(I have chosen to take this
chapter out of the original order. James, in my opinion, has given us the
example before the principle, and I have reversed that order for purposes of
teaching).
Faith and Deeds
(James 2:14-26 NIV) What good is it, my brothers, if a man
claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? {15} Suppose a
brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. {16} If one of you says to
him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing
about his physical needs, what good is it? {17} In the same way, faith by
itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. {18} But someone will say,
"You have faith; I have deeds." Show me your faith without deeds, and
I will show you my faith by what I do. {19} You believe that there is one God.
Good! Even the demons believe that--and shudder. {20} You foolish man, do you
want evidence that faith without deeds is useless ? {21} Was not our ancestor
Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on
the altar? {22} You see that his faith and his actions were working together,
and his faith was made complete by what he did. {23} And the scripture was
fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as
righteousness," and he was called God's friend. {24} You see that a person
is justified by what he does and not by faith alone. {25} In the same way, was
not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she
gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? {26} As
the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.
This passage, one of the most
difficult in the New Testament for theologians (Martin Luther considered that
the book of James did not belong in the New Testament because of this passage)
is one in which the simple interpretation is the best. Do not read too much
into it; rather, take what James has said as exactly what he meant.
Faith: Intellect, Emotions
and Will
Among many other things, there
are three things which I hold to be true:
·
That the orbit of Mercury is inside the orbit of Venus
·
That UCLA has a better team than USC
·
That my wife is faithful to me.
Each of these is an example of
the types of faith that James has described here. Perhaps the best test of the
difference is to ask, "what happens if someone were to prove these
statements wrong?" For example:
·
Suppose some brilliant astronomer proves that Mercury does
occasionally swing outside the orbit of Venus (I can't imagine how). I would
be very curious to see the evidence (with a degree in physics, of course I
would). But what effect would it have on my daily life? None.
·
Each year those two teams meet on the football field to settle
precisely that question. Suppose UCLA loses. I would not be at all pleased,
of course. I probably would discuss it quite a bit ("they should have
punted.") But again, no real effect on my daily life. "Even the
demons believe, and shudder."
·
But as for you, sweetheart, recall that I don't believe in
divorce either! (Murder yes, divorce, no). This is faith that makes a
difference in my life. This type of faith in Christ is one that produces
results!
We are saved by grace through
faith, not by deeds. But it seems the deeds are a sign of the faith.
The Thermometer Principle
Every time I go to the doctor's
office, the nurse sticks a thermometer in my mouth. Why?
·
It may be simply that she doesn't want to hear me talk.
·
But it's more likely that she expects to learn something about my
health from this (even if I'm in to have warts removed).
Deeds are the thermometer of the
faith. We are saved by grace through faith; deeds are the natural result of
faith.
We can, of course, fake the
reading on the thermometer. We can say to God, "See, I must have faith -
look at all the good things I'm doing." God is not deceived; he knows
the difference between a cause and a result - and so should we.
The Law as Schoolmaster
It helps to know the rules before
you break them - if you consider yourself a craftsman of any sort.
·
Every one who learns a craft starts out with "the
rules." You learn them by rote at first; if the craft is a dangerous
one, it is essential. This is the relationship the Law (the Old Testament) has
to us. It is the way in which God taught Israel just what kind of God he truly
is. But when the training is complete - when Christ comes - the rules are no
longer binding. The master is beyond "the rules."
·
The rules still serve a function, however. They are reminders of
the principles behind the rules. They are no less true than they were before,
just less useful, because they would restrict one who is a master craftsman.
Are they still true? I remember a sign in a pilots' ready room: "There
are old pilots, and bold pilots - but no old, bold pilots."
Grace and Imputation
If we look at our works as a way
to "earn" favor from God - to promote ourselves into heaven - we have
a distorted view. The rewards God gives to the faithful are not wages earned
for good deeds; rather, they are the fruits of God's love for us. You do this
with small children every day. The rewards for their good behavior are out of
proportion to their deeds. Why? First because the object of such a reward is
not "wages" but molding of character. Next, because a loving parent
wants to give to a child far beyond what he deserves - but at a time when the
child will draw the right conclusions from the gift.
That's grace! God
"rewards" our deeds far out of proportion to their actual worth -
especially to Him. He is not our employer at a "Good Deed Factory" -
he is our loving Father, bringing many sons and daughters to glory.
Partiality Forbidden
It may seem strange, but I would
like to take the example given here as precisely that: an example of good
deeds. Hear what James has to say about a problem which still troubles the
church greatly: Partiality.
(James 2:1-13 NIV) My brothers, as believers in our
glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don't show favoritism. {2} Suppose a man comes into
your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby
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? {5} Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who
are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the
kingdom he promised those who love him? {6} But you have insulted the poor. Is
it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging
you into court? {7} Are they not the ones who are slandering the noble name of
him to whom you belong? {8} If you really keep the royal law found in
Scripture, "Love your neighbor as yourself," you are doing right. {9}
But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as
lawbreakers. {10} For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one
point is guilty of breaking all of it. {11} For he who said, "Do not
commit adultery," also said, "Do not murder." If you do not
commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker. {12} Speak
and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, {13}
because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been
merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!
There are many reasons why we are
forbidden to show partiality. Do recall that in this time the church met in
the homes of believers; like our homes today, we have good seats and bean bag
chairs. So if the example seems strange, just bear with me - it will be much
clearer soon.
Why are we forbidden to show such
partiality?
·
In so doing, we judge others. This is strictly forbidden to the
Christian.
·
In so doing, we despise those whom God has honored. God made
many of the poor; it is a principle of Scripture that his power is shown best
through the weakness of man.
Should we despise those whom God has chosen to show his power and strength?
·
Is this not "the world's way?" The world says to honor
the rich and seek to be like them. Christ says to honor God and be like him.
Whom should we imitate?
·
There is also the Royal Law - love your neighbor as yourself. If
you went to a church in a distant city (say, on vacation) and discovered that
your tourist clothes were out of fashion in their formal world, how would you
feel being snubbed for your clothes?
·
Judgment is as we are judged. If we show no mercy, then no mercy
will be shown to us. It is the yardstick principle again; God will use our
yardstick to measure us.
·
Finally, we are forbidden to show partiality because we are the
servants of "our glorious Lord Jesus Christ." It is our purpose to
show the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ to all who are willing to see. He
intended that glory to be seen by every living person. If by our partiality we
fail to praise him, we oblige him to find someone else who will - if even the
rocks and stones.
But, you say, I am not partial;
I do not favor the rich over the poor. Shall we see about that?
Partiality comes in many
flavors
We see the sinfulness of
discriminating between rich and poor; after all, it is the example that James
uses. But Satan has not been idle in this arena. Submitted for your consideration:
·
Rich and poor - by appearance. I once was in a very
stuffy church into which walked a biker - leather and all. The frostbite in
the air was heavy. Was this right?
·
Race. It is a commonplace that we have overcome this -
but not by our imitation of Christ, only by social convention. We need the
courage of Lee taking communion
to overcome this. If you think not, look around your supermarket - and then
look around your church. This is a quite understandable thing; we are taught
from birth to divide the world into "them and us." But consider
this: suppose "they" really are (somehow) inferior. Is this not all
the more reason to welcome them into God's house? And if God's house, our
lives too?
·
Disability. This is perhaps more subtle. Most of us are
aware of the changes in physical architecture that the laws have recently
required - handicap ramps for example. One set of stairs can be as tall as
Mount Everest to a wheelchair. Even more, if the disability makes someone
different - cerebral palsy or epilepsy come to mind - our shyness may make us
cold when we should be warm.
·
Marriage. "Marriage?" Oh yes - or more
properly the lack of it. The single woman (especially the older one) is viewed
as a threat. The divorced woman is even more so, not to mention the thought
that God hates divorce (and therefore just could not approve of a divorced
woman). Sometimes we have the "SOS - single on Sunday" woman. Even
the widow or widower can feel out of place. If you think not, how many chairs
are around your dining room table - an even or odd number? This is not Noah's
ark; there is no requirement for "two by two."
·
Sinfulness. There are respectable sins and disrespectable
sins. Consider two characters of the Bible, and their reaction to a church
which is "self respecting:"
·
Dives. The rich man who saw Lazarus at his gate comes to
the church and hears the word - but sees that only the acceptable are
admitted. The others are subtly discouraged. He quickly concludes that only
the respectable are admitted, though the preaching says otherwise. Being rich
and respectable, he has no need for such hypocrisy.
·
Magdalen. The prostitute (probably not the name) sees a
different side. She too sees the respectable - and no chance of concealing her
past. She leaves, looking for the love only God has, which is certainly not
visible here.
Does it matter how we show
partiality? I think not. You want an example right in the church building of
the kind of good deeds that show true faith? Here is a good example: that we
show no partiality. If you are a servant of "our glorious Lord Jesus
Christ" then you will, like your Lord and Master, welcome all.
"Whosoever will" was the criterion of Jesus. Should we add to that?
If you consider yourself a
servant and imitator of Jesus Christ, be like him. Let the rain fall on the
just and unjust, the rich and poor, those of every race and color, whatever
their physical or mental problems might be, in whatever state of marriage they
might be, without regard to their sins or lifestyles.
There is only one qualification
for becoming a Christian: you have to be a sinner first. All of us qualify.
Therefore, let us welcome with open arms all who will come - as the example of
our Lord makes clear.