Illustration and backgourd of the second act in the justification controversy (Acts 11-13, Gal 2)

1. Paul, Barnabas, and Titus, trip to Jerusalem, to give a love gift and have a private meeting with leaders on the jewish openness of the gentile mission.

2. Jewdisers also called the "circumcision party" Infiltrate the Antioch church and after Paul leaves for Jerusalem. They lay low and do recognizance seeing to spy out the freedom Paul and his gang have in Christ.(Gal 2:4-5)

3. Private meeting with Peter, James, half-brother of Jesus , and John.

4. While still in Jerusalem the persecution under Agrippa begins James, brother of John dies.

5. Peter imprisoned. Church prayed (including Paul, Barnabas, and Titus). Peter miraculously set free, ducks out of town, maybe made his way to Antioch. (After having spoken with Paul, Antioch would have been on his radar).

6. Peter in Antioch hangs with gentile and Jewish believers, some men come from Jerusalem and individuals who say they are from James, They encourage believers to follow the Law and be Jewish like Jesus. The Jewdisers see this as an opportunity to gain a foot hold and so they grandstand the James group's preferences into their theological points. Peter decided to go with the flow, perhaps not realizing that his example would make the Gentile Christians feel like second-class citizens in the church. He thought he was just giving up BBQ and followed Jewish dietary laws (Gal 2:12–14), maybe holidays and festivals (Gal 4:10) but he was making room for so much more.

7. Paul, Barnabas, and Titus, travel back to Antioch, not long after arriving Paul has his confrontation with Peter. Peter repents and is restored. Peter returned to Jerusalem stronger in his convictions.

The Cast of Characters in the story and ideological background of the justification controversy.

A. Pharisaic Judaism (saved by law) live law (biblical customs and behavior interrupted by Pharisaic Judaism) in covenant with God (by circumcision) and your acceptable before God
1. Taught that man must keep the law of Moses for salvation.
i. Casusitic (technical legal/ethical term) understanding of sin
ii. They emphasized sinful deeds, rather than sinfulness
iii. Parallel with Islam
iv. circumcision was not a sign of the covenant but the way into covenant with God.
2. Much of the Judaizers, theological reflection flows from this camp.

B. Judaizers (Jesus + law) accept Jesus and live law (biblical customs and behavior interrupted by Hellenistic Judaism) in covenant with God (by circumcision) and your acceptable before God.
1. The Judaizers, false brothers and circumcision group can be considered the same group (ideologically).
2. They are Jewish Christians, likely Pharisees according to Acts 15, who, with good intentions, sought to supplement Paul’s gospel by requiring that the basics of the Law be followed: circumcision and food laws. They believe that Jesus is the Messiah, but they do not believe that salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone.
i. They were not Jewish because they believed in Jesus.
ii. They were not Christian because they believe in the need for the law and circumcision to be justified.
3. Galatians 6:12-13 gives us their motives. They are people that think by compelling Gentiles to be circumcised they might avoid persecution by being seen as a sect of judaism thus avoiding Roman/political persecution and by getting Gentiles to be circumcised they impress Jewish leaders.

C. Jewish Christians
1. They believe in Jesus and understand the gospel but live a culture of a law keeping community.
2. The Jewish heritage and way of life guides every aspect of their existence from the way they eat to the holidays they celebrate yet they fully trust in Christ sufficiency for salvation.
3. They tend to seem a bit ethnocentric or just racist yet it is their perspective on purity that is behind their actions not hatred of an ethnic group for the most part.

D. Peter and Barnabas (issue of conviction and conduct)
1. Peter believed that people are saved by grace alone but had a hard time living it out. Peter and Paul agreed but Peter did not realize his conduct was opposite to what the Gospel teaches.
2. His conviction(belief) was true but his conduct was not not in line with belief. He was play acting - "playing a part" - thus the charge of hypocrisy.
3. See Peter’s problem of conduct during table fellowship with Gentiles in Gal. 2:11-16.

E. Paul (in Galatians)
1. Saved by grace alone, through faith, extended to Jew or Gentile, fellowship and live out the Gospel together
a. He argues against Judaizers.
b. He argues against Peter more as an example (but not his main concern.)
c. He argues against Pharisaic Judaism. (Again, not his main concern)

F. Gentile believers (See Paul)


In Him
J. Dawson Jarrell

New Testement History and Letters: A fictional narrative on the Occasion of Galatians

Paul is resting from his journey and doing his taxes when someone knock on his door. It is a friend he made on his journey though Galatia. The friend looks relieved to see him but worried quickly washes over his face. Paul was protective of his young flocks, he had planted only a few months earlier (Acts 13:1–14:28) and this unexpected visitor makes him fear the worst. As they greet one another, Paul asks about the churches in Galatia. Paul motions for him to sit down, relax and goes to get him some water. As Paul returns, his friend lists the cities he traveled through. Paul only interrupts him to ask about various believers, naming many from memory as if they where his own family. "How is Alphios the tanner, the one Barnabas called rawhide." "What about Tullius of Iconium?" "How is Lois of Lystra? Now she knows her Torah!" "How about her daughter Eunice, is her marriage still solid? Greek men can be hard to deal with." Paul's care and concern was evident on his face and in every question.

The two laughed and shared stories into the night. Yet there was a sadness begins the man's eyes, an urgency in his voice that compelled Paul passed such nostalgia and on to more pressing matters. "So why are you really here?" Paul asked in a inviting voice. Sinking into his chair, he tells Paul the reason for his visit. His friend tells him that teachers had come in behind Him teaching things contrary to what was told them, even criticizing Paul's gospel as inadequate.

Paul asks, "Who are these men? And more importantly what exactly are they teaching?" The man begins "I have been to many of the church's, and the Testimony is the same in each of them." He goes on to describe in great detail what he knows.

At first many did not believe them. When we told them you were a good man, who was almost stoned to death for the sake of Christ. They did not disagree. One man, an Ex-Priest said he was sure, You believed in Jesus just like he believes in Jesus, that you loved Jesus like he loved Jesus but in your zeal you had forgotten wisdom. You abridged the authentic Gospel to make it more appealing to us, "God fearing" Gentiles. He told us Jesus was the messiah and he died for our sins just as you did, but then he added to be accepted by God we must become Jewish and live as a law-keeping community.

"Sounds like they want to impress the Jews and conform to roman law by making us look like a sect of Judaism and not the fulfillment of it." Paul realizes he is thinking out loud, "Sorry, please continue"

Ok, well - Paul, they told us your gospel was received from man, not from God. They clammed your Gospel was from Jerusalem given to you just before Agrippa's fury turned on the church. But because of your abridging of the message, it is their duty to give us the gospel that truly brings acceptance and surely bring us into the people of God.

They said, "Paul is preaching cheap grace, Grace without the law, acceptance from God without submission to God." They said, "Paul preaches a gospel that does not include the cost of Jerusalem and the law. Jesus may have died for us but becoming Jewish makes you part of God's people."

Another, kind of stout fellow said, "You preached a watered down gospel that did not make Gentiles count the cost of becoming a disciple of Christ. He clammed Circumcision is necessary for true conversion, and entry into the people of God. Which he said was measured by being circumcised and be disciplined to follow all the law. He said, only if we follow the law and get circumcised will God accept us. Jesus may have died for us but becoming Jewish makes you part of God's people.

Paul was mad but he held his composer as not to upset the man anymore than he was already. Yet, Paul's is visibly upset in the same way, a new father is when they hear the first cried of pain and panic coming from his newborn child. Paul reassures his friend that the Gospel he preached to them is the gospel of Jesus Christ. The good news of salvation in Christ alone, in whom we gain acceptance from God by faith alone, and through whom we participate as members of God's people. The Gospel, which God himself gave him by revelation. The gospel that was affirmed by Peter James and John not taught to him by them.

The two talk long into the night, Paul encouraged his friend in the Gospel then retired to think and pray. Paul thinks to himself, "sounds like the false brother that encouraged Peter's hypocrisy. It may be them, same false teaching, or maybe some of their disciples."

--- --- --- ---

Later in the silence of the night, Paul pulse quickened as he thought about their gospel and its implication. He deliberated with himself and to God, "They believed in the necessity of circumcision for conversion, and living as a law-keeping community to gains acceptance before God. Is their Gospel, Jesus plus Moses? If the law and circumcision are the means of sinners being granted access into God's people (the Jews) and if only God's people are accepted by God. Then they believe you have to become a Jew to be a Christian." In a moment it all became clear to him. If they believed in the necessity of circumcision for conversion, for entry into God's people. If they believed in the centrality of doing the works of the law for acceptance from God. Then they are Usurping the work of Christ and power of the Spirit by trusting in circumcision and the Law. Then Christ is made to be no longer sufficient for salvation. For them circumcision is needed for conversion and the law is necessary for acceptable because they don't fully trust Christ to save them. They are preaching a false Gospel.

He sits down in the dead of night and feverishly begin to writes. His words aimed at countering the false teachers teachings and clarifying his own position.


In Him
J. Dawson Jarrell

New Testament History and Letters: The letter to the Galatians and the justification controversy

In the early days of the church two key theological developments expanded the Gospel mission. The developments changed everything and resistance to these developments led to the justification controversy and was a major turning point in the mission of the church. This is the story of those developments and the men that championed them.

The terrorist and the fisherman
Gospel is expanding all over Judea and Samaria. A jewish guy named Saul of Tarsus is ready to go jehad on some Christian infidels (8:1; 9:1) and begins a rain of terror that is merciless. Yet, on a trip to Damascus the guy voted most likely to kill a Christian, becomes one. Proving the point that God loves irony and plots twists the likes not seen in even lifetime movies.

On that eventful road, Jesus appears to him, knocking him off his horse and blinds him. Jesus slapped him so hard the "S" in his name moved back three spaces. Jesus had Saul, now Paul's full attention. He commissions Paul to be an apostle to the nations (Acts 9; Gal. 1:15). He is taken to Damascus where he is healed and filled. After his little Damascus Pentecost, he takes a sabbatical in Arabia to think things over with the Holy Spirit (Acts 9:19, Gal. 1:16–18). After a little light travel, Paul makes a beeline for Jerusalem to tell the gospel revealed to him and get a short Jesus seminar from Peter and James (Acts 9:26–30; Gal. 1:18). He does some preaching around Jerusalem, some Jews plot to kill him so he exits stage right. Paul ends up laying low like an unemployed 30-something single man living in his mom's basement in Tarsus.

The First Development: More than just a Jewish religion
Meanwhile, as Paul was off by himself. Peter was running all over teaching and preaching and trying to keep the movement on track (9:32). He ended up in Joppa where he had a vision that he could have bacon with his kosher coffee. Peter's vision gave good reason for his love for pork chops and a sharp poke of conviction for his unwillingness to preach to Gentiles (Acts 10). The real point of the vision was to destroy any ethnocentric religion (Acts 10:28-29): to swing wide the door of the Gospel to the Gentiles. This was confirmed when the Holy Spirit was given to the house of Cornelius as Petter peaches the Gospel. So with a side of spareribs in hand he preaches to a house full of Romans and God goes all "Pentecost" on their tongues, filling them with His Spirit. God wanted to take the gospel to the nations, the gentile nations! Peter now sees that Israel's messiah is the world's savor and those ribs never tasted so sweet.

The first rumblings of controversy
Peter made a bee line to Jerusalem to tell everybody, little did he know the controversy his news would stir up. Once in Jerusalem Peter tells the church his news. A group of self-proclaimed teachers called the circumcision group, mostly made up of ex-priests who had been converted criticized him. (Acts 6:7, Acts 11:2-3). But when Peter told the that God has extended his Spirit as a conformation that the Gentiles can be saved, they reluctantly affirmed, with Peter that Gentiles can be saved. The conflict with the circumcision group was to be a foretaste of more conflict to come, for now Peter

I. Cornelius and Criticism
After the Gentile Pentecost at Cornelius' house (Acts 10). Peter defended what happened at Cornelius' house (Acts 11:1-18). When the church gathered to hear Peter's news, the circumcision groups was uncomfortable with gentile converts and criticized Peter for making himself "impure". The theological question on the table was, "Can the Gentiles be saved? Is salvation for the Gentiles or only the Jews?" Peter's vision and Cornelius' conversion answered the question, with an emphatic "Yes!"

Is the Good News also for the Gentiles or just for the Jews?
Answer: it has always been God's plan to make one people from all the nations. Yes salvation is for the Gentles. Jesus is the savor of the world not just one ethnic group.

Approaching sound of thunder: Growing conflict over gentile converts
Meanwhile in the far northern most tip of Israel, a city called Antioch, Gentile converts were already filling the church (Acts 11:19-21). Barnabas was sent to help with the multi-ethnic congregation. They had a good problem: way too many New Gentile Christians and not nearly enough able anointed well informed teachers. Barnabas needs help teaching all of them and remembers the wild eyed scholar down in tarsus. Instead of a help wanted add in the Antioch "Sentinel", Barnabas hopped a camel and convinced Paul to return with him to Antioch. Under Paul and Barnabas' ministry the Antioch church flourishes.

Opportunity, and infiltration
While teaching in Antioch, a prophetic word was given about a soon coming famine. The believers at Antioch saw this not as a time to lament the coming woe, but as an opportunity to prepare the storehouse like Joseph did in Egypt. They gathered a collection for the Jerusalem church so they could be ready as well. Paul, Barnabas and a young gentile named Titus, (we will the three P.B.T.) made a trip to Jerusalem, to give the love gift (Acts 11:27–30; Gal. 2:1–10). Paul also wanted to have a private meeting with leaders on the jewish openness to the gentile mission. As P.B.T was on the road to Jerusalem, a subversive and slavish evil slipped in the back door of Antioch. False brothers (Jewdisers), men claiming to be Christians, quietly infiltrate the Antioch church and began ground-level reconnaissance in preparation for full scale subterfuge (Gal 2:4-5).

Alliances and Allies in the Gospel
Around the same time in Jerusalem, Paul, Barnabas, James, Peter, and John have a private meeting. Private because Paul was still a wanted man in Jerusalem. Paul, having been a legalistic Jewish theologian/terrorist, could anticipate points of tension many Jews would have with his gospel and feared his work among the Gentiles would be would be in vain. He did not want to see Christ's church split in two, along racial lines. They compared notes and stories. Neither Paul nor the Jerusalem apostles had to change their gospel message, but they were fully in agreement, the gospel is good news: salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. (Gal 2:2, 6-7). They recognized the special anointing on Paul to minister to the Gentiles. They saw where God was moving in Paul's ministry like he did in Peter's Ministry (2:8). The Spirit's work was evident in the words, stories, and lives changed by the gospel. God was at work the only difference was the people groups. The men could not turn a blind eye to it, even as they met together the truth of it all, was confirming in their hearts.

In the end, They all agree. First, that guys like Titus don't need to get "sniped". (Gal 2:1-5). Second, The pillars of jerusalem, extended the Right hand of Fellowship because They agree with Paul's understanding of the Gospel (Gal. 2:9). They also affirm God's commission on Paul as the apostle to the Gentiles. This means he has their informal blessing, apparently with the implication that Gentiles would not be required to keep the Mosaic law (Gal 2:6-10). They did make one request of him; that he remember the poor. Paul from this point on seeks to organize collections for the poor. Somethings he was passionate about doing.

Trouble brewing in Antioch and Peter's dangerous hypocrisy
While still in Jerusalem the persecution under Agrippa begins, he kills James the brother of John (Acts 12:2) and imprisons Peter (Acts 12:3). The Church prayed (including P.B.T.), Peter is miraculously set free. Peter leaves Jerusalem for other places; Leaves church in James hands, made his way through Judea ending up in Antioch. (Acts 12:23, Gal 2:11-13). In Antioch, Peter enjoys fire chicken and fat back with the Gentile Christians and encouraging the Church in the Gospel. Not long after Peter arrived some men came from James encouraged Jewish Christians to eat separately and follow kosher dietary laws (a common practice among Jewish Christians in almost exclusively "Jewish" Jerusalem church). Peter decided to go with the flow, perhaps not realizing that his example would make the Gentile Christians feel like second-class citizens in the church unless they gave up their BBQ and followed Jewish dietary laws (Gal 2:12–14), maybe holidays and festivals (Gal 4:10).

So Peter began to exclusively hangs with his kosher peps and only eats with Jewish believers, in spite of his personal conviction and love of all things with a split hoof drowned in sauce. Peter's example led to other Jewish Christians separating from Gentile Christians. P.B.T. travel back to Antioch (Acts 12:25). Paul does not see Barnabas and Peter at the Wednesday night supper, "BBQ" night and started to wonder. He thinks something maybe wrong, soon he finds out the problem. Paul anticipates how Peter’s behavior threatened the gospel of justification by faith alone because it implied that all Christians had to “live like Jews” (2:14) in order to be justified before God.

Paul publicly rebuke Peter for his hypocrisy. Paul points out that even Jews were not saved by works of the law but by faith in Christ (Gal 2:11-16). A fundamental perspective with which Peter himself would have agreed (Acts 10:1-11:18). Peter's repentance sends shockwaves though Antioch and sends the "false brothers" heading for the hills. Peter returns to Jerusalem with new found conviction.

First missionary Journy
Paul and Barnabas continue ministering in Antioch with new found strength and the church matured into a dynamic community of Word and Spirit grounded in the gospel of grace. The confrontation did not lead to the church falling apart but strengthened their conviction in the gospel. At an appointed time, The Spirit of God called Paul and Barnabas to preach and plant church's in mordern day southern turkey then known as Galatia (southern Galatia). They set off on the first missionary journey, preaching the gospel, ministering in power and planting church's from town to town (Acts 13:4–14:26). They spent around 18 months on this first mission.

The letter to the Galatians and the justification controversy
After returning to Antioch Paul gets word some so called teachers (judaizers) had come in behind them trying to make the Gentiles jump through Jewish hoops clamming it was how they could be saved (acceptable before God)? The subversive element kicked out of Antioch laid low and followed in the footsteps of Paul sowing their false gospel of acceptance with God through Jesus plus the law. Paul wastes no time, he writes the letter of Galatians in response and sends it to the churches of southern Galatia. (cf. Acts 14:26–28). In it he argues that justification is received only by faith in Christ not by circumcision, nor any other work of the law. Paul writes in the hope that the letter will turn the church from this error and back to the truth. He is battling for the hearts and minds of God's people with only parchment and a pen to win them. Yet through the Spirit's inspiration flowing through his personality ink and divine authority would mingle and truth. In Galatians, Paul would some experience the truth he would write of in few years down the road when he said, "If God be for you, who can stand against you."

The Second development: The Jerusalem Council
In Antioch, more trouble makers cause the controversy to come to a head. (Acts 15:1-2) Paul and Barnabas return to Jerusalem for a grand showdown to settle the question "how do Gentiles become Christians?" At the Jerusalem Council, Peter, Paul and Barnabas give Testimony, with the assistance of James, make it clear Gentile believers do not need circumcision to be accepted into God's people, thus implying the only requirement is faith in Christ finished work that purifies the heart (Acts 15:3–29). The regeneration of the heart is the only requirement for salvation and acceptance into the people of God (Acts 15:9-10).

II. Jerusalem Counsel
The jerusalem counsel was convened to answer the theological question that rises from affirming that Gentiles can be Christians? It is a question of method. How do Gentiles experience justification by faith or ritual? How do Gentiles experience acceptable with god by faith or obedience to the Law?In short, How do Gentiles get saved? What makes one acceptable before God?(Acts 15:1). Implicate in the question is an ecclesiological question, What makes one a Christian? Or what makes one accepted into the people Of God?

How are the Gentles justified?
Answer: Gentles are saved by Faith alone. Justification is received only by faith in Christ. Peter said to the counsel that, God "made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith.... we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will."(Acts 15:9, 11) So, Salvation is by faith alone through grace alone in Christ alone. Add anything to that and its not gospel. It is all grace: for the regeneration of the heart is the only requirement for salvation and only way sinners are made acceptable before God and gain acceptance into the people of God. Faith alone in Christ finished work purifies the heart and justifies the sinner.

In Him
J. Dawson Jarrell

New Testament History and Letters: Three observations from letter of James

A.) James view of Wisdom: Wisdom and James' Pastoral Exhortation.
1. James is a good Hebrew boy. He read the law, Psalms and Proverbs. Wisdom comes from the law. It gives us practical wisdom for fragmented relationships. He also learned from Jesus, who was the wisdom of God.

2. The idea behind the Hebrew word for wisdom seems to be the ability to apply knowledge to the life. For the Jews, wisdom involved the ability to perceive the proper conduct necessary in light of the knowledge one possessed. The Hebrew idea of Wisdom is more action than insight, more practical than ethereal. biblical wisdom is advice that heals division and guards against fragmentation for it produces integrity. Like Jesus, wisdom's aim is reconciliation and restoration. Like Jesus, wisdom is from God. Wisdom comes from God, not just from the text. A wise person can take a Biblical truth (for example: God's character) and make it live in the middle of a sinful word. Wisdom alive in a soul is the biblical skill of living well and the art of applying truth to life. James had this trait in spades.

3. The Jewish mind understands that a man who lives wisely by the law has integrity of self and  others.  James’s exhortation to a wisdom that is sourced in the Scriptures and resourced by God. Biblical wisdom begins with learning but ends in wisdom as a character trait. (Jam 3:17-18)

        a.)  James 1:5: Now, on most occasions when we think about this passage, we are thinking about decisions we have to make, something unknown that we want God to show us. We need to know which school to send our children to or which job we are supposed to take. So we turn to this passage and find comfort: “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God.” That is a wonderful help that this passage brings to us. However, if we take a look at James understanding of wisdom we see that James has a meaning much more profound than God giving us the cheat sheet to some test in life.
        b.) Wisdom is more than just decision making. In verses 2-4: the situation is “trials of various kinds.” in which we ask for wisdom. 
        c.) It is always a helpful thing when thinking through a text to ask, “Does the author talk about this idea any other place in his writing?” Let's look at James 3:13 were James uses the word wisdom again. In James 3:13-15, James describes two kinds of wisdom
                i.) One ‘wisdom' is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. (and as we all know can seem practical and reasonable – might can seem right) What is wisdom that is unspiritual? Notice how james describes it as “bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts.”
                ii.) The second kind of wisdom in v 17, “But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure, then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.” Notice how James uses the word wisdom. There are two kinds in his mind, a false wisdom and a true wisdom. It seems like James is equating wisdom with character. Wisdom for James has to do with character, as in the contrast of bitter jealousy with gentleness or peace.
         d.) Back to James chapter 1 and keep James' definition of wisdom in your mind. You are in the midst of a trial, “If any of you lacks wisdom,” that means, “If any of you lacks gentleness, peace, if any of you lacks being full of mercy and good fruit, let him ask. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.”
         e.) James view of wisdom as Character becomes much more profound for the believer. If you are in the midst of a trial and you are responding to that trial with bitter jealousy or envy or anger and you need wisdom from heaven, you need the grace from heaven to respond to that trial in a way that imitates the character of God, ask and He will give it. The wisdom he gives will change the whole self.
         f.) The opposite of wisdom: Foolishness, Emotionalism, indifference, and Thoughtlessness are opposite terms. These traits will cause us to base our decision making on faulty premises and over emotional thinking. Therefore, we will be unable to make good and healthy choices, thereby leading us into bad situations and strife. These rotten fruits will cause us to be calloused and unconcerned about truth or what is virtuous and right. In so doing, we become the fool described in Proverbs. (Foolish is a moral category in proverbs).

4. An ear-mark of wisdom as a character trait in both the OT and in Jesus’ teaching is prudent speech. A corrupt tongue, quarreling, and arrogant boasting are countered with confession and humble prayer, An earmark of wisdom in both the Old Testament and Jesus’ teaching is prudent speech. A lot of what James writes against is corrupt tongue, quarreling, and arrogant boasting. This is all in the presence of confession and humble prayer. He says those do not naturally go together in a fallen world. We have to get these together.

B.) James view of the law: ‘Royal law’ (2:8) and ‘the law that gives freedom’ (1:25; 2:12)
1. For James, godly wisdom is rooted also in the law. The law gives us the information needed to walk Christ-like. It gives us practical wisdom for fragmented relationships. In terms of James’s view of the law, we can see it is the royal law. It is the law that gives liberty. These are very close to the way that Jesus applies the law. He talks about the love of neighbor and the priority of mercy over judgment. In short, Law-keeping is wise living.

2.  James 2:5-11

a) You can hear some of the themes of Sermon on the Mount all through the letter, but particularly in v. 5-7. It is like James was listening to Jesus when He gave the Sermon on the Mount.
b) James even summarizes the law in the same way Jesus does. "If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right."(Jam 2:8)
c) "But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it." (Jam 2:9-10) James does not say this to say that you should not keep the law because it is impossible to keep. He says it to say that you should do it.  He admits we can't keep it perfectly, but because we can't does not mean we give up. He wants us to see the wisdom for life in the law.
d) "For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” (Jam 2:11) In other words, the law is not a buffet line. The law is not a smorgasbord. It is not something you pick and choose. We should not cast the law aside because we can't follow it perfectly nor should we pick and choose  which of the commandments we follow. In so doing James seeks to protect the integrity of the law and keeps the definition of sin from fragmenting into personal preferences.

3. Three important hermeneutical keys for law-keeping from James

a) James insists on the fact that you must understand the law as interpreted by Jesus. Jesus summarized and accentuated the law in a certain way. Jesus gave a summary of the law in the commands of love. James is right on board with his older brother.
        1.) The law is good; but how is it Good.
             i.) The law reveals the character of God.  The law points to perfection. The ground of all law is God's character. The value behind the command points to his character.
             ii.) The Law gives a sketch of the created order. The law was given because of sin so it outlines the way things ought to be. It gives us a picture of authentic existence.   
b) In James 2:8, 2:12, we can see 3 very important hermeneutical keys for law-keeping
             i.) It is a standard, not a suggestion.
             ii.) Love your neighbor is our summery and center motive.
             iii.) Mercy triumphs over judgment is our method of application.

4. The third use of the law: the law for our sanctification.

a) The third use of the law is the primary and proper use of the law for Christians. James like a good Jew, really emphasizes the role of the law in the life of the believer. The law is good; therefore the law is to instruct us in righteousness as believers, and direct us in sanctification.
b) Sanctification is growing in christlikeness. If Christ's life was marked by complete obedience in fulfilling the Law, being Christ like will be marked by law-keeping in the gospel. The difference is our keeping is not measured by perfection but by covenant love and gratitude for another competed its requirements so we can received its blessings, put another way it is measured in the gospel.

C.) Character of Christian Community
1.James deploys familiar topics from the Old Testament wisdom tradition to address the threat of fragmentation in the community, arising from a lack of integrity. Practical faith on the part of believer. Joy and patience in the midst of trials. The nature of true Christian wisdom, attitude of rich to poor, abuse and proper us of the tongue (language, words). Being a door of the Word not just a hearer and explaining the futility of dead faith and the subtle deceptive division between 'what one believes' and 'what one does' that leads to dead faith.

2. He points out that friendship with the world is enmity with God (4:4). Wealth is to be used to build solidarity in the community (2:15-16) rather than an instrument of oppression or of one’s own security. It is interesting that in Jesus’ parables about wealth, He talks about a shrewd use of wealth in terms of building relationships. Wealth should be an instrument of solidarity, not an instrument of oppression or separation. James joins Jesus and Paul in offering strong warnings to “the rich” without condemning wealth as such.

3. Power and Place of confession. “Confess your faults one to another and be healed” (Jas 5:16). A call to confession in terms of the tongue. Look at James 5:13-16.

a.) Today, the church have lost the language of confession. It is really important that we not only confess our sins to God but that we also confess our sins to each other. There is really no way to break the power of an addiction if you keep it a secret or if you just talk about it to God. This is the individualism and isolationist approach to sanctification. “It is just Jesus and me trying to fight against my sin.”
b) Such silence and individualism goes against the corporate emphasis of what it means to be incorporated into the people of God in the New Testament. The notion of confession of sin to one another is a vital weapon in our sanctification.
c) We must develop trusting relationships and develop relationships to the point where we can have those people in our lives. We need to be wise. Not everybody, but somebody. We need people in our lives among God’s people who know exactly what is going with us.

“He who is alone with his sin is utterly alone….The final breakthrough to fellowship does not occur, because though [we] have fellowship as believers, [we] do not as ‘sinners’. The pious fellowship permits no one to be a sinner.”
                                                   Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together, p. 100

d) Bonhoeffer's words are a  word of rebuke to many of us and many of our churches. We have created pious fellowships where it is impossible to be a sinner. No wonder no one wants to come who does not know Jesus. They are not welcome because no sinners go there!
e) The thing about confession is that it is fraternal twins. As God’s people we confess two things together all the time. We confess our sins, and we confess our faith in the Gospel of the forgiveness of sins. We have to do both. If we just confess our faith in the Gospel, that is not the full Gospel. The Gospel is, first, the bad news that we are sinners, second, the good news that God forgives sin in christ. We need to confess our sins and confess our faith.

James offers a vision of a mutually supportive community whose members confess their sins to one another, pray for one another, and encourage one another in moral integrity (Jas. 5:16, 19-20).
                                                               W. Brown, Character in Crisis, 160.

New Testament History and Letters: Letter of James overview and insights

The Letter of James: overview and insights

Intro: For a young community of Jesus with practical questions about how to be a Christian. Who better than the half brother of jesus, one of the the leaders at the church at Jerusalem to write on practical Christian living. The letter of James is a practical help for a community to represent Christ.

A. Author

1. Who James? The title of this book derives from the name of its author, James the Just (as he was called), the brother of Jesus (Matt. 13:55) and leader of the Jerusalem church (Acts 15). Most scholars agree regarding his authorship.

2. Why James? [Note: Understanding the Author will help understand why he wrote as he did.]

a. James family history
The author of this letter gives us practically no information about himself He calls himself simply: "James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ" (Jas 1:1). Who then is He? In the New Testament their are apparently at least five people who bear that name but tradition hold James, to be James half-brother of Jesus.

i.) Grew up with Jesus
Evidence about this James. From the New Testament we learn that he was one of the brothers of Jesus (Mk 6:3; Matt 13:55). James grew up with Jesus. Jesus was to him an older brother. As brothers they played together, were schooled together and learned carpentry together. No doubt Jesus tutored James and many of these things. Imagine all the times they talked around the dinner table. He saw Jesus life out his life up close and personal.

ii.) Unbelieving during Jesus Ministry
During Jesus' ministry it is clear that his family did not understand or sympathize with him and would have wished to restrain him (Matt 12:46-50; Mk 3:21; Mk 3:31-35; Jn 7:3-9). So, then, during Jesus' earthly ministry James was numbered amongst his opponents. How many times did he hear the story about Jesus birth, but was a hearer and not a doer. he was double minded about his brother's identity, untill after the resurrection.

iii.) Conversion and Calling
In 1 Cor 15 Paul gives us a list of the Resurrection appearances of Jesus and includes the words: "Then he appeared to James" (1 Cor 15:7). During the 40 days jesus remained on the earth he appeared to James. James came to faith after Jesus' appeared to him after the resurrection. James became a leader in the church. Numbered among the three pillars at the church in Jerusalem. Ac 12:17, Gal 2:9, Ac 15.

b. James was a wise leader.
James letter gives evidence he is steeped in the Old Testament particularly, the wisdom literature of the Old Testament. He must have read it a whole bunch. James contains more than 40 allusions to the OT. Also We hear echoes of Jesus' example in James' Letter. Taken as a whole the description is a beautiful picture of Christ-likeness. In a special way, James could say he remembered seeing Jesus respond with patience and perseverance to the mundane and manic moments common to all who doing life together. James must have recalled the way Jesus handled life's issues and added them to how he explained we should respond to life. Also James may also have learned from the disciples about his Lord and half-brother. There are more than 20 allusions to the Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5-7). All these factors make James something of a "community organizer", one who could diagnosis and speak to the practical issues of life together.

c. James was know for passionate devotion and intercession.
Don't let the strait forward style and authoritative tone of Jame's writing bring you to think he was a cold legalistic Pharisee, or only conserved with Christians doing stuff. To the contrary, He was a committed and pious man, a man concerned with the heart (4:1-3). He was deeply committed for he knew the error of indecisiveness. We see this in his focus on single-mindedness. Church history tells us he was nicknamed James the "camel kneed" because of the great time he spent in prayer. It is no wonder he spoke of controlling of the tongue. A man who knows how to pray knows the power of the tongue. He surly, reflected on years wasted with Jesus across the dinner table, all the conversations left unsaid, but now he had a second chance and prayer was the avenue. He would be martyred by the Jewish leaders in 62 AD. There is a description in Church History of James that is helpful.

the Lord's brother, James, he whom all from the time of the Lord to our own day call the Just, ..... To him alone was it permitted to enter the Holy Place, for neither did he wear wool, but linen clothes. And alone he would enter the Temple, and be found prostrate on his knees beseeching pardon for the people, so that his knees were callous like a camel's in consequence of his continual kneeling in prayer to God and beseeching pardon for the people.

B. Style and Content of Letter

1. It is a Curricular letter
He is writing a Curricular letter - a letter meant to be passes around from church to church. You can remind class James audience was Jewish house church's in Palestine (maybe beyond) scattered by persecution and lacking instruction. (Jam 1:1, Acts 8:1) The genre of the letter can be understood as wisdom teaching. Wisdom teaching for those inside the covenantal community. It assumes that you are already in. James writes to Christians. He writes to the covenant community. Wisdom teaching is for the fork in the road. It is between being wise and being a fool. It is between righteousness and wickedness. It is between good and bad. We are not talking about getting into the covenantal community. 

2. It is a practical letter
Content summery: James is conserved with the real conditions in the churches. James’s primary theme is full commitment, living out one’s faith, being a doer and not just a hearer of the word. This theme is developed in view of the social conflict between rich and poor and the spiritual conflict between factions in the church and in all believer's hearts. James rebukes his readers for their worldliness and challenges them to seek divine wisdom in working out these problems and getting right with God so they can build a community of faith that is strong.

3. A sermon in letter form: James pens a preachy postal parchment.
James letter is not a traditional letter. It is best understood as a sermon. It is as if James pulled some of his best sermon points and complied them into one helpful little letter. A basic structure of the letter can be seen that will help in readers.

       I.   Intro 1:1
            1. How to handle the issues of life 1:2-18
            2. Rules for life within the church 1:19-3:18
            3. Rules for life beyond the church 4:1-12
       II. Concluding remarks 5:7-20

4. Community, individualism and James
James is deeply Jewish, so Jewish he smells like kosher dill. This said, it reminds us, we can't let American individualism influence our reading. From the outset James' passion is with life within the believing community while it is true that each must assume his or her individual responsibility to make the community healthy the concern is not with personal devotion as much as it is with healthy community.

5. The Content of James
Summery: James is conserved with the real conditions in the churches. James’s primary theme is wisdom, living out one’s faith, being a doer and not just a hearer of the word. This theme is developed in view of the social conflict between rich and poor and the spiritual conflict between factions in the church and in all believers’ hearts. James rebukes his readers for their worldliness and challenges them to seek divine wisdom in working out these problems and getting right with God so they can build a community of faith that is strong.

A. Best way to approach the letter of James is to understand it as New Testament Wisdom Literature. Biblical wisdom seeks to produce integrity of self and life. Seeing and Living in rhythm with God and the way he made the world to work.

B.  The problem: James understands the problem as fragmentation. There are threats from outside (persecution, famine) and threats from inside (immaturity etc). You can understand the threats both outside and inside the church as fragmentation. These are threats will fragment Christian character and community. They pull you out of rhythm with God and how he made the world to work. The important key in James way of thinking is the issue of integrity of selfhood and community. Also James aims to calls his readers not only to persevere, but also to repent of double-mindedness and of divided loyalty.

1. Examples of fragmentation: “Double-mindedness” (1:7), “showing favoritism” (2:1) and “faith without deeds” (2:20) For James, All these divisions are expressions of foolishness. They are things that are out of accord with God’s wisdom. Every one of these examples is an example of fragmenting something that is supposed to go together.

C. James gives the church the wisdom it needs to heal the fragmentation.

Below is a sketch outline showing the flow of the argument from general issues of suffering to specific issue of the community

Address and greeting (1:1)
     I. Building Christian maturity (1:2-1:27)
          A. Trials and temptations (1:2-11)
          B. The evil desire (1:12-18)
          C. True religion is compassion in action (1:19-27)
     II. Building a healthy community (2:1-5:18)
          A. The Effects of sickness in Community (2:1-26)
               1. Sin of favoritism (2:1-13)
               2. Sinful division between Faith and deeds (2:14-26)
          B. The Source of Sickness in community (3:1-18)
               1. Immature Teachers and loose tongues (3:1-12)
               2. True and false wisdom (3:13-18)
          C. James Rx Pad: Symptoms and Antedates for the community (4:1-5:18)
               1. Friendship with the world (4:1-10)
               2. Slaughter and the desire for money (4:11-17)
               3. The Corrosive Power of wealth (5:1-6)
               4. Patients in the face of suffering (5:7-11)
               5. The prayer of faith and Life together (5:12-18)
Conclusion: The forgiveness of God (5:19-20)

C. Observations:
NOTE: teacher give two or three observations from the text on a major themes in letter. The aim is to give student a feel for the text and author -  three examples are given below [A. B. C. see next post].

A.) James view of Wisdom: Wisdom and James' Pastoral Exhortation.

B.) James view of the law: ‘Royal law’ (2:8) and ‘the law that gives freedom’ (1:25; 2:12)

C.) Character of Christian Community (James 5)

D. Application: Helpful Advice When reading James
1. Take your time. Because of its many starts and stops and turns, it is best to take it in small meditative Chunks.

2. Read it out loud to yourself. You will find a kind of sermon quality to the letter. James hopes to persuade and dust to facilitate change in the way God's people live in community with one another.

3. Watch out how you read. Watch out for reading James as though it were addressed to individual believers about their one-to-one relationship with God and others. Nothing could be farther from James' his own concern. He is concerned with healthy community. As you read ask yourself how is James encouraging me to be a part of a health community. What does he want me to stop doing so I am not a cancer to the body of Christ. (In other words read James with your mind not on "what is good for me" but "what is good of the group." Jesus' ethics was "other" centered - love God "the divine Other" and love thy neighbor the "human other")

4. Let James be your spiritual director. James frequently uses the rhetorical device of direct command, expressed in the imperative mood of the verb (for example., “be doers of the word, and not hearers only,” 1:22). Their are 50 imperatives in the book’s 108 verses. This abundance of commands is a signal that the writer has a practical bent and is interested in action rather than mere belief as the distinguishing characteristic of Christians. There is also a strongly persuasive stance as the author seeks to move his readers to action. In many places your don't need to look for a deeper meaning instead you need to do the stuff. James is not giving advice but commands.

New Testament History and Letters: Persecution, Expansion and the Epistle of James

Key Text: Acts 6:7, Acts 8:1, 4-7, Acts 9:37, Acts 11:19-26,

Summery:
The church is born at Pentecost and tensions quickly form between the Jewish leadership and the young church. The young church stalls in Jerusalem until Steven is killed and a persecution forces all but the apostles to scatter into Palestine. Many Churches are formed throughout Palestine, revival fires burn as the persecution subsides. The new communities are young and immature and need instruction. A second wave of persecution coupled with a famine hits Judea hard causing brewing immaturity and ignorance about the way of Christ to erupt into serious conflict within the new churches. In response to the persecution from outside the church and the fracturing from within, James, Jesus' half-brother and leader in Jerusalem pick up his pen and writes the Epistle of James.

The Story: Persecution, Expansion and the Epistle of James

Jerusalem Period - Acts 1-7
God came suddenly and the church was born.  The excitement over the Spirit's coming at Pentecost and the church's growth was only matched by the growing tension the young church has with the Jewish authorities. It is not long before leaders are persecuted. The words still echoed in their ear, "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." They had receive power and were doing much good in Jerusalem but as a gospel movement there was little "movement". Almost a year had past and except for those original converts at Pentecost who returned to their distaint native lands (Acts 2:10-11)

Such was true until One day, one man, and His single act of defiance set in motion what God had ordained from the beginning. Stephen, an "up and coming" leader in the church was serving a Hellenist Jew, a plate of hush mouth, with a side of gospel, when some Jews surrounded him and dragged him before the religious authorities in Jerusalem. Stephen was falsely accused of speaking against the temple and the law (6:8-15). He was stone to death but not before displaying forgiveness and declaring the Gospel. Stephen’s radical witness inspirited the Christians but also sparked opposition to the young Christian movement.

Persecution and Expansion Period - Acts 8-12
Stephen's death became a catalyst for more persecution. The fires of persecution explode sending the church out from Jerusalem, that is "except the apostles” (Acts 8:1-3). The believers dispersed throughout Palestine and beyond, begin to share the gospel in their new communities. This is the first time that the gospel is being preached just outside of Jerusalem. In this way, God allowed a great persecution to make the church missional and expand the gospel into all of Palestine. As believers were scattered from Jerusalem, churches are planted all over the countryside (Acts 8:1-2; 4).

The church is exploding because of lay people preaching the Gospel all over Israel. It is a grass roots movement of no name, faceless fire breathing preachers of truth. God's People are scattered from Jerusalem and evangelizing, planting church's and experiencing revival. The gospel is spreading across economic lines, rich and poor are coming to Christ. New churches are transplanted all over Palestine as a result. Beyond Jerusalem much of the church is growing fast among Jewish communities.  Whole synagogues were turning to The Lord and becoming centers of worship for the new believers (Jas. 2:2).

When the Ring leader of the persecution is converted, the persecution cooled. A season of peace settles over Palestine (Acts 9:31). The church is growing bigger but not growing up. It was becoming anemic and immature because of a deep need for seasoned leaders and practical sound teaching. The people needed guidance on how to build strong communities. They do not know what a community that images Christ should look like their only reference point is the Jewish community sick with Pharisaical dialogue (about the Word) without personal action (based on the Word) or religious rhetoric void of communal integrity.

Second wave of persecution under Agrippa Acts 12
A second round of persecution erupted. Agrippa, Herod the Great's grandson, comes to power in Palestine, to please the Jewish hard-liners, begins to persecute the Christians. Agrippa begins by killing, James the brother of John (Acts 12:2) and imprisons Peter (Acts 12:3). Simultaneous with Agrippa’s persecution was a worldwide famine, which seemed particularly acute in Judea (Acts 11:27-30). The resulting poverty was doubly bad for Jewish Christians living in Palestine, for the wealthy landowners and religious aristocracy were siding with Agrippa’s attitude toward Christians.

God has plans for Peter and helps him escape Agrippa's grip. Peter escapes by the help of your friendly neighborhood, Angel of The Lord. After his "Houdini act", Peter contacts James then skips town. (Acts 12:1-19). Peter knows James is wise and can navigate the clicks already forming in the church. So James takes a more prominent role in the leadership of the early church, particularly in Jerusalem as Peter continues his work of encouraging and evangelizing the community at large.

The Jewish Christian communities may have been established due to the first persecution, but they were tested by the second through both scarcity of resources and social oppression (Jas 1:2-1:18). These troubles tested the church, escalated the festering problems of immaturity in the churches. When troubles shake us what is in us comes out. Many pockets of immaturity began to surface because of the persecution and famine, certainly some had already been evident beforehand but now all was coming to a head. The church was much like a teenager, longing for direction and identity but selfish and impulsive, quick to say things it did not mean even quicker to confusing knowledge for wisdom. So in this persecution the church's deep sin issues rise to the surface.

After this time, believers from around Palestine came to Jerusalem and word reached James about the state of the church outside Jerusalem. Testimonies of God's provision and goodness are followed by footnotes about some believers failure to “practice what they preach” and the tendency toward Roman thinking (confidence in self rather than confidence in God). He heard stories of the immaturity, how believers are hurting one another with uncontrolled and critical speech, discriminating against the poor, and giving preferential treatment to the rich. Due to the oppression and famine, tempers were short and compassion shorter. Christian began acting out of survival mode and so selfishness was justified. The door was open and conflict entered the churches. Many church's had splintered into fighting factions. Others, weary from persecution were wavering in their commitment.

The reports still ringing in the ear of James (the Lord’s half-brother), and he is burdened to address it. Overshadowed by the Spirit, James goes to his study to write down what the church needs to hear.



In Him
J. Dawson Jarrell

Word on a "with God" Life from a Greek orthodox Pastor's wife (or is it Priest's wife).

Most don't know the name Frederica Mathewes-Green, I did not until a few years ago when I heard her speak at a Veritas Forum. I was so impressed I put down some coin on a few books and of course subscribed to her podcast. In one of her books she discusses Christian growth from a Greek orthodox perspective which gives some correctives for those living in post-everything western culture (Especially those in the Christ haunted South) genuinely needs to consider.

From the book, The Illumined Heart, by Frederica Mathewes-Green, Chp. 4, “Where We’re Going.”

A modern Christian might say that the point of this earthly life is to be like Jesus. We want to cultivate the virtues that Christ had, we want to have a loving heart like the Father’s, we ask what Jesus would do. We have decided to follow Jesus–and that’s where we remain, a few steps behind him, all our lives. We never imagine that there could be more.

…being in “Christ”. . . . [a phrase often used by St. Paul] is a profoundly transforming condition; it means the very life of Jesus is within you, illumining you. . . . This is the calling of every Christian. This process is called [in Greek] theosis, which means that one’s essential being is permeated and filled with the presence of God. It is something more than merely resembling Jesus, more than merely “following.” It is transformation.

…That sort of thing, we think, is a rare calling for a handful of people. An occasional saint might be led to this path, and some self-appointed oddballs might think they have been. A person who intends to pursue divine union [theosis], we expect, is likely to be somewhat otherworldly. We don’t mean that as a compliment. People like that run the danger of getting unbalanced; too much heart and not enough head, we think. We contrast them with dry and solemn theologians who can tip too far the other way. We take this division between head and heart for granted: On Sunday morning we hope to have a worship experience that will move our hearts, then retire to a classroom and talk about biblical concepts.

Yet humans do not have any such division. The split between reason and emotion is unknown to [the early Christians]. We are created a unity, and when we encounter God he in turn encounters every bit of us. [For early Christians], worship is full of theologically complex hymns, packed with teaching. Yet they address God with such humble awe and adoration that they move [the worshipper] profoundly. The insight that moves the mind will move the heart as well; God’s truth is beautiful, and this beauty casts us to our knees.

We think of theology as an intellectual undertaking, an attempt to construct a systematic, comprehensive explanation using tools of ordinary reason. But for earlier Christians all theology, all teaching and preaching, had the practical aim of assisting the believer toward theosis. That wasn’t taken as an excuse for sloppiness or imprecision, since our God is a God of truth, and some theological conflicts required strenuous efforts to resolve. Yet even those debates were directed toward increasing the health of the Christian soul, rather than conquering some theological Mt. Everest simply because it was there. Like the psalmist, early Christians could be content as a weaned child, not occupied with things too great for them to understand. They could in tranquility let some mysteries of faith rest unexplored and unexplained.

So for [the early Christian] the split we modern Christians presume, between intellectual and emotional responses to God, does not exist. The primary thing for [the early Christian] is that initial confrontation with God. [His or her] response to that encounter might include both emotion and reasoning, but even if [he or she] doesn’t feel particularly moved or enlightened, God is still there and still faithful. [The] goal is to be faithful as well, and persevere, rather than to gather emotional or intellectual experiences. In marriage, another lifelong process of union, intellectual understanding and emotional response are intermingled, inseparable, interdependent, and sometimes quite transporting. Yet the day-to-day experience of a healthy marriage is more ordinary than that, and the main requirement is simple perseverance.

In [the early Christian's] world, theosis is expected to be a practical process, largely a matter of self-discipline. Strong emotions are not routinely expected, and routine over-emotionalism is seen as self-indulgence. Nor is this path often marked by vivid supernatural experiences. Any that occur must be treated with skepticism, as a possible demonic trick. Theosis is not for “mystics,” it’s for everybody, and is largely down-to-earth.

The analogy St. Paul uses most frequently is not that of a swooning visionary, but an athlete. We press on toward the prize, subduing our bodies, striving to pray constantly, so that we may no longer live, but Christ may live in us. This spiritual training is hard work, or in Greek, ascesis, a term that means training for a craft, profession, or contest of strength.

Words like “striving,” “work,” and, worst of all, “asceticism,” can set off more alarms for [Evangelical] Christians. In our history, one of the most contentious questions has been whether good works help pay for our sins or enable salvation. To our way of thinking, each person runs up a long list of bad deeds, and salvation amounts to getting the bill squared away. Salvation is a “Debt Paid” concern about the bottom line, rather than the view we’ve been learning about above: a lifelong process of restoration and healing. The controversy in our corner of the world has been over whether good works have any impact on this debt, or pay for past sins.

But [the early Christian] is looking forward, not backward. She knows that her sins have been forgiven, and reflects on them mostly as a sobering antidote to pride. It is future sins that these spiritual disciplines are aimed at. An athlete doesn’t exercise to pay for past failure, but to gain strength for the contest ahead. [The early Christian] practices these disciplines in order to ‘lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely,” as it says in Hebrews. Through self-knowledge and self-control, [the early Christian] hopes to stumble less often, and continue on the journey toward theosis.

This path is open to every Christian. It is a reasonable journey, a feasible journey, and the life each of us was made for. It is a journey we can begin today.



In Him
J. Dawson Jarrell

Men and women, classic!

Classic, Men and women! Enjoy!

It's Not About the Nail from Jason Headley on Vimeo.

In Him
J. Dawson Jarrell

Bringing a giggle to the heart of God

Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth. - Psalms 40:10

When I was young, i would help my dad my dad DYI our house. I wanted to build a back porch or pant a room. Instead my dad would have me sit and hold a hammer, while occasionally handing him the water jug. As a child with A.D.D. An over active imagination it was boring. No, it was torture. I felt like a slave. I did not have much to do and I wanted to do so much more. I enjoyed doing stuff with dad yet felt underwhelmed and disconnected. I knew i could please him more if he would only let me swing a hammer. Many times I would become frustrated. I was striving to work more for my father than he wanted me to. Out of frustration I would try something, rash and mess up a day’s work. He would remind me I was there for him and ask me to get him some more water. For me, it was waited time for Dad it was time well spent. My desire to do something made my slavish chains of boredom ring in my ears often drowning out the stories Dad told about when he was a boy. Looking back I long for those days of holding his water and fetching a hammer but most of all I miss the stories.

Being and Doing
In our spiritual life, we can get ahead of God’s work in our lives and begin to do for him and forget to be with him. Our first calling as Christians is to love the Lord your God. We are to lovingly wait on him until he says “fetch me the hammer”. It is in simple obedience that we enter into co-operation with our heavenly Father. If we focus on the doing we miss what makes such times special, the relationship we have with him. The irony is without His presence, our work is a fruitless mess, without his being, his abiding, our work is like digging a hole in a lake.

It took 10 years of following Christ to learn this truth. I know now I am not God’s publicist. He does not need me to make him look good. I am not Middle Management is God's company. He does not need me to get others to work for him. I am not in God's labor force. He does not need my work to accomplish his task. Yet as a child, abiding, being, living in Him, I will spread his fame, inspire others, and build his kingdom as a produce of faithful abiding and heartfelt adoring. Being alway comes before doing.

We should remember, when God is working it is best to let him do the work. He can do the best job. Yes, it is boring. Yet waiting on God is about full engagement not doing for him. We may hear the ring of boredom but he sees it as time with his child. We are getting time to get to know him. I did not see that while I was dad’s little helper. He just wanted to be near me. My father wanted me to sit and wait on him because he loves me and enjoyed our time together. In the same way God enjoys us. When we fully engage in relationship with him, place our expectations aside, enjoying the reality of communion. In this we enter life with him, the abiding life.

Doing everything but life
Many Christians have a doing addiction. All they know is how to do for God. They can’t just be with God. It is unsettling; something eats at them demanding they do something for their relationship is unstable without it. The deep demand of duty reveals a deeper need for the gospel. It is in the gospel that we rest in Christ’s work and enjoy the relationship He won for us. When we stop all our doing and reveres the order, I believe that bringing a giggle to the heart of God. Being always comes before doing.

When we let go of our desire to do and open our hearts to just be, life takes on a new dimension. Our vision shifts from our work to His greatness. Our Father is bigger than our doing. He is greater than one hundred generations. He holds history as a fine worked sculpture, the cosmos as pebble in his palm.

God wants us to fellowship with him; depend on him, like a child would its father. He wants children more than worker; children who occasionally act as his instruments but always cry “abba” like his child. As we rest in him – ministry is just obedience, and life just fellowship. It is through such simple obedience and unending fellowship that history has been shaped. Those who first learn to be with God and not just do for him become history makers.

He is the artist, we are the brushes. He makes history we just get to help. We get to finger paint our part in the epic grand narrative. One fine day, we will looking back from the eternal shore and see it all so clearly. We will see that in being with God we were molded by him, and thought the journey we were both the produce and the instrument in the hands of the redeemer. Yet, in this moment, under the strapping of time and breath, we enjoy life together with God and it is together we mold life into history as we move through it.

You can fake it but you can’t make it. I need not do for him if I am not abiding with him by faith. I am only asked to enjoy the fruit of faith in the gospel; life with my heavenly Father. If I am his desired instrument for his desired season it is only for a season. Yet for eternity, I will always be his child.

Being with God, for the sake of God, by the work of God, brings a giggle to the heart of God.


In Him
J. Dawson Jarrell

Personality and the Spiritual Disciplines

After having a conversation with friends about personality and spiritual development I dusted off some old notes and took another look at how personality traits and temperament influence our spiritual disciplines (prayer and bible study etc.).[1]

Understanding Myers-Briggs
The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator is a helpful tool for grasping the effect that personality has on our life with God. Basic to this approach, is the idea of preference. Robert Kaplan and Dennis Saccuzzo believe "the underlying assumption of the MBTI is that we all have specific preferences in the way we construe our experiences, and these preferences underlie our interests, needs, values, and motivation" [2] Just as we tend to favor either the right or left hand, so too we exhibit a particular direction in the way we view life, God, and therefore, spirituality.

Myers-Briggs is comprised of 8 preferences in pairs on a sliding scale
E - I extroversion ----- introversion
S - N sensing ------ intuition
T - F thinking ----- feeling
J - P judging ----- perceiving

The first and last pairs are called attitudes because they represent the orientation of the individual in regard to the world and where they gain energy and motivation.

E – extrovert: stimulated by the outer world of people and things
I – introvert: derives energy from the inner world of ideas, concepts, feelings, and spirit

J – judging: primarily concerned with how things should be.
P – perceiving: primarily concerned with how things are.

The middle pairs of preferences are called functions. They have to do with the method one uses to relate to the world or to oneself.

S – sensing: concentrates on what is available to the senses (visible, audible, etc.)
N – intuitive: concentrates on the inner sense of things

T – thinking: uses the intellect to arrive at a conclusion through reasoning
F – feeling: makes decisions based on how one feels about things

Since the Myers-Briggs is an epistemologically-based assessment. It is very helpful in the field of education. David Keirsey an educational psychologist categorized the 16 Myers-Briggs types into four major temperaments. The simplified groupings touch on the predominate way we gather and understand information as well as our general temperament in relationship to the world.

SP: The Artisans
SJ: The Guardians
NF: The Idealists
NT: The Rationals

One thing of note, Myers-Briggs is not a personality test. It is an Assessment or indicator of your preferences and personality traits that you currently hold. If used correctly it can function as a self-assessment to identify areas in which to develop. Part of Christian growth particularly in the areas of character and ones inner life (desires, and preferences) aims at becoming a whole person. Said another way, Part of holiness is whol-i-ness. Seeking wholeness is fundamental to becoming a mature human, who exhibits basic self-awareness, social and relational appreciation, natural empathy and clear headed thinking.

Christian seldom ask the question, "Which area of life do I need to work on to become a whole person?" Some people are good at being Christian but unable to spend a day in solitude, silence, and self-reflection without turning on the TV or swallowing their tongue. Others can't sustain personal relationships without becoming codependent or burning every bridge in sight. Since i am on this rant, still others are so spiritual they act like odd balls of uncomfortable awkwardness or "holier-than-thou" disfunction. Sadly the reason is because they skipped over growing as a human and ran head long into Christian experience and practice.

Assessments like the Myers-Briggs help you see yourself from a vantage point that allows the person to learn about themselves in a constructive way. This new perspective opens an avenue in which you can give all you know of yourself to all you know of God. An avenue that allows you to work on balancing overtly strong preferences with its counterpart bringing them to a balance and understand how God personally made you to most naturally engage with him.

Personality, prayer and how we most naturally engage with God.
Below are some characteristics of each Myers-Briggs type and some notes on how they will tend to experience God in prayer and in the existential aspects of spiritual life. But first, let me set the stage by introducing Lectio Divina.

Lectio Divina (“sacred reading”) is a historic, time-tested method of Scripture study and prayer dating back to the Middle Ages. (If you fundamentalists are getting nervous, go read Martin Luther’s “Letter to My Barber” and you’ll see that this is exactly what he prescribes). Here are the various aspects of practicing the Lectio Divina. They are not steps per say more aspects but many move through them in the order given.

Lectio: slow, thoughtful reading of a text of Scripture
Meditatio: welcoming this word from God into our lives; chewing and ruminating on it
Oratio: responding to God in prayer
Contemplatio: Listening to the Holy Spirit and enjoying the presence of God

NT Characteristics - The Rationals

• Logical, rational, intellectual
• Thirst for truth
• Long to understand, explain, master, excel
• Straightforward and direct
• Tend to be impersonal/insensitive
• Appreciate excellence and seek to avoid mistakes
• Demanding of self and others
• Love planning; tend to be very future-oriented
• Generally excel at whatever they do

NT Prayer:

• NT’s are the most mystical and contemplative of all the types. They thrive on earnest, thoughtful pursuit of the good, the true, and the beautiful.
• Authors Michael and Norrisey recommend that NT’s practice “Thomistic Prayer,” which is essentially discursive meditation: taking a biblical/theological truth and “walking around in it,” studying it from every angle and contemplating its facets and implications.
• NT’s will especially thrive in the Meditatio step of Lectio Divina.

Thomistic Prayer and Spirituality
Recommended by St. Thomas Aquinas and using syllogistic methods of thinking (looking at it from every angle) and orderly progression of thought from cause to effect (rational thinking to arrive at an appropriate conclusion). NT's have a great thirst for truth and for the freedom that flows from knowing truth. They desire to comprehend, explain, predict and control. The tend to be leaders, and also tend to pursue perfection and see stupidity and incompetence as the worst possible faults. They can be overcritical and are often work-a-holics. They are poor losers -- very competitive. They tend to be impersonal in relationships. NT spirituality is ordered and question-oriented. May use seven auxiliary questions: "what, why, how, who, where, when, with what helps" to explore the topic.

NF Characteristics - The Idealists

• Creative
• Optimistic
• Verbal/outspoken
• Great need for self-expression
• Deep feelings; love affirmation, hate criticism
• Excel at empathy, understanding, compassion
• Natural “rescuers” of others
• Want their outer life to be totally congruent with their inner self
• Often dissatisfied with the present

NF Prayer

• NF’s must experience personal relationship with God. They are always looking for deeper meaning, insight, significance. Journaling is often key to the prayer life of an NF: they tend to pray best “at the point of a pen.”
• Michael and Norrisey recommend that NF’s practice “Augustinian Prayer,” or transposition: imagining the words of Scripture as if God is speaking them directly to me, right now, in my current situation.
• NF’s will tend to thrive in the Oratio and Contemplatio steps of Lectio Divina.

Augustinian Prayer and Spirituality
Named in honor of St. Augustine -- who developed rules of spirituality for the monks and convents in North Africa. The key word is projection, using creative imagination to transpose and apply Scripture to today's situation. Especially used by NF's who are usually creative, optimistic, verbal, persuasive, outspoken, writers and speakers; good listeners, counselors, conflict resolvers and peacemakers. Handling negative criticism is difficult for NFs, but they blossom under affirmation. Visionaries. Prayer is a discourse between God and the self.

SJ Characteristics - The Guardians

• Deep sense of obligation
• Want to feel useful – givers, not receivers
• Very practical, common-sense
• Strong work ethic
• Value tradition, authority, structure
• Conservative and stabilizing
• Guardians of the values
• Tendency toward pessimism

SJ Prayer

• SJ’s prefer regimen and routine, so liturgy is especially helpful and meaningful to them. They enjoy a sense of connection with history and with the past. Prayer books and tools will be especially helpful to them.
• Michael and Norrisey recommend “Ignatian Prayer” for SJ’s: becoming part of the biblical scene through imagination. For instance, as you read of the crucifixion of Jesus, you imagine what it would be like to stand there in the crowd; as you read of the Exodus, you imagine what it would be like to be one of the Israelites crossing the Red Sea.
• SJ’s will thrive most fully in the Lectio phase of Lectio Divina.

Ignatian Prayer and Spirituality
This way of praying was used by Israel 1000 years before Christ. In remembering a salvation event, the people relive, participate in, and symbolically make past events real. Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Jesuit Order, developed this method in the 4th century AD. Casting oneself back into the events of the past, one imagines the scene through all five senses, making the story real and present and becoming part of it. It's important to draw some practical fruit. They have a strong sense of duty, and a good imagination. They tend to be pessimistic.

SP Characteristics - The Artisans

• Impulsive
• Dislike rules and structure
• Action-driven, crisis-oriented
• Flexible, adaptable
• Live in the present, love the “new thing”
• Cheerful, witty, charming
• Good entertainers
• Thrive on risk and challenge
• Best at short-range projects; dislike long-term planning

SP Prayer

• SP’s have the least need for long periods of formal prayer. They tend excel at “practicing the presence of God” – experiencing God’s presence in the events of every day. Because SP’s are very sensory, being out in nature is key to experiencing communion with God.
• Michael and Norrisey recommend “Franciscan Prayer” for SP’s: spontaneous, free-flowing, active prayer that emphasizes tangible acts of service and devotion. They embody prayer in all they do. Doing good deeds for others or giving gifts to others are prayerful, devotional activities for SP’s – more than all the other types, “their work is their prayer.”
• SP’s will thrive most fully in the Oratio phase of Lectio Divina

Fransiscan Prayer and Spirituality
St. Francis introduced this type in the 13th century. It is characterized by an attitude of openness and willingness to go where the Spirit calls. SP's are impulsive free spirits, often witty and charming. They love action and work best in a crisis. They are good at unsnarling messes, making them good negotiators and diplomats. They tend to be flexible and open-minded, living in the present. They are best at short-range projects, because they need to see results. Centering life in God. Creation is a Bible – every sense is impressionable; Gospels are appealing as another example of the incarnation of God in creation. Appreciate the grand gesture, and given to just behavior. Although very sacrificial, SP's don't respond well to the symbolic. They usually dislike formal prayer, preferring spontaneous, impulsive prayer or seeing work, celebration, or enjoying nature, etc. as prayer.

End notes
[1] A helpful book in this area is "Prayer and Temperament: Different Prayer Forms for Different Personality Types by Michael and Norrisey"
[2]Kaplan, R.M., & Saccuzzo, D.P. Psychological testing: Principle, applications, and issues. (Belmont, CA: Wadsworth 2009) p. 499

Suggested readings
Harbaugh, Gary L. God's Gifted People (Augsburg, 1990).
Keirsey, David and Marilyn Bates. Please Understand Me (Gnosology Books, 1984).
Michael, Chester P. and Marie C. Nor-risey. Prayer and Temperament (The Open Door, 1984).
Oswald, Roy M. and Otto Kroeger. Personality Type and Religious Leadership (Alban Institute, 1988).





In Him
J. Dawson Jarrell

Easter reflection

I love this Easter reflection. It is written as if Christ is speaking. Its authorship is unknown but it was first used by Lactantius in an Easter service. Some clam it is the work of a desert monk, others a 2nd century prophetic voice, some retain Lactantius as the author. Debates over its authorship pales in comparison to it's power and ability to transport the reader to the foot of the cross. Enjoy, He is risen.


"Does it please you to go through all of My pain and to experience grief with Me? Then consider the plots against Me and the irreverent price of My innocent blood. Consider the disciple’s pretended kisses, the crowd’s insults and abuse, and, even more, the mocking blows and accusing tongues. Imagine the false witness, Pilate’s cursed judgment, the immense cross pressed on My shoulders and tired back, and My painful steps to a dreadful death. Study Me from head to foot. I am deserted and lifted high up above My beloved mother. See My hair clotted with blood, and My head encircled with cruel thorns. For a stream of blood is pouring down like rain on all sides of My Divine face. Observe My sunken, sightless eyes and My beaten cheeks. See My parched tongue that was poisoned with gall. My face is pale with death.
Look at My hands that have been pierced with nails and My drawn-out arms. See the great wound in My side and the blood streaming from it. Imagine My pierced feet and blood-stained limbs. Then bow, and with weeping adore the wood of the cross. With a humble face, stoop to the earth that is wet with innocent blood. Sprinkle it with tears, and carry Me and My encouragement in your devoted heart." [1]

Isaiah 53:4-5

Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed.


[1] Poem on the Passion of the Lord, Lactantius 2nd century

[2] Lactantius was an early Christian author during the time of Constantine.


In Him
J. Dawson Jarrell

Walking with Jesus through Good Friday (Part 3)

Below is the scriptural stages of the Cross, with my reflections over the weekend and a prayer. Blessings

Eighth Station: Jesus is Helped by Simon the Cyrenian to Carry the Cross
Mark 15: 21: They pressed into service a passer-by, Simon, a Cyrenian, who was coming in from the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to carry his cross.

Reflections: Simon was a chosen instrument not by a roman soldier but by the will of God. He was given the unpleasant task of sharing in the journey of the cross. He was willing to help, not to please the roman soldier but to be an instrument of grace and easy in the journey of Jesus.

Prayer: Lord, grant us willing spirits that we may be your instruments on earth. May our hearts say yes before the request I'd given.

Ninth Station: Jesus instructs the Women of Jerusalem
Luke 23: 27-31: A large crowd of people followed Jesus, including many women who mourned and lamented him. Jesus turned to them and said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep instead for yourselves and for your children, for indeed, the days are coming when people will say, 'Blessed are the barren, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed.' At that time, people will say to the mountains, 'Fall upon us!' and to the hills, 'Cover us!' for if these things are done when the wood is green what will happen when it is dry?"

Reflections:It is compassion to warn of coming danger.
He tells them of the total Destruction of Jerusalem that was soon to happen, in less than 30 years. He was operated in His prophetic office in giving this remarkable prediction. It can be said that Jesus was 'busy. He had been 'tied up, in meetings all day and their was a lot on his mind. Using our standards of jusgment, we could say, Jesus would've been justified in being distracted and inward focused. He had the cross before him yet he took time to help others avoid suffering. Pain can make us turn inward and focus on ourselves yet in the middle of great suffering Jesus is still other-focused.

Prayer: Lord, grant us gentle spirits that we may comfort those who mourn.

Tenth Station: Jesus is Crucified
Luke 23: 33-34: When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him and the criminals there, one on his right, the other on his left. [Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, they know not what they do."]


Reflections: Our Lord's words of gracious intercession. Jesus' first words were, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." His own racking agony of body did not make Him forget others. The first word from the cross was a prayer for the souls of His murderers. He operates in his priestly office by interceding for those who crucified Him. "Father," He said, "forgive them.". He is the one who forgives and are given the task of sharing what he has done and his word "forgiven".

Prayer: Lord, grant us merciful hearts that we may bring your reconciliation and forgiveness to all.

Eleventh Station: Jesus Promises His Kingdom to the repentant Thief
Luke 23: 39-43: Now one of the criminals hanging there reviled Jesus, saying, "Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us." The other, however, rebuking him, said in reply, "Have you no fear of God, for you are subject to the same condemnation? And indeed, we have been condemned justly, for the sentence we received corresponds to our crimes, but this man has done nothing criminal." Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." He replied to him, "Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise."

Reflections: Here we see jesus imply he would soon operate in his kingly office. he would soon win the victory and swing wide the door of paradise to the repentant thief. Jesus is the only one who can say, "you will be with me in Paradise". No one but Jesus has that kind of authority. he is the king and we are all like the thief people whose crimes against the king are punishable by death.

I marvel at Thief's words. His response in so few words, says so much. It is a lifetime of prayer, and a world of desperation packed into three little words. "Jesus, remember me." Such a short prayer has a library of truth behind it. 7 truths can be deserved from his words. They are outlined below.

1. He believed in an afterlife, that Humanity lives on after the body is dead.
2. He believed in an eternal judgement - At that time there will be a judgment. The life of each man would be judged.
3. He believed something special, different, holy was happening in Jesus suffering.
4. He believed Jesus was the righteous king - Christ alone have the right and authority to rule in such judgments. Only at Jesus' word was one granted entrance to that Kingdom.
5. He believed salvation was found in gaining entry to this kingdom. Jesus' kingdom was a better world than the present evil world.
6. He believed jesus was a Gracious King. Giving pardon on those who truly repent and granting access into his eternal kingdom, a kingdom of which no man did not deserve entry.
7. He believed jesus was the only way of salvation - He trusts fully upon a dying Savior for salvation.

Prayer: Lord, grant us perseverance that we may never stop seeking you. That in our desperation we seek you, in our suffering we seek you and we pray boldly with truth under us as if our life depended on it. Help our hearts grasp your Lordship and may we not just call you but be servants of the king.


In Him
J. Dawson Jarrell