BOOK REVIEW: Journey Through James by Douglas Estes

 

This is a 30-day trip through what has been, until the late 20^th century, one of the most neglected books in the Bible. The book of James, who was believed to be Jesus’s brother (meaning he was one of the children conceived by Mary with Joseph), has been problematic for Christians because of its straightforward and practical approach to humanity’s social ills, and the attitudes that Christians should have to them. Speaking of the poor, particularly children and widows, James brings to light the three things that have impacted the Church’s problems with handling these: greed, intolerance, and laziness. James faces those problems head-on, telling his readers where they are wrong and what they should do about it. Lacking the coddling, nurturing nature of the books of Paul or Peter, James’s simple, no-nonsense way of speaking has been considered “too hard” for many followers. But, sometimes, a “tough love” approach is what is needed to make people pay attention and see the faults in their actions that have been ignored or downplayed by other teachers.

One of the major stumbling blocks of James for most Christians is the part in chapter 2, verses 14 through 26, in which James addresses actions, saying that, without deeds, faith is dead. When taken out of context, this seems to be at odds with Paul’s assertion in Ephesians that the believer has been saved by grace and not by works. However, the operative words here are “out of context.” When one reads the larger letter in James, it is clear that the writer is speaking to those who have already accepted the grace of forgiveness. There is no question about whether or not they are followers. The problem stems from how they have acted as followers. For, if they are followers, then they need to act like it, and, it seems, in many cases they have not. What many Christians seem to conveniently forget is that those in this world who do not know their Creator, or have never been taught this philosophy, do not have any idea what the grace of forgiveness looks like, much less have experienced it for themselves. The followers of Christ are their only examples of this truth, for it is the believers’ actions and deeds that are the window into that truth. It is the believers’ duty to picture the love and grace of forgiveness in their own lives, to “Love your neighbor as yourself.” There is no caveat in that commandment that says, “Only if your neighbor looks, thinks, and lives the way you do.” The commandment is only that we love, and act like we love.

We, in our world today, could learn much from James. Those who have accepted the grace of forgiveness should be willing, wanting, and acting in gentleness and acceptance of our neighbors. We should not be trying to take away their civil rights, imprison them, or erase their history and cultures. We should be loving and helping them, even if we do not agree with their ideology, religion, or politics. For, if we do not, all they will see is people who show them that the Christian faith is nothing but intolerance and hatred. If that is all they see, why would they want to be a part of something like that? Why would they even want to listen to someone like that? Perhaps that is something we should think about the next time we go to vote, participate in a demonstration, or sign a petition.