Are we living a Scandalous
Life?
Elsa Tamez suggests that the Letter of James is calling
Christians in the United States to a completely different Christian
life. She uses three angles for looking at James: Oppression, Hope,
and Praxis.
James clearly identifies a preferential option for the poor within
Christian community. But it is clear that his community is struggling
with this issue. The scandal is that the wealthy are being treated
better than the poor, even though they are the ones who are persecuting
this community! The poor are encouraged to be proud of their place,
confident of the future, patient in facing oppression. The wealthy
are reminded that a person is justified by works and not by faith
alone (James 2:24).
The hope James offers is in the form of blessings from God on the
poor, and the coming judgment of the rich. The poor and oppressed
can be hopeful because the kingdom of God is theirs. The rich have
the opportunity to turn away from the world, and toward the way
of God to find their humble place in Christian community.
And certainly James calls the Christian community to action: praxis.
We are called to believe and to act on our faith. This is a call
to live out the law, and to become whole people, full of integrity,
with singleness of mind. James calls us to prayer, as individuals
and as a community. And James considers patience to be one of the
actions of an oppressed community. This is active, militant patience,
alert and ready for the coming Judge who offers hope for a better
life.
Elsa Tamez, The Scandalous Message of James: Faith Without
Works Is Dead. John Eagleson, translator. With Study Guide
by Pamela Sparr. (New York: Crossroad Publishing Company, 2002).
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