We have begun a new series on the epistle of James. The epistle is a letter written by the head of the church in Jerusalem to members who had moved away. This letter is really a sermon in letter form. And in this letter/sermon we hear both pastoral affection and admonition.
The book of James has had a controversial history, with different ones throughout church history questioning its place in the canon. Many studies of James are hampered or hindered by one of two misconceptions (sometimes by both). The first is the belief that the book lacks any real coherent structure. I must confess to having had this view in the past. In this series, I hope to show that James does have a structure and it is that of a sermon. The second misconception is the presentation or representation of the Christian faith as found in James is both peculiar and unorthodox. Again, I hope that in this series we will see that this is simply not the case.
The pastoral affection helps us to not reject out of hand James’ opening statement: Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds. James writes to those who are his brothers and sisters in the faith; he uses this form of address over a dozen times in this letter. He knows that they, like all Christians, face trials of many kinds. The word that is translated “face” is the same verb used in the parable of the Good Samaritan in which we are told that a certain man traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho “fell into the hands of thieves.” The picture is that of an ambush and that is what James paints here for his readers. All kinds of trials may in fact ambush us. I have heard people say (and truth be told have said it myself), “If I could just see it coming.” The reality is we often do not see the various trials that ambush us.
How could James tell his readers to “consider it pure joy” to be ambushed by trials? There at least two answers to this question. First, we need to know what James means by joy. Second, the verses that follow flesh out the reason in detail.
Joy in the Old Testament (this is what James’ readers know) was seen as a present reality based on the past experience of deliverance and which points to and anticipates future salvation. Thus, we find rejoicing in the Old Testament frequently taking place in connection with the feasts ordained by GOD; they were called “times of rejoicing.” Take for example Passover, a remembering of the deliverance of Israel from bondage in Egypt. This feast, as with others, was intended to recall GOD’s work of delivering His people. GOD’s deliverance of His people in the past gives them hope for the future, which enables them to have joy in the present even in the midst of great difficulties.
The time may come (and it usually does) when circumstances mock our beliefs, when the cruelty of life denies GOD’s goodness, when His silence calls into question His power, when the chaotic, meaningless jumble of events challenges the possibility of the Creator’s control and ordering of the world. James admonishes his readers to consider it pure joy when ambushed by trials.
I do live by the church;
for I do live at my house,
and my house doth stand by the church.
Feste the Clown
Twelfth Night
Act III Scene 1