The central concern of James...
Illustration
The central concern of James was this: See to it that your works conform to your words. He who professes good religion has an obligation to perform good works.
A story coming a while ago out of the American southland relates to the prayer meeting testimony of a man who said, "I know I lie and steal and get drunk and do a lot of mean things, but, praise the Lord, I ain't lost my religion!" James would say this is impossible. Or maybe he would say the man's religion was grossly defective.
James is very sure of something we all ought to learn: Folks just don't listen respectfully to people who fail to deliver in deed what they profess in word. In the old days of the missionary effort in India, a traveling missionary was preaching in one of those villages. In the midst of the sermon one Hindu woman arose and walked out of the room. After a few minutes she returned and again took her seat. When the service was concluded the missionary asked the woman if she went out because of a lack of interest or some disagreement with what he had said. She replied, "No, neither. I went out to ask your carriage driver if you meant what you were saying and whether you lived it at home. He said you did; so I came back to listen."
-- Mann
A story coming a while ago out of the American southland relates to the prayer meeting testimony of a man who said, "I know I lie and steal and get drunk and do a lot of mean things, but, praise the Lord, I ain't lost my religion!" James would say this is impossible. Or maybe he would say the man's religion was grossly defective.
James is very sure of something we all ought to learn: Folks just don't listen respectfully to people who fail to deliver in deed what they profess in word. In the old days of the missionary effort in India, a traveling missionary was preaching in one of those villages. In the midst of the sermon one Hindu woman arose and walked out of the room. After a few minutes she returned and again took her seat. When the service was concluded the missionary asked the woman if she went out because of a lack of interest or some disagreement with what he had said. She replied, "No, neither. I went out to ask your carriage driver if you meant what you were saying and whether you lived it at home. He said you did; so I came back to listen."
-- Mann
