To Judge or Not to Judge

James 4:1-12English Standard Version (ESV)

4 What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions[a] are at war within you?[b] 2 You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. 4 You adulterous people![c] Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 5 Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”? 6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.

11 Do not speak evil against one another, brothers.[d] The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. 12 There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?

(https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James+4%3A+1-+12&version=ESV)

This is pretty cut and dry!  If we love the world more than we love God then we are going to have troubles.  The church is not exempt from this statement.  I would pretty much guess that the reason there are so many church splits is because of the world creeping into the church.  The only way the world gets in is if we begin to think the things of the world are better than the things of God. 

Adam and Eve lived in a perfect world and they even chose to follow the devil’s scheme and had a desire for “more” rather than the companionship of Christ.  They wanted to be like Him in every way rather than like He made them, they wanted more.  In that one act of Adam and Eve eating of the fruit they allowed the worldly things to become more important than God.  How often do we do the same?

The last portion of this scripture has been misquoted many times.  I do believe there are those who try to play God and as a result they harm His name.  I think of a group of people who claim to be holy yet they picket at funerals of children and service men. I saw them with a sign on a street corner that read, “It is too late for you now, God hates you.”  I was furious!   Who were they, telling me, the reader of that sign, that it was too late for me, they didn’t even know me.   That sign displayed not hope whatsoever, dooms day had arrived and we were all destined for hell.   God hadn’t judged any of us that read that sign but these people had. They gave those reading the signs no need to even think about trusting Jesus, they gave them no hope whatsoever that there was a better life.  They had ultimately judged these people and had sentenced them to death.  This is what James is telling us not to do.  However, a Christian brother that sees his brother following the ways of the world should point it out and help them turn from their ways.  If we truly care for one another we will give each other the hope in Christ to helps us through any situation.  If you feel the urge to tell someone that they are wrong and need to change, first make sure of your motive.  If someone tells you that your are going down the wrong path I hope that you will assess their reason for telling you, if it is because they love you then listen.  If it is because they think they are better than you, then go to God and seek Him and make sure that you are following His ways and not the ways of this world.

Seeking Him with all my heart,

Sheila

A Wise Tongue

James 3:1-18English Standard Version (ESV)

3 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. 2 For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. 3 If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. 4 Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. 5 So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things.

How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life,[a] and set on fire by hell.[b] 7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. 10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers,[c] these things ought not to be so. 11 Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? 12 Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water.

13 Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. 15 This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. 17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. 18 And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

(https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James+3%3A+1+-+18&version=ESV)

As a teacher we have people watch us constantly to see how we respond in certain situations.  In fact, some students will challenge a teacher just to get a reaction.  The best way to stop their negative actions is not to react.  Depending on the purpose of the action, sometimes ignoring is the answer because they do not get what they want and their behaviors subside. 

Just like a teacher that loses their temper, we can ruin our testimony with one act of the tongue.  What we say to others and how we say it can either lift them up or put them down.  Equally as important is what we say about others.  If we continually talk behind their backs and ridicule them it ends up putting off a stinky aroma.  An environment where there are continual back stabs is unhealthy and yields no fruits.  People become dissatisfied and wary and burnout quickly. 

Wisdom is something that God will give us if we ask for it.  Much like patience, it takes practice.  What is it?  Here it is described as meekness or in other words, quietness, gentleness, humility. . .     In reality, wisdom is using your tongue in ways to build one another up, not put one another down.  Being wise in our own eyes is not wisdom from above.  Often times people think that wisdom comes from knowledge but once again this is a misconception.  Wisdom comes from God and God alone.  I can read every book on this earth, even the Bible, but if I don’t have wisdom from God all that knowledge is in vain.

Back to the teacher.  Why is it that a teacher will be judged stricter than any other person?  Because a teacher shows others how they to should act.  If we become impatient with our student and use our tongue to ridicule and put down then we are not being a good teacher.  If we teach the Word of God and then go about puffing ourselves up and putting others at a lower standard we are not displaying wisdom.  Anyone who aspires to be a teacher must also aspire to be wise.  They must use their tongues to proclaim the word of God and they must bridle their tongue and let God guide it.  I shutter to think that I have not always modeled the perfect behavior but I am thankful that God has forgiven me and continues to work in me.  As you seek Him, seek to be more like Him daily and let your tongue praise Him and let it be silent when there is nothing good to say.

Seeking Him with all my heart,

Sheila   

Faith without Works

James 2:14-26 English Standard Version (ESV)

14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good[a] is that? 17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! 20 Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; 23 and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God. 24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25 And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? 26 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.

(https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James+2%3A+14+-+26&version=ESV)

How should we live as Christians?  Do we merely just believe in the Lord Jesus Christ to be saved?  One of the biggest dividers in the church today and one that has caused churches to be split into denominations is the subject of Baptism.  Some churches believe that baptism is the way to salvation while others believe it is an outward sign of an inward change.  Still others believe that it is not good enough to just believe in the Lord Jesus Christ but to complete your salvation you must be baptized.  Then, not to mention all the different forms of baptism from infants to believers from sprinkling to pouring to immersion, all different ways that people have decided we should be baptized.  

Following Jesus footsteps in baptism is probably the easiest part of a Christian’s life, yet it is also the most difficult because it is that first step.  I know my mother had a difficult time with it because she was afraid of water but she did it to show others that she was changed by the saving power of the Lord Jesus Christ.  Why do I speak of baptism in this passage?  There is no mention of it here in James 2!  I mention it merely to bring out the portion of salvation that is called “works”.  Wait a minute, salvation is not from works!  What is salvation?  What are we saved from?  Salvation is the result of faith.  We are saved by believing that the Lord Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins, that He was resurrected after three days, and that He walked on this earth and then returned to His Father in Heaven. We believe that Jesus Christ is part of God, that He Himself is God.  That is faith, we put our trust in something that we have not seen and believe in something that has not yet come.  Without faith, there is no way to get to the Father.  If we merely believe and have nothing to show for our beliefs then do we really have faith at all?

This scripture tells us that there is more to salvation than just believing because the demons even believe.  Have you ever known someone that believes there is a God but still chooses to live their life as if there is no God?  They are not saved because they have chosen not to follow in the steps of Jesus.  Which brings me back to baptism.  My belief is that baptism is the first sign of a changed life, it is a symbolism, yet some may still come out of that water the way they went into it.  It takes faith to believe, it takes courage to profess it, and it takes a choice and the help/guidance of the Holy Spirit to see it through.

Can we ever do enough to earn our salvation?  No!  However, by doing we are living out our faith not merely speaking the words and going through the motions.  I can sit here and write all day but if my words are just words then it is in vain.  If I truly believe what I write, I will go out and show to others the love of Jesus Christ.  If we really want others to experience the love of Christ we must share it.  As you seek Him, remember, that our actions speak louder than any words.  Seek Him, ask for Him to guide you, so that your works will result in fruitfulness.

Seeking Him with all my heart,

Sheila

How Do We Respond to the Needs of Others?

James 2:1-13English Standard Version (ESV)

2 My brothers,[a] show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. 2 For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, 3 and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” 4 have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? 5 Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court? 7 Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called?

8 If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. 9 But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. 10 For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for 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 murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. 12 So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty. 13 For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James+2%3A+1+-+13&version=ESV

When read this passage I think of three stories that I have heard related to this passage.  One of them I can’t remember well but it was of a young boy who was denied entrance to a church service.  When someone saw him sitting on the church steps they let him in.  This young boy became an ambassador for Christ.  I wish I could remember who it was but I have forgotten and Google didn’t help me out at all!  There was also a story about a poor man who came to church late and went to the front and sat on the floor.  A deacon in the church and a well dressed, well mannered, man saw this and walked to the front of the church.  The other attenders thought that he was going to ask him to move but instead he sat down beside him.  The last story that I heard was about a pastor who dressed like a homeless man and came to church.  No one recognized him until he got up to preach this passage.

How do we treat others who have less than us?  It is hard to know if we are enabling or helping them when we provide for them and I believe there is a fine line.  Have you ever encountered someone who was rich and obviously better off than you in the financial world who just discounted you because of their status?  Maybe even a boss who used to be a co-worker who now seems to have forgotten what it was like when he/she was in your position. Maybe you have been fortunate to befriend someone of higher status than you who really did view you as a friend and treat you like an equal.  My husband and I have had friends such as these.  Who have made us feel comfortable in their homes even though they had so much more financially than us.  And I need to do the same.  Some people may view us as wealthy compared to their income and I need to make sure they feel as welcomed as others have welcomed me.

I have to admit there are times I think that I am doing well with this but then I have to think of the times that I have not done so well.  I believe it has to do with being comfortable.  Being around those who are more like us is a comfort zone.  It is easy to engage in a conversation and relate to them.  Yet when you are around someone who you don’t have much in common with, you may tend to shy away.  It is not that we don’t care as much as it is comfort.  But, you know what?  God did not call us to be comfortable, He has called us to love one another.  Once we realize that God loves the poor and the needy there’s nothing else to do but to love them too! 

As you seek Him today be sure to thank Him for not discounting you.  Then, go out and do for others as Christ has done for you.

Seeking Him with all my heart,

Sheila