Epistle of Straw

At one time (though he later removed this paragraph from later editions of his version of the Bible), Martin Luther said this about the Epistle of James:

"If I had to do without one or the other-either the works or preaching of Christ-I would rather do without his works than his preaching. For the works do not help me, but His words give life, as He Himself says. Now John writes very little about the works of Christ, but very much about His preaching. The other Evangelists write much of His works and little of His preaching. Therefore, John's Gospel is the one, tender, true chief Gospel far, far to be preferred to the other three and placed high above them. So, too, the epistles of St. Paul and St. Peter far surpass the other three Gospels, Matthew, Mark and Luke.

In a word, St. John's Gospel and his first Epistle, St. Paul's Epistles, especially Romans, Galatians, and Ephesians, and St. Peter's first Epistle are the books that show you Christ and that teach you all that is necessary and good for you to know, even though you never see or hear any other book or doctrine. Therefore, St. James' Epistle is really an epistle of straw, compared to them; for it has nothing of the nature of the gospel in it." 

-Luther, Works of Martin Luther-The Philadelphia Edition, trans. C.M. Jacobs, vol. 6: Preface to the New Testament (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1982), pp. 439-444. As cited in Bercot, David W., Will The Real Heretics Please Stand Up, (Scroll Publishing, 1989). P.112.

Many people rightly criticize Luther for demeaning that which had been held to be inspired for more than a millenium.  What right did Luther have to take books out of the Bible?  What right did he have to decide which portions of Scripture were more important than others?  

Have you recently read this epistle?  Start to finish, in one sitting?  I did, this Saturday.  I'd been meaning to, anyway, but continued to put it off.  That is, until my Father in Heaven decided that Father R. would give it to me as a penance this week.

HOORAY!  

I tell you what, God knew, and He told my guardian angel.  On my way out the door, I noticed my Bible sitting near the whiteboard in the school area and I thought, "I should bring that in case I have a penance that requires some Bible-reading!"  That was my guardian angel nudging me, you know.  He does that a lot, and sometimes I even listen to him.

Back to James.  Let's have a look from the Bible that I used, the Bible that is used at Mass: The New American Bible:

1

¹ James, a slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes in the dispersion, greetings.

2

Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you encounter various trials, ²

3

for you know that the testing ³ of your faith produces perseverance.

4

And let perseverance be perfect, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

5

But if any of you lacks wisdom, ⁴ he should ask God who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and he will be given it.

6

But he should ask in faith, not doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed about by the wind.

7

For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord,

8

since he is a man of two minds, unstable in all his ways.

9

The brother in lowly circumstances ⁵ should take pride in his high standing,

10

and the rich one in his lowliness, for he will pass away "like the flower of the field."

11

For the sun comes up with its scorching heat and dries up the grass, its flower droops, and the beauty of its appearance vanishes. So will the rich person fade away in the midst of his pursuits.

12

Blessed is the man who perseveres in temptation, ⁶ for when he has been proved he will receive the crown of life that he promised to those who love him.

13

⁷ No one experiencing temptation should say, "I am being tempted by God"; for God is not subject to temptation to evil, and he himself tempts no one.

14

Rather, each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.

15

Then desire conceives and brings forth sin, and when sin reaches maturity it gives birth to death.

16

⁸ Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers:

17

all good giving and every perfect gift ⁹ is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no alteration or shadow caused by change.

18

He willed to give us birth by the word of truth that we may be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. ¹⁰

19

Know this, my dear brothers: everyone should be quick to hear, ¹¹ slow to speak, slow to wrath,

20

for the wrath of a man does not accomplish the righteousness of God.

21

Therefore, put away all filth and evil excess and humbly welcome the word that has been planted in you and is able to save your souls.

22

Be doers of the word and not hearers only, deluding yourselves.

23

For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his own face in a mirror.

24

He sees himself, then goes off and promptly forgets what he looked like.

25

But the one who peers into the perfect law ¹² of freedom and perseveres, and is not a hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, such a one shall be blessed in what he does.

26

¹³ If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue ¹⁴ but deceives his heart, his religion is vain.

27

Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the Father is this: to care for orphans and widows ¹⁵ in their affliction and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

Notice verse 26?  "If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, his religion is vain."  Apparently, James was dealing with an ongoing problem here, because this is a very big theme in his letter.   As the Good Book says, there is nothing new under the sun.

Here's a bit more.

1

¹ My brothers, show no partiality as you adhere to the faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ.

2

For if a man with gold rings on his fingers and in fine clothes comes into your assembly, and a poor person in shabby clothes also comes in,

3

and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say, "Sit here, please," while you say to the poor one, "Stand there," or "Sit at my feet,"

4

have you not made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil designs? ²

5

Listen, my beloved brothers. Did not God choose those who are poor ³ in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom that he promised to those who love him?

6

But you dishonored the poor person. Are not the rich oppressing you? And do they themselves not haul you off to court?

7

Is it not they who blaspheme the noble name that was invoked over you?

8

However, if you fulfill the royal ⁴ law according to the scripture, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself," you are doing well.

9

But if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors.

10

For whoever keeps the whole law, but falls short in one particular, has become guilty in respect to all of it.

11

For he who said, "You shall not commit adultery," also said, "You shall not kill." Even if you do not commit adultery but kill, you have become a transgressor of the law.

12

So speak and so act as people who will be judged by the law of freedom. ⁵

13

For the judgment is merciless to one who has not shown mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.

14

⁶ What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?

15

If a brother or sister has nothing to wear and has no food for the day,

16

and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, keep warm, and eat well," but you do not give them the necessities of the body, what good is it?

17

So also faith of itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

18

Indeed someone might say, "You have faith and I have works." Demonstrate your faith to me without works, and I will demonstrate my faith to you from my works.

19

You believe that God is one. You do well. Even the demons believe that and tremble.

20

Do you want proof, you ignoramus, that faith without works is useless?

21

Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered his son Isaac upon the altar?

22

You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by the works.

23

Thus the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness," and he was called "the friend of God."

24

See how a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.

25

And in the same way, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she welcomed the messengers and sent them out by a different route?

26

For just as a body without a spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.

So often, we concentrate on proving that we are not justified by faith alone that we forget exactly what James is talking about here.  He speaks not only of the corporal works of mercy, but of all of them.  Charity, above all.  This point is driven home in another inspired book, if you recall.  Really, he just starts to hit his stride in the next chapter, which is what really hit home for me.

1

¹ Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you realize that we will be judged more strictly,

2

for we all fall short in many respects. If anyone does not fall short in speech, he is a perfect man, able to bridle his whole body also.

3

If we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we also guide their whole bodies.

4

It is the same with ships: even though they are so large and driven by fierce winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot's inclination wishes.

5

In the same way the tongue is a small member and yet has great pretensions. Consider how small a fire can set a huge forest ablaze.

6

The tongue is also a fire. It exists among our members as a world of malice, defiling the whole body and setting the entire course of our lives on fire, itself set on fire by Gehenna.

7

For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by the human species,

8

but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

9

With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings who are made in the likeness of God.

10

From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. This need not be so, my brothers.

11

Does a spring gush forth from the same opening both pure and brackish water?

12

Can a fig tree, my brothers, produce olives, or a grapevine figs? Neither can salt water yield fresh.

13

² Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show his works by a good life in the humility that comes from wisdom.

14

But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth.

15

Wisdom of this kind does not come down from above but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.

16

For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every foul practice.

17

But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peaceable, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, without inconstancy or insincerity.

18

And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace for those who cultivate peace.

So much of this chapter seemed to be a giant 2x4 slapping me upside the head.  This part, especially, was a big wake-up:

(7) For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by the human species, (8) but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. (9) With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings who are made in the likeness of God. (10) From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. This need not be so, my brothers. (11) Does a spring gush forth from the same opening both pure and brackish water? (12) Can a fig tree, my brothers, produce olives, or a grapevine figs? Neither can salt water yield fresh.

Blessings and curses ... how true this is to this day!  How often have I written something beautiful to praise God Almighty, then turned around and criticized someone for their lack of piety?  Where is my own piety?  Where is my own humility?  Of what worth are my praises of God when I show such distain for His children?  

If someone is nice to me, then criticizes my children, how will I react?  Certainly not as graciously as God, who still pours out blessing after blessing on me, though I'm critical of others where I've got no business being so.

Finally, here is the last chapter of the epistle:

1

¹ Where do the wars and where do the conflicts among you come from? Is it not from your passions ² that make war within your members?

2

You covet but do not possess. You kill and envy but you cannot obtain; you fight and wage war. You do not possess because you do not ask.

3

You ask but do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.

4

Adulterers! ³ Do you not know that to be a lover of the world means enmity with God? Therefore, whoever wants to be a lover of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

5

Or do you suppose that the scripture speaks without meaning when it says, "The spirit that he has made to dwell in us tends toward jealousy"? ⁴

6

But he bestows a greater grace; therefore, it says: "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble." ⁵

7

So submit yourselves to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

8

Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you of two minds.

9

Begin to lament, to mourn, to weep. Let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy into dejection.

10

Humble yourselves before the Lord and he will exalt you.

11

Do not speak evil of one another, brothers. Whoever speaks evil of a brother or judges his brother speaks evil of the law and judges the law. ⁶ If you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge.

12

There is one lawgiver and judge who is able to save or to destroy. Who then are you to judge your neighbor?

13

⁷ Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we shall go into such and such a town, spend a year there doing business, and make a profit"--

14

you have no idea what your life will be like tomorrow. ⁸ You are a puff of smoke that appears briefly and then disappears.

15

Instead you should say, "If the Lord wills it, ⁹ we shall live to do this or that."

16

But now you are boasting in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.

17

So for one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, it is a sin. ¹⁰

What a good priest will do is help you to know how to change your life so you can grow in holiness.  What good is it to show someone the error of their ways and then not help them know what to do, what to strive for?  Keep in mind that, while it's sinful for me to be so critical of others, it is my pastor's vocation to help his flock to grow in holiness.  It is his job, so to speak, to show us our errors and how to fix them.  

So Saint James helps his flock by showing them what to do instead of being critical and judgmental.  Instead of complaining about other peoples' lack of piety, he tells them this:

(6) But he bestows a greater grace; therefore, it says: "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble." 5 (7) So submit yourselves to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (8) Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you of two minds. (9) Begin to lament, to mourn, to weep. Let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy into dejection. (10) Humble yourselves before the Lord and he will exalt you. (11) Do not speak evil of one another, brothers. Whoever speaks evil of a brother or judges his brother speaks evil of the law and judges the law. 6 If you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. (12) There is one lawgiver and judge who is able to save or to destroy. Who then are you to judge your neighbor?

Humility.  This is key.  It is the devil that seeks to divide us, inspires me to be harsh and critical of others, to nitpick and complain about the music, the homily, the priest, the nuns, the family in shorts who are sitting two rows up, the kid with his hands in his pockets as he goes forward for Communion.

Meanwhile, I am complaining!  How on earth does that prepare me to receive my Lord and my God!?!?  What state is my soul in when I do not give myself over to the full worship of the Lord of Hosts because I am busy playing Pharisee?  

Just how often have I been treating the Letter of Saint James as an epistle of straw?

Who then [am I] to judge [my] neighbor?

I know some causes here, I know what is helping me down this wrong path.  I'll be doing some clean-up, then I'll be on vacation for a week.  And I'll be concentrating very hard on myself instead of trying to improve others.  I'll watch my tongue, and work on the bridle it ought to have on it.  

If you could, say a little prayer for me, because old habits are ingrained deep and are difficult to get rid of.