James 1:27
"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world" (James 1:27).
"Ifyou love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect" (Mat. 5:46-48).
Pagan or perfect? Social justice is fairly popular right now, among Christians and yes-I-believe-in-God-and-perhaps-Allah-as-well Christians and New Age eclectics. In short, it becomes a grand cause in which we can feel good about ourselves. Or a volunteer opportunity to build our resume. Or get a pat on the back. Or find some like-minded friends in a social club. Really. No matter how much we want to dress it up and add some make-up to make it look better. Perhaps, deeper and darker, we find it gives us a sense of control or comfort or power to be helping the least. We are the givers; we are the strong ones.
The question of James is radically different: "Who can I lavishly pour out love to without expecting anything back?"
It is a question that only those who have seen God in Christ can ask. This self-giving love is the nature of God. James has already portrayed God as the Giver of every good gift who delights in lavishing it to those least deserving who look to him. He is the God who became nothing for our good.
It takes a deep humility. We have to admit that we too were destitute, and without him are helpless. If we really admit it, grace is uncomfortable. It strips us of all pretences to be strong or independent. We were destitute and utterly helpless.
It is a question that only those who have admitted thier helplessness can ask--because we have been filled. We have received from the King. We are so filled from him, we go out and find people to lavish love on.
James 1:27 has been called the thesis of the book. Reading James, one key thought stands out to me: purity of heart--singlemindedness in following God--being lived out. This is reflected in a pure tongue that only praises, a pure perseverance that looks only to God in trials, and a pure relationship with others that does not hold favoritism because one is wealthy and another is not, and a pure relationship to wealth in confiding solely in God for eternal rewards instead of the riches of this life. It is the theme of the Sermon on the Mount that is echoed through much of the book: "Be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect."
James is calling us to a purity of love: "You have seen the purity of the love of God for you, you have been recipients of the purity of the love of Christ for you, you are empowered by the pure love of the Spirit in you--now go and lavish that love in a like manner."
See Christ, and you will see the widows and orphans in our midst in a new way. We not only see them because we have new eyes, but we seek them. We are purposeful in giving love. Who are they in Waco? Without Christ's eyes, we won't see them. They are not people who help us in any way. Perhaps they annoy us because they are different from us. They can't give anything back. They may have no voice, no ability to speak up for themselves--whether it is because they speak another language or have no legal rights, or have been silenced by abuse, or trapped by crushing cycles of poverty.
Do we see our Father? Christ? Because we see them, are we intentionally looking for those to lavish love on? Do we see them? Do we long to be perfect, or for perfection in this world? A pagan will love for the latter; one made perfect will love because he has seen Christ.
(1) Craig Blomberg & Miriam Kamell. James. Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament. Ed. Clinton E. Arnold. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2008.
"Ifyou love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect" (Mat. 5:46-48).
Pagan or perfect? Social justice is fairly popular right now, among Christians and yes-I-believe-in-God-and-perhaps-Allah-as-well Christians and New Age eclectics. In short, it becomes a grand cause in which we can feel good about ourselves. Or a volunteer opportunity to build our resume. Or get a pat on the back. Or find some like-minded friends in a social club. Really. No matter how much we want to dress it up and add some make-up to make it look better. Perhaps, deeper and darker, we find it gives us a sense of control or comfort or power to be helping the least. We are the givers; we are the strong ones.
The question of James is radically different: "Who can I lavishly pour out love to without expecting anything back?"
It is a question that only those who have seen God in Christ can ask. This self-giving love is the nature of God. James has already portrayed God as the Giver of every good gift who delights in lavishing it to those least deserving who look to him. He is the God who became nothing for our good.
It takes a deep humility. We have to admit that we too were destitute, and without him are helpless. If we really admit it, grace is uncomfortable. It strips us of all pretences to be strong or independent. We were destitute and utterly helpless.
It is a question that only those who have admitted thier helplessness can ask--because we have been filled. We have received from the King. We are so filled from him, we go out and find people to lavish love on.
James 1:27 has been called the thesis of the book. Reading James, one key thought stands out to me: purity of heart--singlemindedness in following God--being lived out. This is reflected in a pure tongue that only praises, a pure perseverance that looks only to God in trials, and a pure relationship with others that does not hold favoritism because one is wealthy and another is not, and a pure relationship to wealth in confiding solely in God for eternal rewards instead of the riches of this life. It is the theme of the Sermon on the Mount that is echoed through much of the book: "Be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect."
James is calling us to a purity of love: "You have seen the purity of the love of God for you, you have been recipients of the purity of the love of Christ for you, you are empowered by the pure love of the Spirit in you--now go and lavish that love in a like manner."
See Christ, and you will see the widows and orphans in our midst in a new way. We not only see them because we have new eyes, but we seek them. We are purposeful in giving love. Who are they in Waco? Without Christ's eyes, we won't see them. They are not people who help us in any way. Perhaps they annoy us because they are different from us. They can't give anything back. They may have no voice, no ability to speak up for themselves--whether it is because they speak another language or have no legal rights, or have been silenced by abuse, or trapped by crushing cycles of poverty.
Do we see our Father? Christ? Because we see them, are we intentionally looking for those to lavish love on? Do we see them? Do we long to be perfect, or for perfection in this world? A pagan will love for the latter; one made perfect will love because he has seen Christ.
(1) Craig Blomberg & Miriam Kamell. James. Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament. Ed. Clinton E. Arnold. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2008.
Yes, be perfect in our giving, in our compassion, in our reaching out to the widows and fatherless. But sometimes I get confused with "being perfect," taking it to mean "be a perfectionist."
ReplyDeleteYikes. Following humbly in the grace offered to us by Christ is far from perfectionism. As you mentioned, it takes a deep humility, allowing God to change us & give us the mind of Christ.
Someone recently reminded me of a quote by CS Lewis: God doesn't want something from us; He simply wants us. When we are fully submitting every area of our lives to His will, our hearts and lives will conform to Christ. We will love because "Christ's love compels us" (2 Corin. 5:14).
Once again, I thank you for posting your thoughts. You are helping your readers (including me) stay focused on Truth. Blessings to you, Gillian!