An Exposition on the Book of James Part 10
If you haven’t yet, please check out part 1 of this series, The ideas of James are all centered around the idea of a perfectly forged faith that makes us perfect.
Over the holiday, our dog Eden got off her chain and went over to my parents’ house. my mom had just had some packages delivered and Eden decided to help herself to them. After about a hundred dollars of stuff had been thoroughly chewed on, we got her back home. Who do you think has to foot the bill for her little outing? Well, she isn’t going to pay for it, my mom shouldn’t have to pay for it, the delivery company won’t insure it, so it is left to me. Why? Because I am her master, I am the responsible party for her actions. It is my job to train or teach her not to do that. It is the same way with children. If my children break something in the store, the bill would end up in my hands. I am the one who is responsible.
James opens up chapter 3 by saying “be not many masters.” The word master here is most likely refereeing to a teacher type of relationship rather than a boss type relationship because of what comes later on, but the point can be applied to all types of authority. He is not saying don’t be a teacher, it is more of a caution to take the position seriously. I don’t believe James is going against the great commission of Jesus who said to teach the whole world. No, we know that he is not saying, don’t teach people, because he is trying to teach people himself. It is a word of caution to take teaching seriously and to have the correct mindset.
When I teach my dog to sit and stay and she doesn’t do it, it is my responsibility to correct and train her. But when I talk to my coworker about the King James Bible, and he chooses to ignore what I said and use a NIV, that is not my responsibility anymore. My responsibility is to give accurate information and let them make their own choices. this plays into a biblical precept called individual soul liberty. Every person is responsible for their relationship with God. I should not be able to make people worship God only on one day of the week or tell them they must pray at these hours every day. I can show them biblical reason to pray and how the Bible tells us to worship but I should not be able to force my views onto people I am not responsible for.
A husband has a responsibility to his wife, and they have a responsibility to their unmarried children. I will not be responsible for my grandchildren to the same extent as I am for my children. A pastor has a measured responsibility to his flock; a teacher has a measure of responsibility to his students. So James is merely giving a warning to those who are in a master type role that they are under greater condemnation or judgment.
What does this have to do with a faith that is perfect? It seems a bit disjointed at first glance, but remembering that in chapter 2 he is talking about making our actions align with our faith, here James is switching gears to show that not only our works show our faith, but our words need to be in alignment with our works, which need to be aligned with our faith.
James starts chapter three by warning his brethren in Christ not to seek out and become a master or teacher of others, because there is a higher standard of judgment if they offend. I don’t think James is as concerned about offending the person but offending the law and the God of it. Remember James 2:10. if we offend in one point we are Guity of offending all the law. How can we offend? By teaching something contrary to the law. this reminds me greatly of what Jesus often taught. I see aspect of the sermon on the Mount that Jesus gave in Matthew chapters 5-7.
Matthew 5:19
Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
Or in Matthew 23, Jesus is rebuking the Scribes and Pharisees and telling his disciples not to be like them.
Matthew 23:8-12
But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.
And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.
Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.
But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.
And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.
Jesus is not just saying don’t be called master or father or Rabi, he is saying don’t take on this attitude. In the church the leadership is done through servanthood. It is not a coerced obedience to man, but a common adherence to our master, Jesus Christ. While those that are teaching are to be responsible for what they teach and make sure it is in alignment with the word of God, it is ultimately every members responsibility to be in tune to God as their master. We are not to prop up a man to be our ruler. We can look to those who have a consistent walk with Christ as counselors and teachers, but we must never prop them up as an authority. Christ and his word is the authority.
Christ was the greatest example of this. Even though he was God in the flesh, and he could have been a dictator commanding the disciples to lick the dust off his shoes, instead he is the one washing their feet. Christ led as a servant. He taught and instructed but he never forced obedience. Churches that are trying to honor God as their head need to promote this type of leadership. in modern churches the assembly is lead by a pastor or a few deacons. they make all the decisions about the church. or everyone votes on everything, this isn’t the way Christ taught us to assemble. a pastor only has authority as he follows the Word of God. He cannot demand compliance of anyone, he must simply model his reliance on God by the actions he takes and the words he uses. If God has control over his tongue, he has his whole body.
Again, Jesus modeled this for us. He mastered the servant’s heart. He sought only to obey the will of his father, and that he did.
James 3:1-2 KJV
My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.
For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.
S.T.
Acts 20:24
"But none of these things move me..."
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