Pinched the title from a book, but I can't remember who wrote it. At connecT we think it is important to engage in an honest way with the bible. We share this with other 'emerging' type churches. So, over the last month we looked at the Epistle of James, which is a long sermon(s) knocked up to look like a letter. What struck me, though, was how rich the material of James is. I have looked at it before, sure, but I hadn't quite grasped the obvious parallel it has with the 'sermon on the mount' in Matthew. The teachings of Jesus were taken by James and re-contextualized for the 'emerging' 1st century church. A lesson for us now, I would suggest.
What it said to me was that faith needs to be getting about doing things. Christianity can often be reduced to just chattering. Was it T.S. Eliot who talked about 'poor chattering Christianity'? James is a timely reminder that faith without works is dead (James 2: 26). For James, justice and care for poor and needy are at the heart of the Christian life.
Also, I liked the way James (2: 21 - 24) used the Abraham story in contrast to way Paul uses it (Romans 4 1- 17). An example of how there is no final interpretation of biblical text: very post-modern!
Chris
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