Studies in James

1. Studies in James Presentation 20

2. The Structure of the Book Introduction and Trials in the Christian Life (1: 1-8) Happiness in our Circumstances(1: 9-11) Trial, Temptation and Gift (1: 12-18) Hindrances to Fruitfulness(1: 19-21) Doers and Hearers (1: 22-25) True Religion (1: 26-27) Favouritism (2: 1-7) The Royal Law (2: 8-12a) Showing Mercy (2.12b-13] Faith and Works (2:14-26) Teachers and the Tongue (3: 1-12) True and False Wisdom, (3: 13-17) Peacemakers (3: 18) Defeat Through Lack of Submission(4: 1-6) Victory Through Submission(4: 7—10) Judging One Another (4: 11-12) Boasting of Tomorrow (4: 13-17) The Misuse of Wealth(5: 1-6) The Need of Patience (5: 7-12) Appropriate Responses (5:13-16) Restoring the Wanderer (5:17-20) Presentation 20

3. Appropriate Responses Chap 5v13-16 Presentation 20

4. Introduction How good are we at making the appropriate response to the situations that face us in daily life? If it begins to rain we put up our umbrella - that's an appropriate response! If you are driving to church and the traffic lights turn to red and you stop- that's an appropriate response! In the passage before us James calls upon Christian men and women to make a series of appropriate responses. Presentation 20

5. Trouble and Happiness Generations of philosophers have wrestled with the problem of how to cope with the triumphs and disasters of life. James’ answer is remarkably succinct; “Is any of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise” v13. We can experience all sorts of troubles; physical troubles, business troubles, family troubles etc. And our response should be - to pray. Now James is not suggesting that if we pray God will always remove our troubles. That doesn't always happen. Prayer may not remove the difficulty but it transforms the situation and that is much more important. Presentation 20

6. Trouble and Happiness God has lessons for us to learn in times of trouble. He cares for us enough NOT to remove the difficulty till it has done its gracious work in our heart. Remember Job! That poor man cried and cried for God to remove his sufferings. But God's response was "not yet". Why? God was waiting for them to produce a ‘harvest of righteousness’. You may ask, ‘Why pray if our situation will not be instantly changed?’ Surely in order to bring God into the situation. In order that we might know God's grace change us in the situation. Presentation 20

7. Trouble and Happiness It is often easier to bring God into our lives in times of trouble than it is when life is wonderful, when with the exception of an hour of so of worship each week God can be too easily forgotten. We can become more taken up with what God has given us all to enjoy than we are with the Giver. How do we guard against this danger? James' says, ‘Let such a person sing songs of praise’v13. This is how to keep God in focus when you are enjoying life’s blessings. Thank God for all that his hand has bestowed. A famous preacher writes, “Our whole life… should be so turned towards God that whatever strikes us, whether sorrow or joy, should be deflected upwards into his presence.” Presentation 20

8. Physical Illness James further develops the idea of appropriate response by addressing those who are sick in v14-15... These verses have drawn a wide range of interpretation. The Roman Catholic Church finds the basis for its doctrine of Extreme Unction here. The priest will anoint the person who is "in extremis" [at the point of death] with oil and pray for their forgiveness. However, the plain sense of scripture points to the raising of the sick from their sick beds and of bringing them back to health in this life. Presentation 20

9. Physical Illness Some take these verses as the only divine prescription for healing. They believe visiting the doctor and taking medicine expresses a lack of faith. But this belief limits the way in which God can work. Dr Henry Frost in his helpful book "Miraculous Healing" writes, “healing of any kind is necessarily divine. A physician doesn't heal nor medicine nor a scientific diet, nor an improved environment... All creation or re-creation is from God and hence, in every instance of healing, he is the one who heals, whether he acts directly through unknown laws or directly through known laws.” Presentation 20

10. Physical Illness Do you see what is being said: all the healing mechanisms that are triggered to aid us in our illness are gifts from God -fresh air, sunshine, protein, vitamins, medicines, diagnostic and surgical skills etc. If, as some claim Christians are to rely on supernatural means of healing alone, why do we read of Paul sympathising with Timothy's chronic illness and advising him to take a little wine for his stomach condition [1Tim.5.23]. He didn't tell him to call in the elders of the church to pray for him. It is not as some think a sign of mature faith to refuse to call in the doctor. Presentation 20

11. Physical Illness Others teach that Christians should claim healing as their right. They cite Isaiah 53.4 “He took up our infirmities and carried our diseases”. It is claimed that the Christian on the basis of Christ’s death can claim “healing as his right”. This teaching can cause great distress. Joni Eareckson at the age of 18 became a quadriplegic and was confined to a wheelchair. Her boyfriend, who held this view on healing, told her that all she had to do was claim healing from God. All she had to do was exercise faith! Presentation 20

12. Physical Illness She was not healed. What conclusion was to be drawn? The insidious suggestion was sown in her mind, ‘you are still in a wheelchair because your faith is not strong enough’. If healing is something the Christian can claim as a right and if, as some suggest, sickness in the Christians life reveals a lack of faith, how then do we explain Paul's thorn in the flesh. Was his faith inadequate? The fact of the matter is that it is not always God's will to heal! Presentation 20

13. Physical Illness What then does James teach? First, note that prayer is to be made “in the name of the Lord”. This is not some magical formula, it’s not a spiritual spell or incantation that forces God to give you what you have asked. To pray ‘in the name of the Lord’ is to pray in keeping with his mind and will – it is to pray for something that it is part of God’s plan. In 1 Jn. 5.14 we read “This is the confidence that we have in him that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.” In other words, when we are sure of God's will and purpose in praying for healing then healing occurs.

14. Physical Illness Secondly, “the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well”. Faith is not to be confused with the kind of assurance footballers psyche themselves up to attain before a match, “We believe we’ll win”. The faith James speaks of is linked to the assurance God gives that he will heal. James draws a circle. Sometimes it is God's will to heal in response to prayer. And so he gives the sick person and the church assurance of his will and the faith to ask for healing. They pray, God heals. This whole movement begins and ends with God. Sometimes we are unsure of God’s plan. No compelling assurance given. In those situations, when the sick person and the church prays in faith, it is that God’s will might be done. Presentation 20

15. Physical Illness But what does James mean by “if the sick person has sinned God will forgive him” v15. There is sometimes a connection between specific sin and sickness. But not always as Jesus disciples supposed, “who sinned this man or his parents that he was born blind?” Jn. 9v2. Jesus taught that sometimes there is a connection between sin and sickness. Jesus words to the paralysed man he healed were, "See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you.“ Jn 5.14 Repressed guilt can often manifest itself in a physical ailment. In speaking to the paralysed man Jesus went behind the sickness to its cause. Jesus dealt with them both. Presentation 20

16. Physical Illness Think of Paul's warning to those in Corinth who had abused the Lord's supper 1Cor 11.18-22, 27-31. Their drunken, immoral behaviour had disgraced the grace of God and ridiculed Christ’s death. Paul asks ‘are you surprised that there is weakness and sickness among you’. He exhorts them to self-examination. Paul is not saying, ‘if we have sinned we should not come to God’s table’. Where sin is not taken seriously, where there is no repentance or desire for reformation of character, then God will not standby and allow his gospel to be disgraced. After sin is exposed if the sinner continues in open defiance to bring God’s name into disrepute then there are consequences to be faced.

17. Spiritual Health With this kind of thing in mind James speaks of sickness, healing and forgiveness in the same breath. cfv16 “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other that you may be healed”. The word “healed” is different from the word used in v15. It incorporates the idea of spiritual and physical health. The connecting "therefore" in v16 also reminds that there is a link between our sin and our spiritual health. CfPs 51 “let the bones you have crushed rejoice... restore to me the joy of your salvation.” Given that such a relationship exists, what appropriate response will restore our spiritual vigour? Presentation 20

18. Spiritual Health First, "confess your sins to each other." James has mutual confession in mind. Putting things right with those we have wronged. “If you are offering your gift at the alter, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the alter. First, go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift” Matt 5.23f . Jesus is saying, God will not accept your worship until you are at peace with those you have injured. It’s not enough to say to God “I'm sorry I blew up with so and so”. We need to tell them we are sorry! A great deal of our public worship is worthless because of an obstinate refusal to be reconciled with fellow Christians we have offended or with whom we have a festering disagreement. Presentation 20

19. Spiritual Health James then urges us to "pray for one another". Confession is made in the context of prayer, not in a spirit of mock humility, nor as a means of drawing attention to ourselves. We need a spirit of prayerfulness that cries out "Lord help me to put this right". Similarly, those on the receiving end of the confession should hear it in a spirit of prayerfulness. It costs others to admit their wrong. We need to ask for God’s help to receive the other warmly and to put out of our mind the harm they have done us. There's nothing worse than a confession of sin being met with, “Well its about time” or “You have no idea what terrible hurt you caused me.” Presentation 20

20. Conclusion James has called in these verses to make appropriate responses to a whole variety of situations. And it is only as we do so that we are able with God’s help to contribute to our spiritual, psychological and physical wellbeing. Presentation 20