My Friend James: Restoration

Do you enjoy watching HGTV? I do. One of the shows I like is called “Good Bones”, where a mother/daughter team may take a house down to its studs in order to restore it to beauty and give it new life as a home for a new family.

This is the work that God does in us. He strips away everything that is carnal – takes us down to the most basic thing we are – and then builds us back up with His will/purpose, love and character into something more beautiful than what we were before.

In fact, He promises us completely new bodies. [1 Corinthians 15:42-45]

Romans 5:8 [KJV] But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

But His greatest work, in my opinion, is restoring us to relationship with Him. This relationship was broken in the Garden of Eden. But it is also broken every time we sin.

When we sin, we move away from God. I want to be clear that He doesn’t move away from us. God cannot exist with sin. However, the reason He does not have to move away from us the way He turned from Jesus when He fully took on our sins, is because Jesus became sin for us. [See Matthew 27:46 and 2 Corinthians 5:21] Jesus’ sacrifice as the perfect Lamb, who takes away the sin of the world [John 1:29], allows us to be in relationship with God, even though we sin.

That is, we may approach Him again. Sin requires restoration, our moving back toward the Father, through repentance and asking forgiveness so that the blood of Jesus may cover that too. We can make that approach toward restoration because of Jesus.

Our friend James tells us that we too can do that work of restoration for others.

James 5:19-20 [ESV] 19 My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, 20 let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.

So, when we see a brother or sister in Christ wandering away from the truth, from relationship with God, and reach out to bring him or her back into fellowship, we are doing the work of Jesus, whose purpose in coming to live in human form was to restore us to relationship with God.

We cannot afford to be okay with letting brothers and sisters go. The work of restoration is the work of Jesus and we are to imitate Him in this.

Prayer is an important component of this work. However, I believe James is saying we need to be at least open to – maybe actually motivated to – working with the wandering brother to let him/her know that they are wanted back at church and that God wants the relationship back too.

People sometimes thing God stops loving them when they sin. Not true. Romans 5:8 [KJV] tells us, But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

God is not less faithful in forgiveness than He asks us to be. We can count on forgiveness at least 70x7 times we commit a sin, because that is what Jesus asked of us. [See Matthew 18:22] And, of course, I’m joking about that. Just as Jesus’ guidance was meant to indicated that we should always forgive a repentant brother, so we can count on God to always forgive us when we repent, even if we surpass 70x7.

So, look around you, sweet sisters, and see if there are family members, friends or brothers/sisters in Christ who could use some HGTV-like restoration and commit yourselves to the effort of prayerfully and actively working to restore him/her to relationship with God [not necessarily your congregation].

I guarantee that God wants him/her back. Scripture says so.

And the parting shot from our friend James is encouragement to do just that.

That’s it, ladies. We conclude James with his call to participate in the work of God by helping to restore a brother or sister to fellowship.

Check back next week to see where we will go together next. Sending my love out to all of you. I hope you have enjoyed this series about our friend James, the brother of Jesus.

You can write me any time at Nancy@DynamicChristianMinistries.org or leave a message in the chat.

My Friend James: AI Did Not Write This Blog

Believe me, I am not anti-AI or anti-technology. In fact, I appreciate the cost reductions that AI use can offer to the struggling publishing industry. My son even used ChatGPT to write some cute stories about my grandsons.

However, I have been reading, with growing concern, about news and information sources increasingly using AI to write news reports. That’s fine if they use it, as one expert I read suggested, in the same way you would an intern – that is, allowing the AI or intern to write a first draft, which a seasoned professional. But for a lot of social media outlets, we now have irresponsible and morally questionable “reporters” posting deliberately fake news, information, photos and videos using advanced AI.

I’ve seen some realistic looking AI-generated photos of President Biden and former President Trump laughing as they play golf together. The person posting the fake photos let everyone know they were created by AI. But we can’t count on that from everyone.

Let’s face it, though, mankind has always had a questionable, shaky relationship with the truth. We just have better tools in modern times.

Our friend, James points that out. James 5:12 [NKJV] But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath. But let your "Yes" be "Yes," and [your] "No," "No," lest you fall into judgment.

He was just quoting his big brother, Jesus. We find the Lord saying almost the exact same thing in Matthew 5:33-37.

We can even look to the Old Testament to guide us on how important it is to God that His people are truthful.

Psalm 15:1-2 [NKJV] 1 LORD, who may abide in Your tabernacle? Who may dwell in Your holy hill? 2 He who walks uprightly, And works righteousness, And speaks the truth in his heart;

If we are going to be women who unerringly speak the truth, we must have a heart for the truth. Once we have proven that to be true, we can be assured that our “yes’” or “no’s” will be accepted by others.

Psalm 40:4 [NKJV] Blessed [is] that man who makes the LORD his trust, And does not respect the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.

Those with a heart for truth, are careful to keep from being associated with those for whom the truth is flexible. Whether that is a news source, a social media post or a religious organization.

Psalm 101:7 [NKJV] He who works deceit shall not dwell within my house; He who tells lies shall not continue in my presence.

If we want to live in the presence of God, we cannot be liars. That includes carelessly reposting things we cannot confirm to be the truth or even hedging the truth to make myself look better in a bad situation.

As a Christian woman, I’d bet you would not out-and-out lie, but it takes more than just not lying to become a person whose “yes” or “no” is easily accepted. It takes being someone whose word is their bond, as Psalm 15:4, speaking of who may dwell in God’s presence, says, “…who keeps an oath even when it hurst, and does not change their mind.” [NIV]

The Bible is clear that we must become the type of Christian who can be counted on to speak the truth, whose word is her bond, and who esteems only those who do the same.

Psalm 15:1-2 [NKJV] 1 LORD, who may abide in Your tabernacle? Who may dwell in Your holy hill? 2 He who walks uprightly, And works righteousness, And speaks the truth in his heart;

It fun to use AI to create stories and pictures, and I believe it will be a helpful tool to writers and illustrators. But we know the “father of lies” [John 8:44] doesn’t need artificial intelligence to do his lying. That is why we must become women of the “yes” and “no” that can be counted on in every situation.

Thank you for continuing to join me in the study of the book written by my friend James. As we wrap this up, please let me know where you think we should go next.

You can write me any time at Nancy@DynamicChristianMinistries.org or leave a message in the chat.

My Friend James: Do Beautiful.

James’ parting shot in chapter 4 of his book is pointed and direct. James 4:17 [NKJV] Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do [it], to him it is sin. In modern times, we might say it just how the New Living Version does: Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it. So, there it is, you have been warned. Do good, or else!

However, the Greek language here is a little more flowery – or at least can be viewed that way.

The Greek word translated “good” in James 4:17 [as used in the King James and New King James translations] appears 102 times in the New Testament. It is mostly translated “good” and used just as we would understand and expect it to be.

However, it was interesting to me to learn that the root of this word is “beautiful”.  Thayer’s Greek Lexicon tells us that it was “applied by the Greeks to everything so distinguished in form, excellence, goodness, usefulness, as to be pleasing; hence (according to the context) equivalent to “beautiful, handsome, excellent, eminent, choice, surpassing, precious, useful, suitable, commendable, admirable.”

Many of these words would still make sense to us in the English language if they were used to replace the word good in James 4:17 and add “things”. For example, we might easily say, “to him that knows to do excellent things” or “choice things” or “useful things” and doesn’t, it is sin. The word good may best convey what James is after. In other words, if you know what good is and you don’t do it, that is a problem.

But what is James actually meant “beautiful” when he used this word? How does that change our thoughts about and responses to this admonition?

Romans 10:14-15 [NKJV], quoting Isaiah 52:7, says, 14 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!"

Preaching the gospel is beautiful to God, not merely good.

Psalm 96:9 [NKJV] Oh, worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness! Tremble before Him, all the earth.

Holiness is like beautiful covering for us. Holy worship creates this cloak of beauty.

Isaiah 61:3 [NKJV] To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified."

And in Isaiah 53:2, when God promises “beauty for ashes”, we know He wasn’t promising to make everyone really pretty. I believe He means to replace sorrow, sadness and the pain of sin to the beauty of holiness, worship, obedience and preaching the gospel. He gives us beauty of “doing”, not of “being”.

James admonishes us that knowing to do good and not doing it is a sin, we need to take notice. However, if we think of the word “good” in light of it’s root word, “beauty”, I think we get a more, well, beautiful picture of what God requires of us.

It is our God-given responsibility to “do beautiful” in this world filled with so much ugliness.

So, sweet sisters, I leave you with my own version of the admonition of our friend James: If we have the opportunity to make the world a more beautiful place and don’t, well that would just be a sin. So, go out and replace ugliness with the beauty of the gospel, of praise and of good works at every opportunity.

Next week, we start on the final chapter of the book of James. I hope you will continue to meet with me here and will share your own thoughts on this book by the brother of Jesus.

Where shall we go next? Is there a book of the Bible you’d like to explore together?

You can write me any time at Nancy@DynamicChristianMinistries.org

My Friend James: Where’d You Get That Wisdom?

Not all wisdom is created equal. James 3:17 [NLT] says, But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere. We believers clearly need the wisdom that comes from above – from God.

When you read James 3:17, you may be thinking about what I’ve heard preachers call “worldly wisdom” or “the wisdom of the world”. I’ve heard many sermons about that too. Sermons with disparaging words about our educational system (especially colleges/universities), or so-called liberals and their views. I don’t think this is the kind of wisdom that our friend, James, is concerned about. After all, he was not writing to people who were concerned about university students trying to come into the congregation and tell everyone that evolution is how we came about, since evolution as a replacement for creation hadn’t come about yet. Or that people should be able to be called by the pronouns they prefer, not by the ones that the English language designated for them. That was not a “thing” back in James’ day.

Ephesians 4:15, “speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head--Christ”

I believe that James was more likely concerned with people who thought they had some special information from God – some unique doctrine or more perfect take on scripture – and who were causing strife by trying to force this on their local church.

I don’t know about you, but I have seen a lot more of that going on in our local churches than any “worldly, liberal” doctrines being brought into the congregation. I have seen preachers and teachers come up with their own take on Sabbath keeping, the Holy Days, how much of the Mosaic law we must keep (and how to keep it), parenting, women’s roles, what kind of music is appropriate for praise and worship, the order of services and other similar subjects that have fractured congregations. In fact, I don’t recall having EVER experienced anyone trying to take over a church with so-called liberal university ideas or even trying to force others to agree with them.

James outlines a tall order for the parameters of heavenly wisdom.

·         Pure

·         Peace loving

·         Gentle at all times

·         Willing to yield to others

·         Full of mercy

·         Full of good deeds

·         Without favoritism

·         Sincere

This list is the opposite of what I have sometimes seen in action when someone brings in “new truth” or a “better understanding” of the word of God into a congregation.

James’ list shows us that if we really have wisdom that is coming from God, even the purest of new truth, we will not split friends or a congregation with it. Instead, we will focus on peace, first and foremost. We will give our truth gently rather than forcing it on others. We would be willing to yield to others, even if they disagree. We would show mercy to those who “don’t get it” or see things differently. We’d focus on doing good, more than forcing new truth so that our works would speak for our love for the church, and not just our words. We would not show any favoritism to those who agree with us. In doing all this, we would show a level of sincerity for the health and education of the congregation that is often lacking from human, worldly wisdom applied to a Biblical truth.

This is also the message of Ephesians 4:11-16, where verse 15 brings us what I think is the pivotal point: speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head--Christ--

Note that the author is talking about speaking the truth, not some false doctrine or worldly concept. Even the truth – especially the truth – must be spoken in love if we want our brethren and ourselves to grow into more Christ-like believers and if we want to call others into the faith using the truth.

The wisdom from above does not look at all like forcing some truth on anyone. The Rotary Club organization has a Four-Way Test that encourages Rotarians to think before they speak { The Four-Way Test - Wikipedia}.

·         Is it the truth?

·         Is it fair to all concerned?

·         Will it build goodwill and better friendships?

·         Will it be beneficial to all concerned?

Looks to me like James has an Eight-Way Test for speaking specifically to our brothers and sisters in Christ about any new truth we might be blessed to receive and share.

I hope you will continue to meet with me here and will share your own thoughts on the book of James.

You can write me any time at Nancy@DynamicChristianMinistries.org

My Friend James: Teachers

Before we dive into James’ strong feelings about controlling our tongues in chapter 3, verses 1-12, I’d like to pause and reflect on his advice about leadership.

James 3:1 [NKJV] My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.

The Greek word means “an instructor” and is used for one who teaches concerning the things of God and the duties of man.

It is translated “Master” and used as a title for Jesus in His time of ministry [See Matthew 8:19; 9:11; 12:38 for examples]. So, being a teacher is not a negative thing. It is simply something that comes with a warning.

In a couple of places, it implies “one who is fitted to teach, or thinks himself so”.

Hebrews 5:12 [NKJV] shows us that we all ought to be progressing to the point where we are able to be teachers of others: For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need [someone] to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food.

In Romans 2:17-24, Paul goes into great detail about the Jewish leaders who are bad teachers because they have a “form of knowledge” [verse 20] and teach the law while being themselves breakers of the law. He ends with this indictment: For "the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you," as it is written. [Rom 2:24 NKJV]

And therein lies the issue with being a teacher: Our examples must follow our teachings, or we blaspheme the name of God.

This is important advice to those who would be teachers, preachers, and pastors in the church today. We should not be teaching in a manner that implies that we are sinless ourselves. We must show humility. We must be willing to admit our mistakes and apologize. We must be honest with our struggles. And, most of all, we must be showing a passion for growth and change.

In that light, we should be warry of forbidding sinners from attending church or condemning a particular type of sin (one we don’t struggle with) as though it were more egregious than others. Sin is sin and all sin requires the sacrifice of Jesus. [See Romans 2:17-24 for details about this point.]

And be ready for persecution from other leaders or would-be leaders who think you are not being strict enough with your fellow brethren, especially if you are teaching love and mercy and showing great patience and compassion for sinners. Jesus was persecuted and warned that the leaders that followed His example should expect the same. Matthew 10:24 [KJV] The disciple is not above [his] master,[G1320] nor the servant above his lord.

Most important to keep in mind is the judgement that leaders will receive from God. Too often leadership positions, like preaching or teaching, are considered rewards or privileges given to those who either suck up to the higher leaders or act like a “strong man” until others cower to them. This can be women too. I’ve seen it.

Romans 2:23 [ NKJV] 23 You who make your boast in the law, do you dishonor God through breaking the law?

James wants us to understand that the position of teacher/preacher comes with serious responsibilities and potential consequences if we take it lightly or use it as an opportunity to “lord it over” others by word or deed. We must be like the Perfect Lamb of God: a lover of the people. We must teach with humility and grace and ensure that whatever we teach is biblically sound.

It takes time and effort to be this type of teacher. Not many are willing to put in the work required to be that humble, loving, and knowledgeable teacher. Therefore, not many should take on the risks and responsibilities of that role.

I hope you will continue to meet with me here and will share your own thoughts on the book of James.

You can write me any time at Nancy@DynamicChristianMinistries.org