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