The author of the Epistle of James is James, the brother of Jesus and yet he designates himself as a “servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ”. This is a rather unique greeting in the New Testament (although it is comparable to Jude and probably for similar reasons). Being the Lord’s brother, a leader in the Jerusalem church (he is listed often and prominently in the book of Acts), James had the credentials to simply announce his authority and get on with the matter at hand, but he does something quite different…
James is writing to Christians who have divided hearts and minds; are angry, “religious”, worldly; show partiality to the rich while abusing the poor; live fragmented lives; Christians who are bitter, jealous, selfish, proud, presumptuous and a host of other things.
James writes to these Christians in order to establish their hearts for the coming of the Lord. (James 5:8) He exhorts them to be patient in suffering and with one another; to be prayerful and praiseful as they wait on the Lord.
…so what does James do…
James sets the tone for his epistle in the very first verse: “James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion:”
Their hearts and ours are established for living in this world and loving one another rightly in these first words of the epistle. It is simply an understanding who we are with respect to who God is and what he has done. James, truly a pillar of the New Testament Church, brother of the Lord Jesus; sees himself as a humble servant of the Lord. This sheds light on James instructions to the poor and rich throughout his letter. Each must not let their circumstances shape their view of life and the world, rather they must see themselves in light of their relationship to the Lord Jesus. The poor must boast in their exaltation, the rich in their humiliation. What is James point? Is he choosing sides? Not at all. James is admonishing these Christians to see themselves not from the world’s perspective, but from God’s. This is precisely what James is doing in his greeting.
He goes on to identify the Christians to whom he is writing as the twelve tribes in the Dispersion. The primary function of this designation is not to locate them geographically or identify them racially or nationalistically. James wants them thinking about these things biblically and spiritually. They are the people of God, citizens of heaven, but away from home. They are on a pilgrim journey. The rest of the epistle teaches them and us how to live faithfully throughout this sojourn.
Thankful to be on this journey with you,
Kendall
Just a reminder: the youth class is currently studying the Epistle of James on Sundays at 11:15am upstairs in the youth lounge.
