Expressions of faith according to the letter of James

08 November 2023 0 Sandrine Laporte

The Mission FPC camp in August welcomed Erwan Cloarec, president of the CNEF. The speaker skimmed over the epistle of James in 5 mornings. Here are the main ideas of his interventions as well as the applications for the Church and its members.

The themes of this overview of James, chosen by Erwan, were the place of trial in sanctification (chapter 1), the  desire to seek a place among the “great” to the detriment of welcoming the “little people” (chapter 2), faith and works (chapter 2), the disproportionate power of that little body part the tongue (chapter 3) and finally the place of anointing with oil in the local church (chapter 5). For each theme, I will explore the doctrine, the implication and then the application.

1 Our reaction to trials determines whether they will help us grow spiritually or tempt us to sin. This means that we can never claim that God is tempting us. For a trial becomes a temptation when we do not consider that the good and sovereign hand of God also uses difficult circumstances to sanctify us, as the goldsmith uses fire to purify gold. We must therefore be patient and have faith, allowing ourselves to be humbled by God’s providence in order to be made better by that same divine providence.

2 God mainly chooses those who are deemed insignificant by the world to glorify him.^[1] It therefore goes against God’s logic to think that we can better spread knowledge of his glory by flattering the powerful of this world and despising the weak. It’s not about being Marxist… but there is a necessity in preserving real independence (and therefore integrity) in refusing the pragmatism of the influence game. For the end does not justify the means. Real influential power is the Gospel of God^[2] proclaimed and lived out by humble servants.^[3] The Church must therefore remain vigilant against the temptation of choosing that which the world would deem great as the symbol of the cause.

3 Works are necessary to Christian life as fruit is to a tree. This means that a Christian life without the corresponding deeds is Christian in name only. James’ affirmation resonates with Christ’s words in the Sermon on the Mount^[4] or Paul’s letters^[5]. It is legitimate to have doubts about a profession of faith that is often contradicted by a life lived contrary to the Gospel. Let us exhort one another to good works.

4 The tongue can bless or curse, with massive effects on those who listen. It is therefore important that teachers should have a mastery of it. A more severe judgment is logically reserved for those whose role is speaking to the people of God in God’s name. Teachers, let us examine our motivation in order to speak the most justly. This vigilance also applies for those who are not active in the ministry of the Word. We all make use of this little fire that is capable of consuming an entire forest. Erwan helpfully added that false compliments are prohibited, as a blessing cannot come from a lie. On the contrary, criticism can be life-giving if crafted along the path of truth.

5 Anointing with oil is, in the appropriate context, a means of grace to be used by the Church of Jesus Christ today, with a view to healing (physical and/or spiritual). This requires, as for any ecclesial practice, a solid theological and pastoral approach, without which much can go astray. In addition to being taught on this subject, the Church and its members should reflect on the space given to the confession of sins (these sins can cause illness, although this is by no means systematic^[6]).

Calaghan Moussi

^[1] See 1 Corinthians.
^[2] Romans 1.16.
^[3] Acts 2.47.
^[4] Matthew 7.21-23; Luke 6.46.
^[5] For example, Romans 6.19-22.
^[6] For example, John 5.14; 1 Cor. 11.29-30.