HEELCATCHER

In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead (James 2:17).

This passage in James has created quite a stir down through church history. Martin Luther was particularly bothered by James’ emphasis on works as a companion to faith. Luther said in his preface to the New Testament, “In comparison with these [the Pauline epistles], the epistle of St. James is an epistle full of straw, because it contains nothing evangelical.” Luther was a champion of salvation by faith alone. Emerging from an era when simple faith in Christ was replaced by complex doctrine and mindless ritual and religiosity, Luther reacted against anything that smacked of salvation by works.

I think Luther’s historical, religious context hindered him from clearly seeing James’ approach. Maybe I am being too simplistic but James 2 seems to be an expansion of Ephesians 2:10. Ephesians 2:8-9 make it very clear that salvation by grace alone through faith. Salvation is not of works lest any of us should boast. “Hey, look what I have done to get into heaven!”

But right after verses 8-9 comes verse 10: For we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

Salvation is by faith alone. We acknowledge our sin, admit our total inability to save ourselves, and humbly receive the gift of eternal life through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We turn from our sin and self-righteousness and embrace Christ alone as Savior and Lord. And what happens? The Holy Spirit immediately immerses us into the body of Christ, washes us, regenerates us, indwells us, seals us, and identifies us as an adopted child of God. And how do we know? Because over time we begin to see the fruit of the Spirit in our lives. We become God’s workmanship and God begins His work in us…shown by good works.

So James is speaking to his fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. He has already acknowledged that they are believers (1:18, 2:1). But many of them have become lackadaisical, lazy, prideful, and critical of one another. They are listening to good sermons on Sunday, taking good notes, listening to good Christian music, attending a good church…but doing nothing beyond that. And James is trying to wake them up. “Hey, brothers, if your faith has not manifested itself in any kind of action, if your root in Christ hasn’t produced any fruit in the Spirit, then you need to go back and examine your faith. Is it real? Or are you just playing games?”

Paul nails the Corinthians with the same question after exhorting them and challenging them year after year often to no avail. Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test? (2 Corinthians 13:5)

So Luther was right when he proclaimed and defended salvation by faith alone. And James is the proper continuation and application of that message, “And true faith will at some point manifest itself in Christlike character and action.” Just like the parable of the sower and the seed…the seed that falls on good soil will at some point produce good fruit (Matthew 13).

Paul’s words in Galatians 5:6 came to me this morning: For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.

Ritual and religion mean nothing. We are saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. But a faith that embraces Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord will express itself through love.

So how is my love this morning? Is my mind focused on loving God with all my being? Trusting Him? Surrendering to Him? Are my actions showing God’s love to others? Am I listening? Caring? Encouraging? Giving? Forgiving?

Lord, activate my faith this morning. I am distracted, overwhelmed, tired. I cannot accomplish Your will in my own strength. I cannot love others as You have loved me in my own power. I need Your Spirit to fill me, empower me, guide me, change me.

⁸If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right. ⁹But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. (2:8-9)

Favoritism. I decided to go to www.blueletterbible.org to see the original Greek word translated “favoritism.” It is prosopolempteo. Now there is a 50-cent word for you! It is a compound word literally meaning “to take hold of the face.” It describes someone who makes an immediate judgment on people based on their appearance, based on their “face.” The Greek word is only used two times in the New Testament…here in James and in Acts 10:34.

³⁴ Then Peter opened his mouth and said: “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. ³⁵ But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him.

The Old Testament version of this verse would be 1 Samuel 16:7:

But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”

So when God looks at us, He does not look at our outward appearance. He looks straight past our face, through our skin, and into our hearts. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account (Hebrews 4:13). There is no hiding who we really are from God. He sees past all the rituals, outward motions, nice suits, pleasant words, and smiling faces to the core of who we are.

Since God alone sees the heart of a man, we are called to avoid making judgments based on appearances. We can’t see the heart. We don’t know a person’s motives. Thus we can’t accurately judge the character of a person. We leave that up to God.

That doesn’t mean we are to gullible. We are to discern a tree by its fruit (Matthew 7:20). But it does mean we are to be merciful people, loving others without regard to their outward appearance, often giving them the benefit of the doubt. Because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment! (2:13)

On the practical level, that means racism is abominable (judging a person based on their skin color or ethnicity). It also means we have to be careful of the more subtle forms of favoritism…showing preference to upper middle class white people with nice families who visit the church…labeling people and then treating them based on the label (e.g., Republican, Democrat, liberal, jerk, etc.)…showing extra kindness and attention to the beautiful young blonde over the less attractive older person.

As we grow in Christ, our eyes are to change. From now on, we regard no one according to the flesh (2 Corinthians 5:16a). Instead of seeing people outwardly and labeling them unfairly, we think two main things whenever we meet another person…they are made in the image of God and Jesus Christ died for them. Then we treat them accordingly.

Lord, give me Your eyes today…and Your love for others.

¹⁹ So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; ²⁰ for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God. ²¹ Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. (James 1:19-21)

I have always loved the practical wisdom of James 1:19-20–be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger. Today I noticed more of the context of these verses. Why is James emphasizing these three practical actions? Because without them, we cannot fully experience God’s good gifts (1:17), display a godly character (1:18), receive God’s Word (1:21), or avoid the devastating consequences of sin (1:21). These three actions are at the core of the Christian walk.

First, I must be quick to hear. I have to learn to listen…to God’s Word first and foremost and also to the wise counsel and input of others. And James‘ idea of listening is not simply recognizing sound waves with our ears, but rather hearing, taking matters to heart, and responding. When I ask my children to listen, I am not merely wanting them to acknowledge that I am speaking (though that is a good first step!) but rather I want them to consider my words, trust my heart, and act on what they hear.

It is interesting that the book of Proverbs uses the Hebrew word, shama (hear or listen), thirty times.

• A wise man will hear and increase in learning… (1:5).
• Hear, my son, and receive my sayings, and the years of your life will be many (4:10).
• The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but he who heeds counsel (shama) is wise (12:15).
• One who turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be an abomination (28:9).

Trouble begins when we stop listening. How many teens head down the path of destruction…how many marriages grow cold, distant, and downright hostile…how many churches split or become havens of backbiting and gossip…because no one is listening. Humbly accept the word planted in you… (1:21, NIV). Listening requires humility and a willingness to respond. As Jesus said many times over, He who has ears, let him hear.

Second, I must be slow to speak. Obviously the two go together. In order to hear more, I have to talk less. Again, the Proverbs emphasize the wisdom of controlling one’s tongue. A man of knowledge uses words with restraint, and a man of understanding is even-tempered.Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue (17:27-28). James will make a similar exhortation in chapter 3 when he talks about the importance of controlling one’s tongue as an aspect of Christian maturity and love.

Third, I must be slow to anger. A quick-tempered man does foolish things… (Proverbs 14:17). What is the typical progression in broken relationships? I stop listening. I start talking. And I grow more and more angry, resentful, and/or bitter every day. This kind of life does not produce the righteousness of God. Instead it leads to a hardened heart, a lack of inner joy, a critical spirit, and an overflow of wickedness.

God calls me to be a man with open ears, a controlled mouth, and a forgiving spirit. From this foundation, I can build a life that pleases Him.