seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
James 1:19 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. 21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.
22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.
26 Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. 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.
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How's your religion doing?
James almost threw the Messiah off a cliff! He really thought Jesus was insane.
In those days they thought it was "kind" to push a crazy man to his death, rather than make him live in insanity.
James was in favor of spreading the Gospel to the Gentiles.
James was in favor of passing the food restrictions on to the Gentiles.
So, no! James didn't eat Bacon because he knew some people just could not stand the smell of pork frying up in the pan. It would turn them away from Jesus.
James says [paraphrased] "if you're busy caring for the orphans and widows, you will be putting your faith to work, and you will be free."
The Old Testament Religion was based on "FEAR", but the New Testament Religion is meant to be based on "FREEDOM".
If we're armed with God's Word, we can be happy no matter what Mission we are sent on. Feeding the hungry, Healing the sick, and Teaching Love for our fellow man is a Mission no one can argue with.
Keep in mind though, James was like Peter. He didn't want to ruffle any feathers. He knew the Nazarenes were not bacon eaters, so like Peter [the denier] he kept his opinions to himself. Being a Christian could and would get you murdered under the label of "terrorist".
James stayed on task. He was so busy helping the Widows and Orphans, he didn't have an opportunity to say something that may cause him to be arrested.
The Mission is what was important, not just the bacon.
James seems to be of the opinion that once you become a Child of God, you have to work for the Mission.
You can't just say you are a Christian and be one. Faith has to be planted in you by God first. It's a Gift. You have to accept the Gift of Faith from God first! You can't accept Faith if God doesn't offer it to you. Then you can put "real faith" to work, because God gave it to you and it will work if you use it.
You can't just register as a Christian and be part of the Christian Community. Pew Warmers attend every function, but without Faith, it doesn't mean a thing.
You have to stay on Mission or your Faith will fade. It won't' go away... but it will fade.
How's your religion doing?
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Here's a link to the commentary I read.
Let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: We can learn to be slow to wrath by first learning to be swift to hear and slow to speak. Much of our anger and wrath comes from being self-centered and not others-centered. Swift to hear is a way to be others-centered. Slow to speak is a way to be others-centered.
Slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God: In light of the nature of temptation and the goodness of God, we must take special care to be slow to wrath, because our wrath does not accomplish the righteousness of God. Our wrath almost always simply defends or promotes our own agenda.
Receive with meekness the implanted word: In contrast to an impure manner of living, we should receive the implanted word of God (doing it with meekness, a teachable heart). This word is able to save us, both in our current situation and eternally. The purity of God’s word can preserve us even in an impure age.
Here James alluded to the spiritual power of the word of God. When it is implanted in the human heart, it is able to save your souls. The word of God carries the power of God.
But be doers of the word, and not hearers only: We must receive God’s word as doers, not merely hearers. To take comfort in the fact you have heard God’s word when you haven’t done it is to deceive yourself.
It was common in the ancient world for people to hear a teacher. If you followed the teacher and tried to live what he said, you were called a disciple of that teacher. We may say that Jesus is looking for disciples: doers, not mere hearers.
He is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was: The person who only hears God’s word without doing it has the same sense and stability as a man who looks into a mirror and immediately forgets what he saw. The information he received did not do any good in his life.
If anyone among you thinks he is religious: James just explained that real religion is not shown by hearing the word, but by doing it. One way to do God’s word is to bridle the tongue.
This one’s religion is useless: Your walk with God is useless if it does not translate into the way you live and the way you treat others. Many are deceived in their own heart regarding the reality of their walk with God.
