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wolfbiblemoonIf you have any doubts when you ask God for more wisdom you won't receive anything because you are not fully attentive to God.
You shouldn't be tempted by God, because desire leads to sin. But doesn't converting to a religion that promises an eternal reward mean you must have been tempted by God, or at least by the message being spread in his name.
James defines pure and undefiled Christianity as caring for orphans and widows and keeping yourself unstained by the world. So, become a monk or nun then?
James' example of law breaking went a bit far, he says that breaking a single law makes you guilty of breaking all of them. So his example is that if you do not commit adultery but do commit murder then you have violated the law, yes sounds like a violation of the law of pretty much every human society.
I think we were being told a few days ago that faith is most important, but James says that it's no good claiming to have faith if you don't physically help those in need. Sounds fair enough to me.
The tongue is the most powerful and dangerous part of the human body.
You shouldn't speak against fellow believers because that is speaking against the law. I guess it depends what you mean by speak against, if they were breaking some of those laws shouldn't you tell someone?
You shouldn't make plans without adding 'if God is willing' because it is arrogant to think you know what will happen. I must agree that 'you are a puff of smoke that appears for a short time and then vanishes'.
The Lord's return was near according to James, the believers just had to be patient for a bit.
Praying will make sick people well & bringing a sinner back to the truth saves the soul of the person doing the bringing.
You shouldn't be tempted by God, because desire leads to sin. But doesn't converting to a religion that promises an eternal reward mean you must have been tempted by God, or at least by the message being spread in his name.
James defines pure and undefiled Christianity as caring for orphans and widows and keeping yourself unstained by the world. So, become a monk or nun then?
James' example of law breaking went a bit far, he says that breaking a single law makes you guilty of breaking all of them. So his example is that if you do not commit adultery but do commit murder then you have violated the law, yes sounds like a violation of the law of pretty much every human society.
I think we were being told a few days ago that faith is most important, but James says that it's no good claiming to have faith if you don't physically help those in need. Sounds fair enough to me.
The tongue is the most powerful and dangerous part of the human body.
You shouldn't speak against fellow believers because that is speaking against the law. I guess it depends what you mean by speak against, if they were breaking some of those laws shouldn't you tell someone?
You shouldn't make plans without adding 'if God is willing' because it is arrogant to think you know what will happen. I must agree that 'you are a puff of smoke that appears for a short time and then vanishes'.
The Lord's return was near according to James, the believers just had to be patient for a bit.
Praying will make sick people well & bringing a sinner back to the truth saves the soul of the person doing the bringing.
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Date: 2011-01-29 01:12 am (UTC)It would appear that James advocate Faith + Works whereas Paul states only Faith. There are articles on whether these two guys are on loggerheads and such.
So who is this James? The Brother of Jesus? The Brother of St John? Either one of the James is expected to have a closer physical relationship than that of Paul (who was visited by "Jesus" spirit).
So when James meets Paul,,,,, who will you listen to?
Good question
Date: 2011-01-29 03:47 am (UTC)1 Corinthians 1 11-13 "For some members of Chole's household have told me about your quarrels, my dear brothers and sisters. Some are saying, "I am a follower of Paul." Others are saying, "I follow Apollos," or "I follow Cephas," or,"I follow only Christ." Has Christ been divided into fractions? Was I, Paul, crucified for you? Were any of you baptized in the name of Paul? Of course not."
Im sure both men would be on one accord because they both preach faith in the Son of God. James stated simply faith without works is dead. Very true, Paul also says the same but in different terms. He speaks of faith then says the things to avoid to stay in the faith. Sexual sins, idolatry, theft, etc. These are the deeds that when avoided keep faith alive.
Faith, Works, and the sort
Date: 2011-01-29 04:52 am (UTC)Then there are occasions where people are unable to do works, as in the thief on the cross who tells Jesus to remember him. Jesus does, and says he will be with him in paradise.
I'd like to thank you Wolfpurplemoon. I love talking about aspects of the bible and metaphysics, and with your controversial reading of the bible all of us are provided with an ice breaker to talking about these things. It has definitely helped me think more broadly and more often of the bible and God (also science).
Anyway, good luck on the rest of your bible reading journey, and of course, after that too.
Re: Faith, Works, and the sort
Date: 2011-02-07 10:27 pm (UTC)Re: Faith, Works, and the sort
Date: 2011-02-08 04:50 am (UTC)Part 1
Date: 2011-01-29 04:00 pm (UTC)I think what James is trying to say here, is basically, when we ask God for wisdom (or anything for that matter) we need to do so in faith. Earlier in Hebrews, you must have read, "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." (Heb. 11:6) I think that verse is self-explanatory. It's like a light switch. If you don't believe the light switch even exists, and will produce the intended result (turning on the light), you won't bother hitting the light switch. Why do people turn on light switches? Because they have FAITH that the switch exists, that it is real, and that it will do what it's meant to do when you access it. Likening God to a light switch is, of course, a gross oversimplification, but you get the idea. In the same way, we cannot come to God, asking for wisdom in our difficult situations in life, without having faith in him.
"You shouldn't be tempted by God, because desire leads to sin. But doesn't converting to a religion that promises an eternal reward mean you must have been tempted by God, or at least by the message being spread in his name."
I think you might have missed the message of verse 13, "For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone". As verse 14 continues, James tells us that we are tempted because of the wrong desires present in every human being. Let's face it, we all have bad desires/lusts. It can be as simple as lusting/desiring your neighborer new car. And, as James continues (and using the prev. example), once desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin. Think of the prevalence of car thefts. Now, I'm not just limiting this to car theft of course, but the principle still applies. Lust/Greed/Coveting/Etc. -> Sin -> Spiritual Death. So, even though all people are tempted, we do not all have to give in to those evil desires, and furthermore, we don't all have to let those desires drive us to sin.
James continues in verse 17, "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows."
James continues his theme, that God does not tempt people with evil. God is GOOD, and he does not change like shifting shadows. He isn't a Good GOD one day, and does evil the next. No.
"James defines pure and undefiled Christianity as caring for orphans and widows and keeping yourself unstained by the world. So, become a monk or nun then?"
No, I can't say I fully understand the gist of what James is saying here, but I believe this Bible commentary sheds some interesting light on these verses: http://www.studylight.org/com/jfb/view.cgi?book=jas&chapter=001
"James' example of law breaking went a bit far, he says that breaking a single law makes you guilty of breaking all of them. So his example is that if you do not commit adultery but do commit murder then you have violated the law, yes sounds like a violation of the law of pretty much every human society."
You're EXACTLY right. As Romans chapter 3 puts it, "There is none righteous, no, NOT ONE."...and continues..."23 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard." We cannot compare our "righteousness" with other people, as Jesus tells us in Luke 18:10-14. God compares our righteousness against the perfect, spotless, background of His Law. But! you may ask, how then can anyone become "right" with God by keeping the law? The simple answer is: we can't. As is so well illustrated in Romans, the only righteousness God accepts is the righteousness which He now gives, through faith in His Son Jesus Christ, and His finished work for us.
Re: Part 2
Date: 2011-01-29 04:00 pm (UTC)"I think we were being told a few days ago that faith is most important, but James says that it's no good claiming to have faith if you don't physically help those in need. Sounds fair enough to me."
Right. I mean, what good is there in God saving a person, only for that person to just sit around, and not make a difference in this world, showing people the love of God in act, not just in word! It's not right to judge the whole by the part. What I mean is this, even though some (many I suppose) people who profess they are "Christians" don't live up to this standard, that doesn't mean you should dismiss Christianity. You wouldn't believe how many Christians have not even studied the Bible for themselves, to find out what God expects of them.