James, the New Testament Prophet

Written after 57 A.D., James knows the 1st Century community of believers in Jesus.  James also knows the corruption of political and religious leaders and the ways that the poor and most vulnerable struggled to survive under their unscrupulous control.

James promises that the rich "will wither away".
James likens generosity to God's work through humans with one another.  Riches gained and kept for self are the opposite of God's value.
James equates care for the most vulnerable and remaining uncorrupted by the world as the true religion valued by God.
Prestige and position are signs, not of God-given blessing, but the level of corruption of the one who possesses them.
James points out that it is the rich who oppress, which is against God's will.  Their wealth is at the expense of the poor and NOT a sign of God's favor.  The poor are not to emulate them or lift them up, but recognize their treachery and NOT support them.
James points out that if one lives by the law, even ONE law broken means accountability for it all.

James points out that faith is LIVED... shows signs of faithfulness... not saying one thing and doing nothing or doing another thing... it is the FRUIT that we bear which is a sign of faith... "faith, if it has no works, is dead". 
  *If we follow Jesus, we will follow what Jesus taught, commanded and modeled in the Gospels and LIVE IT.  Righteousness is how we treat one another, especially "the least of these" rightly.  Faithfulness is how we faithfully live the AGAPE that Jesus commanded (active commitment on behalf of the other, especially the most vulnerable and even stranger and enemy).  Matthew's vision of Jesus' judgment supports this, perhaps what informed James the Prophet (Matthew 25:31-46).

James exposes the corrupt political and economic thinking of that time and this one in 4:1-17, where he addresses greed, abuses of and lust for power and the need to abandon such hubris for humility.  T 
  *This is an indictment of corrupt political machines that prey on their citizens, corrupt religious leaders who benefit at the expense of their flocks and corrupt military might that supports corrupt, greedy business practices - it is an indictment of the U.S. in 2016 - government, business and church.

James gives hope to those who have been powerless and poor.  In chapter 5, James promises that God will correct the wrong direction of the rich, dramatically.  God will deliver the victims of greed, abuses of power and a system of corrupt privilege, dramatically. 

James also directs the people who would follow Jesus to let their WORDS be simply about truth, just as their ACTIONS are simply about the consistent living of AGAPE in the world.  No hyperbole.  No manipulation by words.  No persuasion for self benefit.  Just truth in word and action is to be valued, in humility.

Finally, James encourages true Elders, who follow Jesus' Way, to pray over folk who are suffering, and the people of God of confess our sins and repent (change one's mind - to follow Jesus' Way - so that one's direction is consistent with God's will).

Let your words and actions be consistent with what Jesus taught, commanded and modeled for us, and let them be consistent with each other.

Hold political, economic and religious leaders to the standard of the Gospel teachings of Jesus.  Hold EVERYONE, including YOURSELF to those standards, for living what Jesus taught, commanded and modeled (Agape Love) IS faithfulness to God.

James, the New Testament Prophet says so.

Pastor Jamie