Pure Religion

"Religion" has become one of those words that spirit-filled Christians have let go of - preferring instead to speak of expressive faith in Jesus. Religion, in this vein, conjures up images of emotionless ritual and routine worship. Faith is about opening up one's eyes to see the reality of God in one's everyday experience and moving in agreement with that vision.

Martin Luther was suspicious of the the book of James (not so much a letter as an "homily" to Jewish Christians written in about 45 AD) because of its emphasis on doing, relegating it in his canon to secondary status. Luther, Calvin, and many others in the reformed tradition preferred the writing of Paul, particularly Romans, which gave primacy to faith, thinking that any faith that elevated works would simultaneously elevate human pride.

Interestingly, James has a lot to say about human pride. He castigates the rich who show preference in the worship service for other wealthy people and disdain the poor (Jas 2:5-7). Unafraid of speaking of his faith in terms of "religion" (latin meaning "reconnect") real religion, James observes, is about caring for those who are on the margins of society or even forgotten - the widows and orphans (Jas 1:27)

He even gives critique to those who would take pride in their "faith." Isn't that interesting. "Faith without works is dead", he tell those who would pridefully rest on their superior knowledge and understanding and then do nothing to pour life and love into those who have no home or family.

I think James would offer the same critique today to anyone who rested in their "doctrinal purity" and neglected the spiritual discipline of compassion. When you talk to someone outside of the church about why they aren't a Christian, the conversation always turns to how those who claim to follow Jesus have squabbled over minute differences in scriptual interpretation while the world around them (including the environment, the government, social networks, and economy) fell to ruin. Naturally, there are apocalyptic scenarios in which some Christians maintain that such ruin is a "sign of the times." But James, who lived in equally uncertain and oppressive times would have offered a different prognosis. Knowing intimately the power of Jesus to heal and "sozo" save, he told the Christians of his day to LIVE their faith and PRACTICE their love. Any "wisdom" in fact, that doesn't take into account and work toward real life transformation is "demonic" (Jas 3:15).

James believes our faith together makes a difference. Followers of Christ are to be peace-makers (Jas 3:18). Why would he cast vision for peace and being peace-makers if real peace, real reconciliation and wholeness weren't something that we could work toward and hope to actually see? Real faith actually believes in God's power to transform his creation and works toward the healing of people and nations.