help me in anyway? How do I treat someone who doesn’t have a car or a job or any money or any way to do good for me? What about someone who has money, influence, power, and can help me? I have to treat them equally. And not give special attention or time to someone with greater influence or power or wealth.

Also, I can’t give special privileges or special attention to someone just because they are poor, or because they are oppressed, or something. That’s becoming more common in our society today, where we give special privileges, special legal rights, special attention to people who were oppressed or harmed in the past, almost as a sort of revenge for the past, and that is also wrong according to scripture.

We can’t give special favoritism to the rich or the poor, to the sick or to the healthy, to the oppressed or to the favored. The biblical standard is equal treatment. Remember that.

Now does this mean that I legalistically spend exactly the same amount of time with everyone in my life? No. If I’m married obviously I’m going to spend more time with my wife, if I have kids, I’m going to spend more time with them than others, if I have close friends, I’m going to spend more time with them than others, but generally within the body of Christ, I treat everyone equally.