The Book of James

I have begun a personal study of the Book of James. As I was reading the following introduction to James from The Message, a thought occurred to me.

"When Christian believers gather in churches, everything that can go wrong sooner or later does. Outsiders, on observing this, conclude that there is nothing to the religion business except, perhaps, business — and dishonest business at that. Insiders see it differently. Just as a hospital collects the sick under one roof and labels them as such, the church collects sinners. Many of the people outside the hospital are every bit as sick as the ones inside, but their illnesses are either undiagnosed or disguised. It’s similar with sinners outside the church. So Christian churches are not, as a rule, model communities of good behavior. They are, rather, places where human misbehavior is brought out in the open, faced, and dealt with."

I find myself involved more often in church disputes than I wish to be involved in. But the above introduction to James reminds me that once we become believers, we carry a lot of worldly baggage into church. Anyone who expects the church to be perfect is misguided in their faith. We are merely sinners saved by grace. Our salvation experience is a journey toward perfection. As we allow the fruit of the Spirit to produce in our lives, we will become more and more like Jesus and less and less like the world in our thoughts and actions.

The book of James is a book of practical outward expression through the working of our inward faith. James deals with such matters as trials and temptations, listening and doing, favoritism, faith and deeds, our tongue, wisdom, submission, boasting, wealthy individuals, patience in suffering, and our prayer of faith. I am sure that living out the words of James will diminsh many of the conflicts that evolve in the community of believers. Will it end all conflict? Of course not, because if we are a true New Testament church, new believers will be added daily to the community of believers. These new believers will be bringing in their baggage. Thus the cycle of instruction, discipline, and growth continually occurs. The church is a hospital where our emptional, physical and spiritual man is to be made whole. People heal differently. Some heal quickly. Others heal more slowly. Still other choose not follow to the advice of our Great Physician and will live in their personal misery.