Loyalty Tested, part 2

LOYALTY TO GOD MUST MANIFEST IN LOYALTY TO HIS GOSPEL

James opens with these exhortations to steadfastly maintain fidelity to God, to His Son, and to His Gospel:
'The testing of your faith (through all kind of trials) produces steadfastness...that you may be mature and complete...'
'Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial...'

He closes his letter with even stronger appeals for steadfast fidelity:
'Be patient...until the coming of the Lord.'
'You also, be patient.'
'Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.'
'We consider those blessed who remained steadfast, and [we have] seen [the Lord's Result]...how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.'

[And James looks beyond the believer's own fidelity to that of others, as well:]

'...if anyone...wanders from the truth and someone brings him back...
whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering (infidelity) will save his soul...'

We cannot rightly understand James unless we understand that this is the governing theme of the entire letter. It is about faithful, steadfast, unwavering, maturing, tested, proven, persevering fidelity and loyalty to God and to His Gospel Story! The entire letter must be understood with this theme as its context! If not, grave misunderstanding will take the reader captive! The letter is not a loose collection of wisdom sayings as has long been thought in Christendom - even though the letter fits well within the 'wisdom' tradition. The letter is a single, relentless call to God's people to remain steadfast in faith (trust AND loyalty) through all trials and circumstances! Its likeness to Paul's letter to the Galatians is remarkable in this respect!

THE SPECIFIC CONTENT OF LOYALTY

With that in mind, we must now begin to look at the content of our loyalty. To what, exactly, are we to remain loyal? Certainly, we must remain loyal to God, Himself. And yet, James wants to define further what is included in that loyalty to God. There is a certain and specific content to that loyalty. There is a Truth - from which one may potentially wander - that requires specific definition. Here are just a few facets of this Truth:

1. Loyalty includes the right understanding of who God is and what His character is like:
'God, who gives generously to all without reproach..."
Later also, James will tell us that God, in His goodness, may TEST our fidelity, but he never TEMPTS our infidelity. This same good God, writes James, is the only source of every 'good and complete gift.'

2. Loyalty includes following God's revealed wisdom for navigating the trials of life, the tests of fidelity:
'If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God...'
This theme is also developed later by James in his appeal to follow through and to do that which is revealed and not just be a hearer of it.

3. Loyalty includes a right understanding of man and his situation apart from God:
'that person (wavering from trust and dependance upon Jesus alone) must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord...'
This doctrine plays huge in James' thesis! He goes on to describe our total inability to attain the righteousness of God or to save ourselves or even to change things in ourselves that we might momentarily view in the mirror of introspection.

4. Loyalty includes a right understanding of the trial itself:
'Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation...'
Again, James will later develop for us a right understanding about the purpose of the trial, about the source of temptation toward disloyalty in the trial, and Who can (God), and who cannot (ourselves, or any other human help), deliver us through the trial.

LOYALTY TO A RIGHT UNDERSTANDING

You will notice that James places a great deal of emphasis on the right understanding of several things - dare we say 'doctrine?'

YES! Loyalty to sound teaching about God, about man, and about the appropriate navigation of life's tests (that is, doctrines of faith, salvation, and sanctification) are a core component of loyalty to God Himself! Loyalty to God is defined, in large part, by loyalty to a right understanding (sound doctrine) of His Gospel Story!

Was it not sound doctrine that sent Jan Hus to be burned at the stake? And was it not sound doctrine which defined Martin Luther's loyalty to Christ at the Diet of Worms?

We live in a day in which sound doctrine must once again take its place at the front lines of faith and Christian living! I am thankful for those who are leading the way, such as those gathering under the banner of 'Together for the Gospel,' as well as others who are proclaiming with clarity the Gospel message!

Thank you, CJ Mahaney! Thank you, Josh Harris! Thank you, John Piper! Thank you, Gary, my friend! Without each of you, and the input into my life that each of you has given, my own loyalty would not have survived the tests that have come into my own life recent months! Without each of you, discouragement would have given way to despair, and for this I am eternally grateful!

My prayer is that 'my people' - those of my denomination - would likewise put aside other infatuations with all sorts of pragmatisms and therapeutic programs that have encroached upon and diluted - thereby distorting - the Gospel within our communities.

-Royce Douglas

Loyalty Tested, part 1

LIFE IS A TRIAL!

One way life can be a trial is in the sense that it is trying or difficult. And very often it is!

But James tells us that life is a trial in the sense of its being a test. You and I, if we are followers of Jesus, are being tried, tested, and proven by the things that are allowed to come into our lives.

Like two hearty slices of bread, the following calls for perseverance and loyalty hold together the sandwich which is James' introduction:

[an opening frame] (1:2-4) Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face 'motley varieties' of trials, because you know that the proving of your fidelity develops perseverance. Perseverance must complete its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

[a closing frame] (1:12) Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.

This testing, this 'proving' of fidelity, this completing of perseverance, is a constant reality for the Christian. We may as well reconcile ourselves to this fact! James is deliberate in using the phrase 'many kinds' or 'motley varieties' because he wants us to know that these tests cover the full spectrum of human experience.

Life, then, IS a trial. It is a trial of our faith. What is being tested is our 'fide' [Latin], meaning our trust IN Christ and in the Gospel, as well as our fidelity or loyalty TO Christ and TO His Gospel. Completed perseverance of fidelity produces completed Christians. The matured, completed, and ultimately 'crowned' Christian is one whose enduring loyalty TO Jesus and TO His Gospel does not 'waver' like the 'waves.' And, if we are brutally honest, we readily admit that only God can sovereignly produce such enduring loyalty in us, as we keep our gaze fixed ON Jesus and ON His completed work, the completed law that gives us liberty.

THE CONTENT OF LOYALTY

Between these slices are, first, a brief preliminary thesis statement about the content of our loyalty and, second, a particularly relevant application of our loyalty.

[content] (1:5-8) If any of you lacks Wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must trust and not waver, because he who wavers is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.

The content of our loyalty includes two things. First, it includes our right understanding of the character of God, along with our right understanding of the content of the Gospel. Secondly, it includes our being led and resourced by Wisdom from above - the leading and directing of the Holy Spirit of God - and not led by anything or anyone less! Our unwavering fidelity in both of these is essential to the loyal, faith-filled navigation of life's tests!

APPLYING LOYALTY TO LIFE

[illustration] (1:9-11) The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position. But the rich person should take pride in his low position, because he will pass away like a wild flower. For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich man will fade away even while he goes about his business.

First off, this illustration is singular; it is one illustration, not two. Yes, we see two people in this one illustration: a humbled 'brother' and a rich person. But in James, these are not two believers in different circumstances. Rather, the rich person is the wealthy patron, oppressor, and potential persecutor, who is always spoken of, in James, as the object of ultimate destruction, as is depicted here in the language of scorching, withering, falling, destroying, and fading away.

The primary relationship in this illustration is that between a liberally generous and ungrudging, forgiving God and His 'humbled-exalted' son or daughter. God's liberality and sovereignty are contrasted with the potential rich patron's oppression and impermanence. The believer, then, will show his loyalty and faith to his God and Savior by exalting in his honored position given by such a lavish God. The believer will then come boldly to Him for both that which he lacks as well as for the Wisdom to navigate his or her life's trials.

Such believers, sought out by such a God, and for such high favor as this, are blessed indeed! James, obviously reflecting Jesus' beatitudes, describes the high position of the lowly! Such believers can indeed know that the Proving of Loyalty is to be counted as ALL JOY!

-Royce Douglas

The Gospel Reflected In James' Vocabulary

VALUES VIEWED VIA VOCABULARY

The claim is made that every society values highest those things for which it uses the broadest vocabulary. That is, they use the most words to describe the things which that society most treasures.

This can help give us insight into the New Testament. In its pages we discover a brand-new society of people with an extensive new vocabulary. If we pay attention to this fledgeling and expansive vocabulary, we learn a great deal about them as a people and about the things they most valued.

Consider this sampling of words and phrases used synonymously for The Gospel, The Good News Story about Jesus and His atoning work:

The Faith,
God's Work (which is by Faith),
The Sound Doctrine,
The Glorious Gospel Of The Blessed God,
The Grace Of Our Lord,
The Faith And Love (that are in Christ Jesus),
A Trustworthy Saying That Deserves Full Acceptance,
The Good Fight,
The Truth,
The Testimony,
The True Faith,
The Deep Truths Of The Faith,
Their/Our Faith (in Christ Jesus),
The Mystery Of Godliness,
The Word Of God,
The Truths Of The Faith,
The Good Teaching,
A Trustworthy Saying,
Our First Pledge,
Our Teaching,
The Sound Instruction Of Our Lord Jesus Christ,
The Eternal Life,
The Good Confession,
This Command,
The Life That Is Truly Life.

Take time to meditate on these expressions. Consider them with renewed wonder for the work of Christ!

LOYALTY TO A STORY

Remarkably, this entire selection comes from just one short letter, I Timothy. In this letter, Paul uses this wide range of words and phrases to describe The Gospel Story. Further, in nearly every context, Paul is pleading with Timothy to remain loyal to his Savior BY remaining loyal to The Gospel Story itself. Paul is strident in his challenge to defend The Gospel from all forms of corruption by addition, subtraction, or perversion!

Remember also how, in the letter to the Galatians, Paul is even more adamant about loyalty to The Gospel alone. We must not add to, or pervert The Gospel by looking outside The Gospel for the capacity to do what only The Gospel can do! The Gospel alone is able to save. The Gospel alone continues transforming us into the image of Jesus. The Gospel alone sets us apart to God's Work! The Gospel alone produces faith, both for salvation and for sanctification!

This is why the 'Preaching of the Word' (to use the historic phrase) is not an expendable part of the Christian community's gathering, but is rather the most critical element of our meetings!

Now, take time to think about the words and phrases that James uses in his letter. James reflects this same set of values in the vocabulary he chooses! Think about these by way of comparison to Paul's:

The Word,
The Truth,
The Word Of Truth,
The Implanted Word,
The Seed Of Righteousness,
The Righteousness Of God,
The Perfected (Completed) Law (that gives us Liberty),
The Law Of Liberty,
The Royal (the King's) Law,
Your Faith,
The Faith In Our Lord Jesus Christ,
The Wisdom From Above,
Mercy,
More Grace

Reflect on how so very similar James’ vocabulary is to Paul's. Their very essences are the same.

All of these words, phrases and expressions were a vital part of the new community of Jesus' people. Their very breadth and vastness ought to speak volumes to us about the values of these believers and about their relationship to The Gospel. Indeed, The Gospel defined their very identity as a people.


JAMES' PLEA FOR LOYALTY TO THE STORY

Taking it a step further, James' letter's single, dominant theme is about loyalty to The Gospel, every bit as much as Paul's theme in Galatians is about loyalty to The Gospel and to The Gospel alone.

James pleads with his readers and with us for our unwavering devotion to Jesus and our single-minded loyalty to The Gospel alone. Consider what James says about The Gospel.

The Gospel is that 'Word Implanted' which, when humbly received, has the power to save (James 1:21)! It is our perseverance in loyalty to The Gospel alone which is tested through life's trials and which results in maturity and, ultimately, the crown of life (1:2-4,12)! The Gospel alone is the Seed of Righteousness that is sown into us in peace, by God from above (3:18 - more on this verse in coming segments)! It is The Gospel alone by which God births new life into us (1:18)! It is The Gospel alone that must be adamantly preserved from the corruption that comes through mixing it with: human desires (1:14; 4:1), human drives or anger (1:20), human ambitions (3:14), or any other of this world's prevalent evils or ideologies (1:21; 4:4)!

James' is the plea to remain loyal to The Gospel alone, the plea to restore loyalty to The Gospel alone, and the plea recover others from wandering from The Truth (5:19-20) of The Gospel.

Come along to explore this amazing letter from James!

-Royce Douglas