Peter Misselbrook's Blog

Oct 23 2020 - Introduction to the Letter of James

Who wrote this letter?

The author identifies himself simply as "James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ." (1:1). There are two men named James found within the pages of the New Testament who were of sufficient reputation to need no further identification in a letter such as this one. The first was the apostle James, son of Zebedee and brother of John, but he was put to death in about 44 AD, too early to make him a likely author of this letter. The second was James the brother of the Lord mentioned in the Gospels (Matt 13:55; Mk 6:3) who became a follower of Jesus only after the resurrection (cf. 1 Cor 15:7 and John 7:5). He later became the leader of the church in Jerusalem (Acts 12:17; 15:13; 21:18; Gal 1:19; 2:9,12). Christians have traditionally identified James the brother of the Lord as the author of this letter. 

Though James was personally loyal to the torah (the Jewish Law), and sought to maintain ties between the emerging early Christian movement and Judaism, his first loyalty was to Jesus Christ. Early sources suggest that he was stoned to death by the scribes and Pharisees in about 62 AD for refusing to renounce his allegiance to Jesus as the Christ.

Who was it written to?

This letter seems to have been written to Jewish Christians who have left their homes in Palestine and are facing economic distress, including persecution at the hands of wealthy landowners – a target audience similar to that of the letter to the Hebrews. The situation described in Acts 11:19 may provide a background to this letter.

Douglas Moo argues that the letter was probably written before James became acquainted with Paul's teaching at the Apostolic Council in AD 48 or 49 (Acts 15). He thinks that Paul's preaching in Tarsus (Acts 9:30; Gal 1:21) and in Antioch (Acts 11:25-26) had been misunderstood – maybe deliberately misunderstood – by some who heard him. These people were using the slogan 'justification by faith alone' as an excuse for neglecting a commitment to discipleship and practical Christian living. It is this distortion of Paul's preaching that James attacks in chapter two of his letter. The absence of any awareness of the controversy concerning the torah that later emerged in the early church suggests an early date for the letter – perhaps in the middle 40s, just before the Jerusalem Council recorded in Acts 15.

What does it have to say to them and to us?

Alec Motyer provides a helpful summary of the book, saying, "James sets himself to give practical help to the people of God in the actual situations of their lives. They are not yet gathered to their eternal happiness in Christ, but are scattered in the world (1:1), subjected to many trials and temptations (1:2, 12, etc.), liable to lapse into worldly ways (2:2ff.), or into unspiritual complacency (2:14ff) and in many other ways also buffeted from outside and enticed from within (1:14). They have the great hope of a returning Lord (5:8,9), but he has not yet come, and James would establish Christ's people in a life of practical holiness in readiness for that great day."

James stresses the need for faith to be displayed in obedience and for the life of faith to be characterised by sincere prayer. Douglas Moo writes, "Basic to all that James says in his letter is his concern that his readers stop compromising with worldly values and behaviour and give themselves wholly to the Lord. Spiritual 'wholeness,' … is the central theme of this letter." This exhortation to practical holiness is equally important to our day. We also face daily pressure to become conformed to the way of life that is common to, and assumed normal by, the world around us.

Apr 15 2019 - Ruth 1 – Naomi and Ruth

The Book of Ruth is set in the time of the Judges, a chaotic and anarchic period in Israel's history. It was a time when Israel's frequent disobedience resulted in the withdrawal of God's blessing. Maybe it was at such a time, when Bethlehem (the 'house of bread') was facing famine, that Elimelek ('My God is king'), decided to take his wife, Naomi, and his two sons to live in Moab. In that foreign land the two sons, Mahlon and Kilion, married Moabite women and there, after a number of years, Elimelek and his two sons died. All of this is told without any moral judgments.

Meanwhile, the Lord had begun to bless his people in Bethlehem – had there been a turning back to the Lord in worship and in prayer? When Naomi heard the news, she decided to go back to her home town and her two daughters-in-law decided to go with her.

On the road, Naomi seeks to persuade her daughters-in-law to return to their own land and find new husbands for themselves. Naomi feels that the Lord has brought trouble and misfortune upon her. Later she refuses to be called Naomi ('pleasant') but wants to be called Mara ('bitter' – see Ruth 1:20). Why should her daughters-in-law continue to share her misfortune?

Orpah sees the sense in what Naomi has to say and so she kisses her mother-in-law and turns back for Moab. Ruth however responds by saying, "Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God" (1:16).

Ruth's words are a wonderful expression of love and loyalty. Whatever Naomi may face in the days ahead, Ruth will face it with her. But perhaps there is more going on here. Naomi may feel that the Lord has brought misfortune upon her, but in all of her troubles she has not ceased to have faith in God; the God of Israel is still her God. Her plan to return to Bethlehem is testimony to her continued faith in the Lord and in his promises. Ruth has witnessed Naomi's unshakable trust in her God and wants this God to be her God also.

I am sure that all of us have had to face times of trouble in our lives, including, perhaps, the loss of people whom we love and to whom we have looked for direction and support. How do we respond to such times of trouble? How do we act when we are hurting? What do others learn from our lives, our words and our behaviour at such times? Have others around us at such times ever said, "I want your God to be my God also"?

This will only happen if we know that our God is a faithful God; he never abandons us. And if we remember that Jesus who died for us is ascended to God's right hand in heaven and is always ready to help us.

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to feel sympathy for our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are – yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. (Hebrews 4:15-16)

We need to develop a spirit of dependency upon God and confidence in his sufficiency to meet our needs in any and every circumstance we may face. We need to trust him and hope in him.

Father God, things do not always turn out the way I would like. Help me, like Naomi, to trust you in the difficult times as well as in the good times. Help me, like Ruth, never to turn back from following you. May my life and witness be used of you to draw others into your kingdom and to know your unfailing goodness.

Apr 15 2020 - 1 Corinthians 12:1-26 – The body of Christ

Paul learned key elements of his Christian theology in a blinding flash on the Damascus road. It was there that he was confronted by the risen Saviour who stopped him in his tracks with the question, “Why are you persecuting me?” Paul learned that there is an intimate relationship between Christ and his people; to persecute them is to persecute him; they are the body of Christ.

In a continuation of the theme we were looking at yesterday, Paul applies this picture to the argumentative Christians at Corinth. They were baptised into one body – the body of Christ – and they all share in the one Spirit – the Spirit of the risen Christ. They may differ one from another not only in natural abilities but also spiritual giftedness and gifts; nevertheless, they form one body in Christ. Indeed, such differences are vital to the proper functioning of the body, “If the whole body were an eye, how could it hear?” Their gifts are complementary, and the needs of each are an opportunity to receive help and ministry from another.

There are many reasons why we should value one another in the Christian family. The first and most fundamental is that the “other” is also a member of the body. If Christ so loved that person that he gave himself for them, should not I also love them and value them? Secondly, Paul reminds us that we need each other just as each part of a body needs the other parts. We cannot function properly without them. When we are tempted to feel that our church would be better off without that awkward person we deceive ourselves and fail to value them as Christ has valued them – and we have over-valued ourselves. Each member is necessary; each is to be valued. Because you all belong to Christ, you belong to one another and belong together.

Paul writes that, “there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honoured, every part rejoices with it” (1 Corinthians 12:24). It is both painful and damaging when Christians fall out. It is a wound in the body and may even cause lasting disability. We belong to one another; let us value one another and cherish one another.

Father in heav’n,
You saved us by your Son,
now by your Spirit
make your children one
that all may see
your kingdom here begun.

Jesus our Lord,
forgive our foolish pride,
heal our divisions
no device can hide;
come, heal the wounds
which spoil your chosen bride.

See how your body
is broken and torn,
mocked by the crowds and
the object still of scorn.

Father in heav'n,
you saved us by your Son,
now by your Spirit
make your children one
that all may see
your kingdom here begun.

Come mighty Spirit
of truth and of love,
visibly fill us
with life from above.

Father in heav'n,
you saved us by your Son,
now by your Spirit
make your children one
that all may see
your kingdom here begun.

Lord, help me not only to be a faithful follower of you but also a ready servant of my brothers and sisters in Christ. Help me to value each one of them as you have valued them. Help me to value and encourage their gifts and to encourage and strengthen them in their weakness, even as I need such strengthening and encouragement myself. By the power of your Spirit, may I bring healing, health and blessing to your body. May I never be a thorn in the flesh of your body.

Peter Misselbrook