I've held back on posting much about James, although I've really wanted to. Sometimes there has just been too much to process to even try to attempt to put it into words. But as I've begun memorizing (see Receive the Word Implanted) this amazing book of the Bible verse by verse, so many lessons are coming at me, hitting me anew or at least in a new way...that I'll probably be posting a lot on James for the next few weeks.
What I'm struck by in only the second verse of this letter to the Jewish disciples of his day is that James knows and never sugar-coats that the followers of Jesus will have trials. Actually, what he says is "Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials..." Not if...rather...when.
Do we...in America...let me rephrase that to read in "cushy, suburban, mostly wealthy" America...really get this message? The following is not meant as a rant or directed toward any one person. In fact, I have intentionally mentally blocked the names of the respondents from my memory...it's just better for me that way. But the morning after our election, I should have just avoided Facebook. Actually, Wednesday is our "Mostly Media Free Day" so I was disobeying my own directive to do so...but the allure was too strong.
Honestly, I was not only appalled...but ashamed. I know...strong words. If you hate me for saying them...then that is between you and God. But truth be told, you don't know my political leanings so don't read into this that I'm saying the right guy won or even that I'm saying the wrong guy won. I'm hoping to rise above that argument, pray for my leaders (as instructed in Scripture) and remember that not one of them would be in power if it was not allowed by God. Yes...that's in the Bible too.
No...what appalled me was everyone's doomsday forecasts. I understand that people were disappointed that their guy didn't win...but really? Comments like 'our children are just going to have to learn to live with less'; 'we're going to have less money to live on'; 'we're going to have tyranny...socialism...communism'; 'it's a tragic day for America' (Wonderful post in response to this line here!) and on and on and on. So I am supposed to gather from these types of comments that as Christians we are instead supposed to be teaching our children that they need more? Also the living on less money reply was greeted by my twelve year old with the wisest response I've heard yet: "Ummm...we've been doing that for like four years now." Even people worried about having their right to worship and praise God taken away. Not to be facetious but millions of Chinese do it every day.
But the ones that fascinated me the most were all the Scripture quotes about God being our only strength...our only Rock. He's the only One we can depend on. He's the One who will sustain us. And all of the accompanying hymn quotes to go along with it.
It's probably a good thing you couldn't see me speaking (okay...loudly) to my computer screen asking why all of this faith, trust, hope, and dependence on God hasn't been shared on Facebook for the last three months instead of all of the hateful, divisive, nastiness that has prevailed? Hmmm?
Okay, rant over.
Sort of.
All of this does have a point though...really. Say tomorrow that your absolutely worst nightmare that could ever happen in your wildest dreams comes true: You only have $2.00 a day to live on; you are homeless and public worship of God is not only forbidden but punishable by execution. Seriously...go there and ask yourself these types of questions.
My first thought is if throughout history thousands of Christians have experienced similar, if not worse, situations than these...why do I somehow believe I deserve better? My second thought takes me back to James...and this is not a flippant thought. Although my "trials" have been nowhere near any I've described above, they have been trials nonetheless...and I have experienced deep joy even in the midst of them. Yes...this blog is testament to my whining too...but this is the next lesson He's moving me toward and I'm beyond thrilled that He's been patient enough to keep training me in this direction. I can let myself experience joy in the midst of any trial. Here's the rest of James' comment in this part of his letter:
"Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result so that you will be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." (James 1:2-4)
I am fully aware that none of us would be absurd enough to ask for trials...but if I can obtain endurance for my faith through them and I can let endurance work toward perfecting me, completing me, making me the person God originally intended me to be...how can I lose? Actually, James says I can't. In fact, he promises that I will lack nothing.
I think that's worthy of a little joy...don't you?
What I'm struck by in only the second verse of this letter to the Jewish disciples of his day is that James knows and never sugar-coats that the followers of Jesus will have trials. Actually, what he says is "Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials..." Not if...rather...when.
Do we...in America...let me rephrase that to read in "cushy, suburban, mostly wealthy" America...really get this message? The following is not meant as a rant or directed toward any one person. In fact, I have intentionally mentally blocked the names of the respondents from my memory...it's just better for me that way. But the morning after our election, I should have just avoided Facebook. Actually, Wednesday is our "Mostly Media Free Day" so I was disobeying my own directive to do so...but the allure was too strong.
Honestly, I was not only appalled...but ashamed. I know...strong words. If you hate me for saying them...then that is between you and God. But truth be told, you don't know my political leanings so don't read into this that I'm saying the right guy won or even that I'm saying the wrong guy won. I'm hoping to rise above that argument, pray for my leaders (as instructed in Scripture) and remember that not one of them would be in power if it was not allowed by God. Yes...that's in the Bible too.
No...what appalled me was everyone's doomsday forecasts. I understand that people were disappointed that their guy didn't win...but really? Comments like 'our children are just going to have to learn to live with less'; 'we're going to have less money to live on'; 'we're going to have tyranny...socialism...communism'; 'it's a tragic day for America' (Wonderful post in response to this line here!) and on and on and on. So I am supposed to gather from these types of comments that as Christians we are instead supposed to be teaching our children that they need more? Also the living on less money reply was greeted by my twelve year old with the wisest response I've heard yet: "Ummm...we've been doing that for like four years now." Even people worried about having their right to worship and praise God taken away. Not to be facetious but millions of Chinese do it every day.
But the ones that fascinated me the most were all the Scripture quotes about God being our only strength...our only Rock. He's the only One we can depend on. He's the One who will sustain us. And all of the accompanying hymn quotes to go along with it.
It's probably a good thing you couldn't see me speaking (okay...loudly) to my computer screen asking why all of this faith, trust, hope, and dependence on God hasn't been shared on Facebook for the last three months instead of all of the hateful, divisive, nastiness that has prevailed? Hmmm?
Okay, rant over.
Sort of.
All of this does have a point though...really. Say tomorrow that your absolutely worst nightmare that could ever happen in your wildest dreams comes true: You only have $2.00 a day to live on; you are homeless and public worship of God is not only forbidden but punishable by execution. Seriously...go there and ask yourself these types of questions.
My first thought is if throughout history thousands of Christians have experienced similar, if not worse, situations than these...why do I somehow believe I deserve better? My second thought takes me back to James...and this is not a flippant thought. Although my "trials" have been nowhere near any I've described above, they have been trials nonetheless...and I have experienced deep joy even in the midst of them. Yes...this blog is testament to my whining too...but this is the next lesson He's moving me toward and I'm beyond thrilled that He's been patient enough to keep training me in this direction. I can let myself experience joy in the midst of any trial. Here's the rest of James' comment in this part of his letter:
"Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result so that you will be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." (James 1:2-4)
I am fully aware that none of us would be absurd enough to ask for trials...but if I can obtain endurance for my faith through them and I can let endurance work toward perfecting me, completing me, making me the person God originally intended me to be...how can I lose? Actually, James says I can't. In fact, he promises that I will lack nothing.
I think that's worthy of a little joy...don't you?
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