Second Tuesday of Lent
March 10, 2009
Today’s Reading: James 2:6-9
10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. 11 For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,”b also said, “Do not murder.”c If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.
12 Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, 13 because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment! [1]
James is a hard person to pin down. Many times as I read from his letter I hear echoes of a strong Jewish teaching that encourages people to look at life from what they are to do and not do. Other times he looks like Paul who teaches freedom from the law of the Old Testament. Today’s reading is just one of those days. I am not quite sure what line James is coming from, but given the previous section of loving ones neighbor, this is a great reminder.
James tells us that if we break but one of the laws, we are a lawbreaker. This is true for those following the rules and laws of the Old Testament. One law broken means you were “unclean” or not acceptable in worship. So, James is speaking the truth. Murder and adultery were on the same level and were just and problematic. Today this is a little different. Murder is a crime in society and adultery is a crime in a relationship, but this is a discussion for another time.
The reality of James argument is that we should live not as the condemned but as the ones who are freed. Through Christ, we have a new life and are forgiven. We must live a live that shows the freedom we have through the law that was given. We must show mercy to others. Because we will be judged by the standard we judge.
I do believe there is a problem in this teaching that we get caught in when we are teaching others about Jesus. The problem is that we think that telling someone what they are doing wrong is judging. I believe judging is when we determine what is to happen to that person because of what they have done. Correcting is not judgment. This is the situation I believe the church is caught in today. We are overly worried about judging than correcting. If we are unwilling to correct, there is no reason to have sermons, Bible Studies, fellowships and the like. I hope others will correct me when I stay from God’s word that I may be shown mercy.
March 10, 2009
Today’s Reading: James 2:6-9
10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. 11 For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,”b also said, “Do not murder.”c If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.
12 Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, 13 because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment! [1]
James is a hard person to pin down. Many times as I read from his letter I hear echoes of a strong Jewish teaching that encourages people to look at life from what they are to do and not do. Other times he looks like Paul who teaches freedom from the law of the Old Testament. Today’s reading is just one of those days. I am not quite sure what line James is coming from, but given the previous section of loving ones neighbor, this is a great reminder.
James tells us that if we break but one of the laws, we are a lawbreaker. This is true for those following the rules and laws of the Old Testament. One law broken means you were “unclean” or not acceptable in worship. So, James is speaking the truth. Murder and adultery were on the same level and were just and problematic. Today this is a little different. Murder is a crime in society and adultery is a crime in a relationship, but this is a discussion for another time.
The reality of James argument is that we should live not as the condemned but as the ones who are freed. Through Christ, we have a new life and are forgiven. We must live a live that shows the freedom we have through the law that was given. We must show mercy to others. Because we will be judged by the standard we judge.
I do believe there is a problem in this teaching that we get caught in when we are teaching others about Jesus. The problem is that we think that telling someone what they are doing wrong is judging. I believe judging is when we determine what is to happen to that person because of what they have done. Correcting is not judgment. This is the situation I believe the church is caught in today. We are overly worried about judging than correcting. If we are unwilling to correct, there is no reason to have sermons, Bible Studies, fellowships and the like. I hope others will correct me when I stay from God’s word that I may be shown mercy.
Tomorrow's Reading: James 2:14-17
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