James part 4

Love Your Neighbor…Every Neighbor

One of the interesting phenomena of studying the New Testament letters is the number of outlines and thematic structures one can find on any given letter. The Book of James is no exception, and, in fact, has garnered quite a bit of variation. I own four commentaries on James, and all four offer different outlines. I believe this variation is not so much that James is a confusing book, but that its structure is simply not the well-organized, systematic structure that type A theologians prefer. These same theologians probably prefer Paul whose letters are often the linear, almost legal-type, documents the type A mind enjoys.

This poster available from bibleproject.com helps illustrate the interwoven nature of the themes within James. Full disclosure: I am not advocating for every teaching on Bible Project, I am just pointing out the interconnected themes within a book that can appear disjointed.

Personally, I like to take a step back from a book to see its overarching structure or teaching, because it helps illuminate the smaller bits. I don’t want to miss the forest for the trees. For James, I came up with this. The main theme is that wisdom reveals the salvation process. God is actively saving us (a transformative process), and if we want to understand that process, we must seek the wisdom of God. Thankfully, that wisdom is freely available, and James will describe it throughout his letter. Second, the trials of life are actually beneficial because they reveal where the salvific process is at work. Thus, Wisdom informs our response to daily trials.

As we discovered in the Introduction to James, this letter is more akin to Jewish Wisdom Literature which prefers to work in spirals and parallels. If we tried to place every verse of James within this diagram, we would end up with something like the Bible Project poster with lines criss-crossing the various themes. I know, because I started doing this on a piece of paper and came out with a mess.

So, Chapter 1 presented us with an introduction of themes, and now, as we enter chapter 2, we see those themes resurface for further exploration. Today’s lesson from James deals with hypocrisy and love. Namely this,

True Godly love is unconditional and impartial.

Let’s begin reading in James 2:1-7.

A Lesson on Hypocrisy | James 2:1-7

My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. 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, 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,” have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? 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? But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court? Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called?

James 2:1-7

Verse 1 gives us the clear message: Show no partiality. Notice James subtly reminds us who our faith is in. We are to show no partiality as we hold faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, who is also the Lord of glory. It’s a subtle addition, but it reminds us who is truly in charge and to whom our allegiance should lie. We are not bound to the authority of humans, at least not ultimately. Our allegiance is to Christ.

No one is more important than Jesus, and Jesus treated everyone equally.

You may have heard it said, “The ground at the cross is even.” That’s not a geography lesson (especially since Golgotha was a hill). It is a metaphor for the reality that salvation is offered to all, because Jesus died for all of humanity. If we are to imitate Christ, then we also must treat everyone with the same offer of grace and mercy. Of course, not everyone will receive that grace, but the offer is still made.

James gives us an example to drive his point home. The rich man is offered a better seat than the poor man. This act is in direct opposition to how God operates. The poor have greater opportunity of faith and are counted as heirs to the kingdom. Some have tried to push this point too far and speculate James does not allow for a rich person to be a Christian, but that simply misses the point—a point he will return to in chapter 5. The rich are at a disadvantage to the poor in matters of faith, because the poor know they need help. The rich, typically, believe they have life all worked out. If God has designed the world to work in such a way, then to defer matters to those with wealth rather than those who hold to Truth is sinful.

James has at least three points against his readers here. First, showing partiality runs counter to the character of God. Looking back at 1:5, James has already noted God gives generously to all without reproach. Second, these Christians are being completely short-sighted. They are giving honor to the very people who oppress them and drag them into court. Last, further down in verse 9, James will call this behavior sin because it violates the law to “love thy neighbor as thyself.” We will return to that bit in a minute, but for now I’d like to focus on that second point.

Let’s consider the situation James is addressing. Remember, James is dealing with a church that is under persecution, and not just the “oh, they make fun of me at work” kind. This persecution is legal. It is pervasive, and it comes from both pagans and Jews. Additionally, James 2:1-7 is an illustration from the courts. We tend to think of the word “assembly” in verse 2 to mean “church,” but it’s literally translated “synagogue.” This term is used for where the Jews would meet for Sabbath study, but also where they would bring disputes and lawsuits. James is saying, “You are showing reverence and partiality for the very people who are dragging you into court and persecuting you.”

This scenario may seem baffling in today’s world, but let me give you a 21st century example of how this very thing plays out in Christianity today. In fact, I can give you a few, because any time we give preference to something or someone over God and His people, we are in the same boat. I think of churches bending to the currents of trendiness and “cool” in hopes to allure the very people who mock Christianity. Making a church hospitable is certainly a godly pursuit, but too often the desire to look good over shadows the necessity to maintain integrity.

We could also consider every time a church, leader, or denomination aligns themselves with political parties. Personally, I will never understand the American Church’s desire to play politics. The very ones who create laws that run counter to the Law of God. The very ones who oppress and pilfer the poor with over-regulation. The ones who circumvent laws, extort the middle-class, and cater to the 1%; these are the ones that self-confessed Christians say, “Let’s get them in office so they can fix our country!” I just plain don’t get it.

But perhaps it would be better to look on a much smaller scale. Let’s consider the number of times a local family who has done well for themselves has tried to get their way in a church by holding their tithes hostage. That is certainly sin enough. Giving tithes is about supporting the ministry of a church and making an offering to the God who saved you. But for me, the real tragedy is the pastor or church leaders who allow it to happen. They have given preference to the very people who blaspheme the church with their arrogance.

The bottom line is this:

Showing partiality compounds one party’s sin with your own.

Aligning with those trying to tear down God’s people, for one just doesn’t make sense for a Christian, but two, it is the utter heights of hypocrisy. It runs counter to everything that is in God’s character. Let’s continue reading, because James is not done with us, yet.

Love Every Neighbor | James 2:8-13

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

James 2:8-13

I love how James brings us back to the Leviticus. We tend to give Jesus credit for coming up with “Love your neighbor as yourself,” and in one sense He did, but He didn’t do it in the first century AD. That line was first written way back in the days of Moses.

You shall not hate your brother in your heart, but you shall reason frankly with your neighbor, lest you incur sin because of him. You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.

Leviticus 19:17-18

We never say it this way, but the fact is when we show partiality to one person over another, it is a form of hatred. We are saying one is less than the other. One does not deserve the same grace or mercy. He does not deserve anything special. Take note of verse 10. In God’s eyes it is just as bad as murder or adultery.

Showing partiality is a sin just as egregious as murder, adultery, or any other.

Think back to what Jesus said about when you come to give an offering. In Matthew 5, Jesus says,

So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

Matthew 5:23-24

It is vastly important to be reconciled to your brothers and sisters in Christ. We are all on our way to Heaven, and when we get there, we’ll be spending a LONG time together. We will do a lot better here on earth if we don’t wait till heaven to be reconciled. After all, if you are concerned about the awkwardness of reconciliation inside the church, just wait till both of you are face to face with Jesus, and He’s sorting you out. It’s all glory and excitement until you hear Jesus say, “I’m so glad you’re here. Now, have a seat so we can talk about some stuff before you come inside.”

If you think that scenario is just humor, look again at James 2:12. We are to speak and act like those who are to be judged under the law of liberty. Why is that? Because we are going to be judged according to the law of liberty. Now, I am truly thankful Romans 8:1 is still true, but I also know Jesus, John, and here James were all very clear that each of us will face a reckoning. I don’t know what that will necessarily look like, but I do know that when I get to Heaven, I don’t want to face some “remedial class” for those couldn’t learn their lessons on earth.

Those last verses we read in James harken back to something else Jesus says in Matthew. In Matthew 6:14-15, He says,

For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Matthew 6:14-15

I don’t believe we should press this point too far, because the Bible is clear on how someone is saved. It is through faith in Christ alone. Even said, we cannot overlook this point in Matthew and in James.

Our ability to reconcile with others is directly tied to our salvation.

Now, read this clearly. I do not mean that our salvation is contingent on whether someone likes us, or that if there are those who hate us, we are not saved. Nor am I saying that if we have a grudge against someone, we must not be saved. What I am saying is that if we remember salvation is a process, part of that process is being willing to reconcile with those who have hurt us and those that we have hurt.

In Celebrate Recovery, it is called making amends with others. It is one of the steps to recovery, because it does exactly what we are talking about here. It demonstrates our faith in Christ and our transformed lives and ethics. Where the lost person was once hostile to the people around him, now in Christ he seeks to reconcile and build up those around him. Not everyone will welcome him with open arms, but that’s up to them. Their attitude and spirit is between them and God. But for the one on the road to recovery and following Christ, they will do their part to at least make reconciliation a possibility on their end.

The reason this is such an important step, and frankly a beautiful one, is because there is no clearer picture of salvation than two hostile parties reconciling. Consider what salvation is. God and humans hostile to one another. The human is far from God wanting nothing to do with his Creator. God who longs for reconciliation cannot fully demonstrate His love, because the sin of the human has garnered only wrath. Then, Jesus offers Himself as remediation and redemption. When the human admits his failures and trusts in the work of Christ, he can then be reconciled to God. They are now reunited and bound together for eternity.

When we reconcile with our fellow humans, we demonstrate the reality of the Gospel.

Two humans who have not loved one another—who have no reason to love one another. They come to Christ and are reconciled to God who had every right to disown them but reached out anyway. Then, they can be reconciled. Why? It is because they realize the unforgivable debt that was forgiven for them. They are not like that wicked servant we read in Matthew 18. They recognize that if God can forgive them, they can forgive one another.

That is why James adds one more bit to verse 13. He does not negate the Truth, “judgement is without mercy to on who has shown no mercy.” But he also reminds us of the Good News, “Mercy triumphs over judgement.”

If we truly want mercy, if we truly want to embrace the salvation Jesus offers us freely, then we must be willing to show mercy. If we are willing to at least try, then we can lean on the Holy Spirit to help us show mercy and forgiveness. If we are unwilling, then perhaps we have not truly experienced the mercy and forgiveness available to us through Christ.

If that is you, then, today, fall on your knees and ask Christ to forgive your sin. Confess that He is Lord, and surrender to His will. Only then will you experience the love and mercy of God, and only then will the desire to show mercy overcome the desire for vengeance.