Haikus and Humble Hermeneutics: James, Chapter 2

"The occasion of writing the Epistle [of James] appears to have been the abuse made of the doctrine of free grace by professing Christians, — a subject referred to also by Paul in Romans 6, and in his other Epistles. Abounding grace is at one time despised and rejected; at another time it is turned into licentiousness: these are evils which have ever prevailed in the Church.  The Pharisee is too proud to receive grace; the Antinomian* pretends to receive and magnify grace, that he may gratify the inclinations of his sinful nature.  It was against the Antinomian that James write his Epistle."

-from "The Translator's Preface" of Commentaries on the Catholic Epistles by John Calvin, translated and edited by the Rev. John Owen, found at www.ccel.org/ccel/calvin/calcom45.ii.html

*Definition of "Anitnomianism", from www.thefreedictionary.com: "The doctrine or belief that the Gospel frees Christians from required obedience to any law, whether scriptural, civil, or moral"

I think that believers in Christ who profess the Gospel can subtly, but very easily, fall into the detrimental thinking of both the Pharisee and the Antinomian.  We need the instructions and exhortations of both Paul and James (they both speak from the Spirit after all!).  Those of us of the Reformation like to cling tightly to our sound doctrine and theology, and that it should be, but if our (my) faith is only a voiced or written theology, not a lived-out application overflowing from the grace given so freely to me, according to James 2:14, "Can such faith save a man?"  Paul and James are not opposed in their theology, but I'm afraid that in all my self-justifications and unconsciously narrow application of Scripture, I have made them so.

In case you were wondering, James 2:23 AND Romans 4:3 reference the same account of Abraham's credited righteousness from Genesis 15:6, and at first glance, they would seem to apply the example very differently.  However, with further reading (and reading of ALL of Scripture), you can see how they are both messengers of the same Gospel.  The simplest way I can explain it is that Paul forbids a reliance on works of the law as a means of salvation (that's Jesus' job, a job for which only he qualifies), and James forbids the calling of a belief in God "faith" if it does not affect how you live out your life in relationship with God and others: "You believe that there is one God.  Good!  Even the demons believe that--and shudder." (James 2:19)

Essentially, your works cannot save you, but neither can a faith that has no works as its result.

I do not want this to be true of my life: "You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may  have life." (John 5:39-40).  Lord, let me not be one who pores over your words without seeing You in them, for it is You who give them life.  Let any knowledge or undrstanding given to me result in deeper love for You, and for my neighbor.  Amen.

Verse 1
As believers in
Our glorious Lord, show no
Favoritism

2
Surprise a man comes
Into your meeting wearing
Gold rings and fine clothes

2 (continued)
And there also comes
A poor man who is dressed in
Dirty, shabby clothes

3
If you give special
Attention to the man who
Is wearing fine clothes,

3 (continued)
But you say to the
Poor man, "Stand over there," or
"Sit down at my feet,"

4
Then among yourselves
You've made false distinctions and
Judged with evil thoughts

5
Listen, has not God
Chosen the poor of this world
To be rich in faith?

5 (continued)
They will inherit
The kingdom God has promised
To those who love Him

6
But you dishonor
The poor.  Don't the rich oppress
You, drag you to court?

7
Are they not the ones
Who slander Jesus Christ, whose
Noble name you bear?

8
Nevertheless, you
Are doing the right thing if
You obey the law

8 (continued)
In accordance with
The Scripture, "You must love your
Neighbor as yourself."

9
But if you favor
Some people over others,
You're committing sin

9 (continued)
The law convicts you
As violators in your
Disobedience

10
Whoever keeps the
Whole law but fails in one point
Is guilty of all

11
For the same God said,
"Don't commit adultery,"
And, "Do not murder"

11 (continued)
If you don't commit
Adultery but murderm
You're a lawbreaker

12
So speak and act as
Those who will be judged by the
Law that sets you free

13
For judgment will be
Merciless to the one who
Has shown no mercy

14
What good does it do
If someone claims to have faith
But does not have works?

14-15
Can that faith save him?
If a brother is naked
And lacks daily food,

16
What good is it to
Say, "Go in peace, be warmed and
Filled," but give nothing?

17
In the same way faith,
By itself and without works,
Is dead and useless

18
But someone may well
Argue, "Some people have faith;
Others have good works."

18 (continued)
But I say, "Show me
Your faith without works, and I'll
Show my faith by works"

19
You believe that God
Is one.  Good!  The demons, too,
Believe and shudder

20
Foolish man!  Do you
Have to be shown that faith with
No works is useless?

21
Was not Abraham
Justified by works when he
Offered up his son?

22
You see that faith was
Active with his works, and by
Works faith perfected

23
Abraham was called
The friend of God, and Scripture
Was fulfilled that says,

23 (continued)
"Abraham believed
God, and it was credited
Him as righteousness."

24
You see that a man
Is justified by works and
Not by faith alone

25
And in the same way,
Rahab the prostitute was
Justified by works

25 (continued)
She gave lodging to
The messengers and sent them
Off another way

26
As the body with
No spirit is dead, so faith
Without works is dead