Please read my list of study questions on the Epistle of James, and then James itself. Suggest an answer to one or two of the study questions and cite or two a verse from James in support of your answer.
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About Me
- Ancient Art
- Aberdeen, South Dakota, United States
- Professor of History, NSU
21 comments:
"What is James’ attitude toward wealth/richer Christians? How is James’ attitude to wealth connected with his concern with ethics?"
This letter is written to the new Christian Church that is forming the new Israel. It is going to the Jewish Christian sects. The Book of James is one of the easier books to understand and apply to our daily lives. Although the standard that he sets are very high, but they do make us think about our actions. For example, in James 2:6 "But you dishonored the poor person. Are not the rich oppressing you? And do they themselves not haul you off to court? Before this verse, James tells how we will take care of the rich and follow them. We forget the poor people.
It reminds me of a story that our priest told one Sunday that a priest would give a funeral in different parts of the church based on how much money a family gave. Therefore, if you gave a bunch, you would have a nice funeral up front. If you were poor, it was a short sermon, at the back of the church.
James reminds us that the poor are the ones who have the most spirit. It is the ones who hoard their money on earth and spend it on worldly goods who will meet the fires of hell. All the wealth you accumulated will do nothing for you in heaven.
James tells us it is our moral responsibility to use our wealth to help those less fortunate. If we have good deeds in mind, but do not produce actions, such as just saying, “God Bless you,” but we do not follow through. On the other hand, when we see a person suffering and offer a prayer, but no assistance our faith is empty without the good works. James is telling us we need to do good works.
He also warns us about judging people in chapter two. When we make that distinction between the rich and poor and then treat them differently, we are judging them on materialistic things, which is exactly what God told us not to do. We are not to serve as judges, a warning that many of us forget. Being a judge should be left to God to decide and should be judged on the principles of how God tells us to live.
When people become concerned with wealth, they lose sight of the more important goal, eternal life with our father. Forgetting this causes people to sin. Disputes and wars are caused by greed and a quest for more worldly riches.
In response to the question asking about the basic ethical standards James sets for Christians, I think James asks for good moral behavior, to strive for salvation. The entire letter tells it's reader what he/she should do.
I guess that his standards differ from those of Paul, in that James doesn't single out the love of Jesus or the gift of the Holy Spirit as a means to salvation.
In reflection of this question, and to answer the question about main keys of living a life pleasing to God, according to James, I would suggest good moral behavior.
Why is James writing his letter? Who is he writing to? What particular ethical challenges do his readers seem to be facing?
To me, it seems as thought James is writing this letter to tell Christians how they should be acting in regards to certain specific topics. It seems to be that some believers had developed certain habits that were opposite to the teachings of Christianity.
James tells us in the first verse of his letter that he is writing to the 'twelve tribes scattered among the nations.' This could literally mean that James was writing only to the descendants of the members of the twelve tribes of Israel that had become Christian and were supposed to be spreading the gospel. However, my Bible notes that this may also be a type of symbolism refering to all believers, both Jew and Gentile, and points to Galatians 6:16 as proof of this view. In this verse from Galatians, Paul grants peace and mercy to the "Israel of God," or all those who have recieved eternal life through faith in God. And, in looking through the topics that James chose to write about, I don't see many that are trying to fix problems created by Jewish people trying to overextend the teachings of the Law, making me think that this letter could have been written more for all believers in general, not just the Jews. Who knows...
James' readers are facing particular ethical challenges. The following are a few examples:
*They are facing trials in their faith and are daily being tempted by evil; some are questioning if the tempation is coming from God. (1:2, 1:12, 1:13-14)
*Many are showing favoritism, especially to the rich, and James tells them to return to the law that everyone should love their neighbors--all of them, whether rich or poor (2:1, 2:5-7, 2:8)
*The readers are having a hard time with their speech. They are cursing men and allowing the tongue to run free in its evil ways. (3:6, 3:8, 3:9-10)
*They are fighting among eachother instead of submitting to God, they are being proud and not humble, especially with respects to wealth. (4:1-3, 4:7, 4:10)
*They are slandering one another. (4:11-12)
*They are lacking the overall patience they should have in the Lord's workings. (5:7-8)
Rachelle Rasmussen
In response to Study Question #6 -"Why do you suppose Martin Luther called this letter 'an epistle of straw'?"
Martin Luther probably compared the Epistle of James to a bunch of straw because James 2:14-26 says that Faith without Works is dead, where Luther believed in Grace through Faith alone. "[24] You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone." and "[26] For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is also dead."
Luther saw this as a contradiction of his position that grace through faith alone will lead to salvation.
If Luther had his way, he would probably strip the Epistle of James out of the New Testament, especially James 2:14-26. Although he probably liked the rest of James, that passage would probably cancel the good that is in the epistle of straw we know as the Book of James.
"My brothers, as believers in our Glorius Lord Jesus Christ, don't show favoritism. I like this passage because it condemns people with self importance. The rich man that is dressed in fancy attire gets a great comfortable seat, while the poor man who is poorly attired is told to sit on the floor. This practice is condemned by James. I will admit in my past there have been times I have shown favoritism. I will give you a story. When I was about twelve years old, there was a time that two friends of mine invited me to their place at the same time. I chose the friend who had all the coolest toys and videogames. Later I felt bad about that action. To this date, the friend who did not have the best toys, is a good friend and confidant. The rich friend later betrayed me. I think we have all made mistakes like that when we were growing up. Alex Mason
Study Question #8
I think that to a certain extent James does hold high standards. However I believe that it is always better to have high standards and to be constantly reaching to attain something. Then being able to ones destination and not knowing where or what to do next. The following passages are difficult to follow all the time, however they are important to hold against ourselves to stay obedient, and faithful.
I particuarly liked the passage about having patience with one's faith. James 1:3-7 If we don't have the answer for something instead of being too proud be must remember to ask for help. James talks about the importance of being humble, several times throughout this Epistle. An example is James 4:10.
James also writes about judgement,and being careful about how we listen, talk,and judge others. James 2:19-20 James 4:11
I think that James reminds the average person how go throughout our day, sometimes very aware of these standards, and times not so much. In terms of answering the second part of the question, I think that we can live up to these standards, but with the mindset that we are going to fail, but we are going to fail and get back up again. I believe that life is about failing and loss. If we can come back to these standards set by James, we can endure more, and have a higher quality of life.
-Maggie Madrid
In regard to the question about James' attitude toward wealth and richer Christians, James makes it very clear that wealth on Earth will get you nowhere in the after life. He uses a great metaphor that the sun will scorch the beautiful flowers and that they will whither and disappear. This exemplifies the belief that riches and wealth are not part of
Christianity and Jesus' message.
I think this relates to his concern with ethics, because he talks about boasting and doing good works a lot. A wealthy person is probably more likely to boast than a poor person is. Also, if a person has a lot of money, he or she often times has more options and responsibility to do more works and also to give more as far as money is concerned.
Alyson Guthrie
I beleive James is writting this letter to people that do not know much about the Gosples. It seems to me that James's letter is filled with stuff that Jesus had said. It is perhaps an overveiw or a reminder of the Gospel message in order for all to regain or learn the knowledge of that message.
I beleive that James also saw some big ethical problems going on like murder, giving to the poor, and adultury just to name a few. He reminds us of what the Gospel says.
He is urging that we follow the law of God and James is very harsh about it. He even sets some standards that make it look really hard to overcome. I think he was probably doing this just to scare people and tell them to get their act together.
-Matt Scott
James Ethical standards are high in the sense, it is possible for people to meet these standards, but it will takes time and comitment and its just more than doing it physically and going throught the motions it, It involes the soul of the person and his belive must be strong in the lord. James 1: 22-25: Do not merly listen to the word, and so desive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it is says is like a man who looks at his face in the mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgeting what he has heard, but doing it he will be blessed in what he does.
"What, according to James, are the main keys of living a life pleasing to God?"
James outlines a number of keys that people need to follow in order to please God. Starting in 1:19 James tells how people need to be quick to listen and slow to speak, however, James says it's not enough to just listen we must put into practice what we hear from the Word. Then in chapter 2 James warns of showing favoritism. He says that those who show favoritism are guilty of breaking the law. 2:8-9, "Love your neighbor as yourself, you are doing right. But if you show favoritism you sin."
James then says that we must not only have faith but must do good deeds as well. 2:14 "What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds?" James says that having one without the other is like having none at all because just one will not save you.
He then talks about taming our evil tongues. Starting in 3:6 "The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell." In order to please God we must tame our tongues, although James admits that no man can. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, James says that we must submit ourselves to God. James says that if we "humble ourselves before God, and he will lift us up."
What, according to James, are the main keys of living a life pleasing to God?
He talks about loving ones neighbor as you do yourself. Also don't be a judge onto someone else because you have no right to judge what you have authority over. He also talks about how you can't be a faithful person by faith alone you need the deeds inorder to validate your faith. Also the same message alot of other writers in the new testment have written the meck will inhert the earth. The humble will be held in high esteem by god where as the rich have already recieved there treasure in this world.
Dave potts
What, according to James, are the main keys of living a life pleasing god?
Faith - 1:2-8, 5:13-19
Poverty - 1:9-10 5:1-6
Works - 1:19-27 2:14-26
How you speak - 3:1-23 4:12-17
Resisting temptation - 1:12-18, 4:1-9
Patience - 5:7-12
James method in pleasing god is to be faithful (you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance 1:3), poor (let the believer who is lowly boast in being rasied up 1:9), have your works reflect your faith (be doers of the word, and not merely hearers 1:22), be very careful how you speak (a forest is set ablaze by a small fire 3:5), resist temptation, because only the devil tempts, and to be patient because "the coming of the lord is near" (5:8).
Follow this blueprint, and, according to James, you shall be saved.
Kevin Dahlberg
Are James’s ethical standards especially high? Is it possible for anyone to meet these standards?
James's ethical standards are to be completely moral and not just say you have faith or let riches or other material things get in the way of one's works. James points this out several times. Ch. 2.14 he talks of how it is not good enough to have faith alone and that one must also show their faith through their works. Ch 2 James says that one may follow all but one of the laws but if he breaks one than it is no different then breaking them all. I think it is completely possible to live a moral life that James speaks of. It may seem strict and difficult but he is just stressing how one's actions towards God is just as important as one's faith.
In response to the question "are James ethical standards espicially high? Is it possible for any one to meet these standards?"
It would be impossible for anyone to meet these standards because in order to meet the standards you have to be perfect. Because if you break one law you broke the others
James 2:10-11 "(10)For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. (11)For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law."
The law of adultury and the law of thy shall not kill is more than just that. While Jesus was preaching on the mount he expanded the law .
Matt 5:28 "But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart."
Matt 5:21-22 "(21)Ye have heard that it was said of them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:(22) But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire."
Margaret Schiley
What, according to James, are the main keys of living a life pleasing to God?
I feel one of them is Faith AND Good Works. I feel that a passage that best explains James' view of Faith and works is 2:20-23 in which he talks about Abraham and how he demostrates the power of both faith and works
Another key to pleasing God is Wisdom. Not the wisdom gained from Earthly things but the "Wisdom from above" 3:17. He says this kind of wisdom creates peacable, gentle, compliant, merciful individuals without inconstancy or insincerity
Eric Saathoff
James' attitude toward the wealthy Christians is not that great. I think that he ties wealth to bad ethical practices. That if one is wealthy they are not living by what Jesus has tried to teach us. He states that "You have stored up treasure for the last days. Behold, the wages you withheld from the workers who harvested your fields are crying aloud, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts." I think he is really trying to point out here that you can not take your money with you to the other side it does you no good there. So why are you abusing other people to get money when it does you no good and actually does damage to your soul and that is what the lord will judge.
2. Are James ethical standards especially high? Yes. while reading them I shuddered thinking that I do not think that I would be able to achieve such high standards and I think that I am a good person. In James' eyes I might have a one way ticket to hell. For example, "For whoever keeps the whole law, but falls short in one particular, has become guilty in respect to all of it." This is hard for me to take I guess. He is saying that if you dishonor your parents you are also committing murder because the same person that told you not to do that also told you not to do the other. Wow that is a high standard indeed.
Are James' ethical standards especially high? Yes. I say this because of the fact that he seems to retell us and explain more about sin and how sin leads to death.
James also tells us that the only organ that man can not control is the tongue. The tongue can start many "fires" or fights. James 3:8 says "But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison." No one can control what comes out of his mouth very much. We all have major dee dee dee moments.
--Amanda Blood
Professor Art,
The bible that you gave me doenst have james in it, is there something else you want me to do for the creidt?
last comment by kanova williams
1.
James seems to be writing to those that have a problem with authority and government rule. Also, he relates that those laws clearly enforced by God should not be ignored. James emphasizes the need for ethical conduct and such conduct will change our hearts. James is not telling someone how to be a good Christian, merely how to act like one. He states that even if you belief everything, it will be to no avail, if you do not act in a proper manner. James is blunt and states that someone must be humble and states that people must submit to God. It’s not just a matter of believing, but faith must come through your actions and behavior. Some ethical challenges are many that people face today. It’s a matter of practice what you preach. James simply says, “Do not merely listen to the word…Do what it says.” (1:22)
4.
It is not hard to find James’ argument and attitude concerning the wealthy/richer Christians. It is clear in James 1 and James 2. In James 1, James spells out his point and states that Christians need too act out their faith. James 2 makes an example out of the wealthy. He belittles their conduct and in essence calls them hypocrites. The best example is James 2:5-7, he states that the poor may be rich in material possessions, but they are wealthy in faith. It is apparent that James is criticizing the wealthy and their actions and warns them that their day of judgment will come. He concerned that the wealthy are not properly displaying their faith correctly and they have empty faith. Although the wealthy may claim to be faithful and Christian, the wealthy show favoritism which is a sin. James 2:18-19, “Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.” James continues to preach practice and discipline and the wealthy completely contradict this advice by showing favoritism.
Kirsten Saunders
Martin Luther called this letter “an epistle of straw” because Luther held Justification through faith, not works, (Rom 4:16-5:2), while James said “faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead (Jas 2:17).
I am going to site what my bible’s footnotes have on this issue because I think it has hit it well:
The book of James appears to oppose the thinking of Paul on the issue of the relation between faith and works, and the means by which the believer attains Justification or the state of right relationship with God. For Paul, “faith” is primarily trust in God (Rom 4:5), a sense of the word that James also shares (Jas1:5); but in his critique of faith, James means by it essentially the assent to ideas about God without any personal relationship or commitment to inform them: “Even the demons believe” Jas. 2:14, where as for Paul, works are the external observations of ritual, like circumcision regarded in isolation from any connection to one’s relationship to God. As a witness to Jewish Christianity, the letter of James constitutes “the second voice of Jesus,” reminding Christians that the faith that fails to bear fruit in the moral life cannot save.
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