Wednesday, June 8, 2011

James - Practical Theology

In reading through James again in preparation for the 1 hour study there on this Thursday, I am finding it very enjoyable, and I think I understand why it can cause so much confusion.

James is not trying to teach "doctrine" or teach "the faith". Rather, he's simply pointing out practical, rubber-meeting-road things about the Christian life. For example, James 1:13-15: [13] Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God," for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. [14] But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. [15] Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.

This is utterly practical advice. Don't blame your temptations on God. (You mean I don't get to say that God made me this way?). Rather this - know that as one called to faith, your life will be one where you struggle against your own desires. Your prayer will always have to be "Thy will be done," for your own will is sinful and corrupt, and your own desires will tempt you.

Seriously - a wonderful insight that we can neglect. Not everything tempts people in the same ways -- we each have our own set of desires -- and that shapes how we are tempted. There are things that tempt me that don't really seem all that tempting to you and vice versa -- doesn't make one of us better or worse -- that's just the way it is. The key is that we are called to turn away from these desires, for we know that they lead to sin and death.

Very humble, practical advice.

1 comment:

Marke said...

--Your prayer will always have to be "Thy will be done," for your own will is sinful and corrupt, and your own desires will tempt you.--

With this kind of attitude, Pastor, you'll never make it as a TV preacher.