August 30, 2020, James 3:13-18, 5:7-11, ISSL Reflections

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I.
With this week’s readings from James’ letter we come to a close of our time with James. Or maybe not. We’ve only taken time to reflect on selected passages, so perhaps you want to find time to review the entire letter.

For this week we will look at two passages, both of which have something to tell us about wisdom.

As you spend time with James’ words, consider the different kinds of “wisdom” he describes.

II.
James 3:13-18 (NRSV)

Who is wise and understanding among you? Show by your good life that your works are done with gentleness born of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not be boastful and false to the truth. Such wisdom does not come down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, devilish. For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there will also be disorder and wickedness of every kind. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace for those who make peace.

James 5:7-11 (NRSV)

Be patient, therefore, beloved, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious crop from the earth, being patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains. You also must be patient. Strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near. Beloved, do not grumble against one another, so that you may not be judged. See, the Judge is standing at the doors! As an example of suffering and patience, beloved, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. Indeed we call blessed those who showed endurance. You have heard of the endurance of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.

III.
What word or phrase stands out to you the most in James’ description of wisdom “from above”?

And is there a word or phrase that captures for you most clearly James’ description of “unspiritual wisdom”?

IV.
What do you see as the primary (or a primary) aspect of the path James would have us take to “wisdom from above”?

Charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

August 23, 2020, James 3:1-12 Post 3 ISSL Reflections

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How do James’ words catch you today?
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James%203%3A1-12&version=NRSV,NASB,PHILLIPS

VII.
Did you notice how James mentions how we can “tame” so many different animals,

For every species of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by the human species, but no one can tame the tongue … (James 3:7-8)

…. But when it comes to taming ourselves, our spirits, our speech, we fail.

I wonder why?

VIII.
Maybe before trying to answer the why question, we should devote some time to the “what” question.

James has called out attention to our “tongue.” To our pattern of communication and interaction with others.

What in your interaction with others do you notice seems to control you rather than you controlling it?

What do you react to in others that “sets you off”? What starts you down a path of negative feelings, speech and actions?

Maybe James’ reminder about how hard it is to control a small thing like our tongues, can open the way for us to examine other behaviors that we let rule us.

Has James helped you notice any behaviors or attitudes that are in the way of your blessing others?

Just moments ago, I came across this quote attributed to St Francis DeSales,

“Have patience with all things, but chiefly have patience with yourself. Do not lose courage in considering your own imperfections, but instantly set about remedying them – every day begin the task anew.”

Considering our own imperfections with patience. That seems a good way to “apply” James’ counsel.

Charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

August 23, 2020 James 3:1-12 Post 2 ISSL Reflections

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Take some time to slowly read this week’s Scripture passage. Don’t rush over it. Let the words find a resting place in you and soak them in.

Here is a link to three translations of the passage –
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James%203%3A1-12&version=NRSV,MSG,GNT

IV.
As you spend time with the words of James, what caught your attention the most?

Do you think James observed some of the behaviors he writes about in “his” congregation? Among his fellow disciples? Maybe in his own family? Or even in his own behaviors?

Did the passion with which he writes grow out of personal experience?

V.
What about your and my personal experiences?

I can certainly recall times (too many) when my tongue, my speech, my attitude has burned people I care about.

And when I realized the harm I was doing, I often failed to correct it as I should have.

VI.
Let’s not think everything James writes about the power of speech is negative. He acknowledges a number of positive and uplifting things we can accomplish with our speech.

How have you used your speech and interactions with others this week to build others up? Who have you noticed this week building others up?

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

Augutst 23 2020 James 3:1-12 ISSL Reflections

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I.
We have listened to James over the last few weeks talk with us about listening without hearing or doing, about speaking of our faith without demonstrating faith in our behaviors, and this week we hear James focus in on the power of speech, the inherent power we have in our “tongues.”

As we begin our reading of this week’s Scripture pay attention for a couple of things. First, what energy does James bring to these words. How would you describe the energy or passion with which James writes to us?

Second, what images does James use to describe our tongues and its impact? Notice images that are positive or negative.

With that in mind, take a moment to still yourself, quiet your mind, then listen as James speaks to you.

II.
James 3:1-12 (NRSV)

Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers and sisters, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. For all of us make many mistakes. Anyone who makes no mistakes in speaking is perfect, able to keep the whole body in check with a bridle. If we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we guide their whole bodies. Or look at ships: though they are so large that it takes strong winds to drive them, yet they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great exploits.

How great a forest is set ablaze by a small fire! And the tongue is a fire. The tongue is placed among our members as a world of iniquity; it stains the whole body, sets on fire the cycle of nature, and is itself set on fire by hell. For every species of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by the human species, but no one can tame the tongue—a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse those who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this ought not to be so. Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and brackish water? Can a fig tree, my brothers and sisters, yield olives, or a grapevine figs? No more can salt water yield fresh.

III.
Taking up my second question first, Can you make a list of the images James uses to describe the tongue and its power? Which images do you see as positive aspects of the tongue, the power of speech? Which images do you see as negative aspects of the tongue?

Do you think he comes down more on the side of the positive or negative impact of our speech? Do you have a thought on why he gives that emphasis?

IV.
And that brings us back to my first question – what energy or passion do you hear James bringing to his writing to us about the power of speech?

What does James touch in your spirit with his words?

Charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

August 16 2020 James 2:14-26 Post 3 ISSL Reflections

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You can read several translations of this week’s passage at –
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=james%202%3A14-26&version=NIV,CEB,MSG

VII.
Let’s look at The Message translation of a couple of sentences.

Dear friends, do you think you’ll get anywhere in this if you learn all the right words but never do anything? Does merely talking about faith indicate that a person really has it? For instance, you come upon an old friend dressed in rags and half-starved and say, “Good morning, friend! Be clothed in Christ! Be filled with the Holy Spirit!” and walk off without providing so much as a coat or a cup of soup—where does that get you? Isn’t it obvious that God-talk without God-acts is outrageous nonsense? (James 2:14-17)

Did you notice, “… God-talk without God-acts is outrageous nonsense”

As I look back over my journey of “faith” I find that for a long while I thought the most important thing was to get the words right. To do “God-talk” right. After all, wasn’t I supposed to have the right theology, to interpret Scripture rightly, and to have my “witness” ready with the right words to convince others of the right path to God?

Then, things swung the other way. I talked a lot about social ministries, social justice and was involved in a congregation’s weekday ministry in its neighborhood. Theology became very unimportant. It was about living the life Jesus modeled and called us to.

VIII.
Have you seen that sort of thing?

There is no balance in one’s life. It is all one thing or the other and there is little matching of our thinking/talking to our actions?

It seems to me, James is calling us to not lose sight of the fact that a call to faith is a call to living the faith every day, every minute in every place.

It might be great if faith was a thing that we only wore on Sunday’s at church, but neither James nor Jesus seem to think that is the life God calls us to.

What have you heard James say to you this week?

Charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

August 16, 2020, James 2:14-26 – Post 2 – ISSL Reflections

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Here are three translations of this week’s passage –
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=james%202%3A14-26&version=NRSV,ESV,NASB

IV.
We are thinking about James’ claims about faith and works. Last week we heard him stress the importance of moving beyond hearing about “the word” and failing to put into action what is heard.

How does that relate to what we hear this week?

Notice how this reads in the Common English Bible translation –

My brothers and sisters, what good is it if people say they have faith but do nothing to show it? Claiming to have faith can’t save anyone, can it? (James 2:14)

“… say they have faith…”
“… Claiming to have faith can’t save anyone…”

Does that seem to you a good understanding of these words?

V.
How often have you seen things advertised on television and wonder if the item can really do all the spokesperson claims for it?

Or, maybe you have gone out to buy an appliance for your home. Did the salesperson “oversale” it a bit?

I suspect most of us are not surprised by such things.

But, when it comes to our faith, our commitment to Jesus, do we sometimes talk a better game than we play?

It’s easy to do.

Have you ever noticed yourself doing that?

VI.
James offers some examples of “faithful action”
What have you done this week that is a “faithful action” growing out of your faithful commitment to Jesus?

Give it some time and see what comes to mind?

Maybe I shouldn’t ask this next question but let’s try it on too. Does anything come to mind where you could have offered “faithful action” but didn’t? Do you know what held you back?

Charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

August 16, 2020, James 2:14-26 – ISSL Reflections

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I.
Last week listened to James tell us that we must not be mere hearers of “the word” but must follow through the hearing, the listening, with action.

This week he takes the challenge further and forces us to consider the relationship of faith and works.

Read this week’s Scripture and pay attention to how James challenges us. Does he make you uncomfortable or do you find his remarks to your liking?

II.
James 2:14-26 (NRSV)

What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but do not have works? Can faith save you? If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill,” and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that? So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead.

But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I by my works will show you my faith. You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder. Do you want to be shown, you senseless person, that faith apart from works is barren? Was not our ancestor Abraham justified by works when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was brought to completion by the works. Thus the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness,” and he was called the friend of God. You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. Likewise, was not Rahab the prostitute also justified by works when she welcomed the messengers and sent them out by another road? For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is also dead.

II.
James asks, “Can faith save you?”

Most church going folk I know would quickly answer “Yes! And that’s the only thing that can save you!”

But James says, “… faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead.”

Really? Dead?

And then, “For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is also dead.”

III.
Think carefully about James’ claims.

Do they make you uncomfortable?

Does he challenge your theology?

Or do you find his words liberating?

And more to the point, how do you make sense of what he says to you in regard to how you live as a disciple of Jesus?

Let’s spend some time thinking about this and get back together later.

Charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

August 9, 2020, James 1:19-27 – Post 3 – ISSL Reflections

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Here is a link to three translations for this week’s Scripture –
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=james%201%3A19-27&version=NRSV,ESV,MSG

VII.
Today let’s notice how some of this passage is presented in The Message –

Don’t fool yourself into thinking that you are a listener when you are anything but, letting the Word go in one ear and out the other. Act on what you hear! Those who hear and don’t act are like those who glance in the mirror, walk away, and two minutes later have no idea who they are, what they look like.

But whoever catches a glimpse of the revealed counsel of God—the free life!—even out of the corner of his eye, and sticks with it, is no distracted scatterbrain but a man or woman of action. That person will find delight and affirmation in the action. (James 1:22-25)

VIII.
We hear him first say, “be quick to listen.” Or how do you like it in The Message, “Lead with your ears, follow with your tongue…”?

But then he wants us to know there is listening and then there is really hearing, “Don’t fool yourself into thinking that you are a listener when you are anything but, letting the Word go in one ear and out the other.”

Should we call this “active listening”? Maybe listening not just with the ears but with the mind and heart and soul also.

But he is not finished yet! “Act on what you hear! Those who hear and don’t act are like those who glance in the mirror, walk away, and two minutes later have no idea who they are, what they look like.”

Listen – Listen deeply and fully – Act on what you hear

IX.
I know I have been any number of places listening to someone and yet I don’t remember anything said, and on top of that, if I don’t remember, I certainly can’t practice it.

So today, I need to ask myself several questions.

First, what prevents me from hearing? What gets in my way of hearing something worthy of being heard?

Second, what do I need to change in my way of hearing and paying attention so I deeply absorb what is put before me?

Third, once I have fully grasped what is offered, what stands in my way of acting on it?

Now that I think about it, those questions presuppose another, even more essential question – am I at a place to hear what Jesus wants his disciples to hear, consider, and act on?

Where do I need to be and how do I get there?

Charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}