Every good and perfect gift

Today I finished my paper for my class on the letter of James. It was a lot of work, but I think it was the most fun I've had writing a paper. In case you are interested, the title of my paper is "'Every Perfect Gift': Word Gender Patterns as a Rhetorical Device in James 1." For a while I was hesitant about my topic. It compelled me, but didn't seem to address the issues that concerns James the most, including caring for orphans and widows, being humble, seeking wisdom and receiving God's every good and perfect gift, and taming the tongue. I felt a little guilty pouring so much energy into an essay that sort of misses the very point of James' letter, which is to put into practice his teachings. But the topic excited me, and I wanted to write about something I was passionate about. Besides, there is only so much one can do in an academic paper to put into practice James' teachings. That's a task I expect to be working on even now that my paper is finished. I am glad I followed through on my topic and finished my paper. Through writing it I learned about how James communicates his message, and perhaps even did put into practice some of what James teaches.

It's the beginning of the fall semester, of my third and final year at ESR. I'll soon begin my Supervised Ministry, which all third-year M.Div students have to do at my school. Mine will involve working on my fantasy novel and performing original songs at an open mic night at a local coffee shop. The other classes I am taking are Science Fiction and Theology, Constructive Theology, and most likely an independent study of the history and polity of the Church of the Nazarene.

It has been fun living with the letter of James this past month. It is now my favorite book of the Bible, but I always feel that way about whatever book I am studying at the moment. The following verse stands out to me: "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows" (1:17, NIV).

Give Thanks

I am taking a class on the letter of James. Today we discussed James 1:9-11:  "Let the believer who is lowly boast in being raised up, and the rich in being brought low, because the rich will disappear like a flower in the field. For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the field; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. It is the same way with the rich; in the midst of a busy life, they will wither away."

We talked about how this passage suggests a leveling effect that comes from being in the church. Those who are humble will be elevated, and those who are wealthy will be lowered. Our discussion reminded me of the song "Give Thanks":

Give thanks with a grateful heart
Give thanks unto the Holy One
Give thanks because he's given Jesus Christ, his son

And now, let the weak say, "I am strong"
Let the poor say, "I am rich"
Because of what the Lord has done for us

And now, let the strong say, "I am weak"
Let the rich say, "I am poor"
Because of what the Lord has done for us
Give thanks

Whenever I would sing this song at Southeast Church of the Nazarene, I would identify with the strong and rich. After all, I was earning a bachelor's degree, giving me distinction over many in the congregation and in the world.

I would feel strange singing "I am weak, I am poor because of what the Lord has done for us." Being proud of weakness and poverty is not generally encouraged in most cultures. But through the Spirit, I have journeyed into the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus and his church, and through this movement I have become weak and poor. I have become one with members of Christ's body who are weaker and poorer than me. God has changed me and I have changed, and God continues to change me and I continue to change, into a person who seeks and who wants to seek not wealth, fame, and control, but the kingdom of God, the rule of simplicity, humility, trust, and love.

At the same time that I am strong and rich, I am also weak and poor. For example, I owe money in student loans. Yet Christ has given me strength and riches. Through God's people I have learned and continue to learn to walk with integrity, to live boldly, to trust that I have all that I need, and that God will provide what I need.

James teaches that God is the giver of all good things. "Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change" (1:17). When I think about the good gifts God has given and continues to give me, in a variety of forms including experiences, people, food, and shelter, I realize that I am very rich.

The song tells us to give thanks because God has given to us Jesus Christ. In the context of this song, it seems that we give thanks for Jesus because Jesus has caused the reversal between poor and rich. Jesus has taught us how to live in God's reign. Jesus has blessed the poor, those who mourn, the meek, the hungry and thirsty, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, the persecuted. Jesus has become poor so that we may become rich with compassion and mercy. Jesus has emptied himself and filled us with life and joy.

I have a long road ahead of me in living fully in the life of God in Christ. But "Give Thanks" and James' words dare me to step into the life of God. For God's meeting, welcoming, and calling me in Jesus, I give thanks. For Jesus' making me weak and strong, and poor and rich, as much as I don't understand it and as incomplete as the journey is, I give thanks. For the many other gifts God has given and continues to give, I give thanks.