Day 76. James 1 - 3:12. Christian Wisdom, part 1
Here's a little secret: Lutherans are not supposed to like the book of James, much. It might be because the author seems to be arguing with the apostle Paul (someone Lutherans really LOVE) regarding salvation by faith alone. The author of James (and some people think he might have been James, the brother of Jesus) seems to be picking a fight with Paul, saying, "Oh yeah? Faith alone? I say faith plus works! Faith without works is DEAD!" But the argument is overstated, I think. If we think of faith the way Luther (and Paul) did, faith in Christ Jesus is what raises us from the dead. And, people who are alive do things. They act. Because they are alive. But the works do not save us. They are just what we do because we are alive. At least, that's what Paul would say. Even though I'm Lutheran, and even though I'll grant that the book of James wouldn't be the one book of the Bible I'd take with me if I could only ta...