Pro Social Justice Thoughts on (Re)Reading James

Pro Social Justice Thoughts on (Re)Reading James

AFBR

After finishing the New Testament’s Book of James, I find no wonder of its marginal history with the canon. It seems Martin Luther (not King Jr., but he of the 1500s Reformation) and others have been skeptical of the book’s emphasis on works above grace and the value of obeying the Hebrew law that may seem to supersede Jesus’ act of grace on the cross.

But I wonder if squelching James’ exhortations about the poor and rich – its pre-pro-union and pre-social justice verses – may be of particular concern to preachers and Christian leaders today. How many of these verses are used in churches across American in the past several decades, I wonder. Especially those comfortable middle- and upper-class evangelical and mainline houses of worship (I am looking at you, too, wealthy Episcopalians). Let’s consider a few passages.

James 2:1-7, for example:

My brethren, show no partiality as you hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. 2 For if a man with gold rings and in fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, 3 and you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “Have a seat here, please,” while you say to the poor man, “Stand there,” or, “Sit at my feet,” 4 have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts? 5 Listen, my beloved brethren. Has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which he has promised to those who love him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor man. Is it not the rich who oppress you, is it not they who drag you into court? 7 Is it not they who blaspheme the honorable name which was invoked over you?

While in today’s context, a church might not want to draw attention to a poor family in front of a congregation like the picture above suggests, the general aspirational stance to put the poor well above the rich – to side with the poor before the wealthy – may be too tough for most comfortable congregations. The ‘poor in spirit’ seem to take precedent over the poor in pocket, when the financially comfortable and ultra-wealthy feel downtrodden. What would it mean for all those bible-believing churches to take James 2 seriously, or to even just preach about this passage? Maybe some of those well-to-do folks who are poor in spirit have disturbed consciences that might be soothed by less poor folks in our nation? But, they may be just fine as long as eternal salvation is secured and assured. Who needs James, anyway?

Or consider James 5:1-6:

Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you. 2 Your riches have rotted and your garments are moth-eaten. 3 Your gold and silver have rusted, and their rust will be evidence against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have laid up treasure[a] for the last days. 4 Behold, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out; and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. 5 You have lived on the earth in luxury and in pleasure; you have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. 6 You have condemned, you have killed the righteous man; he does not resist you.

Of course, the overly aggressive language here against the wealthy don’t hold true. The well-off don’t have rotten assets, moth-eaten clothes, or rusted silver. They are doing just fine, thank you, often due to all those laws and tax cuts that protect big business and those who prefer first class and private jets to coach or public transportation. But if the spirit of these verses were truly valued, what kind of world would be live in? One certainly more friendly to unions, workers’ rights, universal health care, and the struggling middle class.

I am an atheist now, but back when I was going through all those school years of evangelical high school and college and, yes, even seminary, I wondered why so many verses having to do with eternal salvation were preached, and so many having to do with respect for the poor were ignored. I still do.