The book of James and the LRC

[Cassidy]

Originally Posted by Igzy

No doubt Paul was more clear on some things than James. But it's also possible that James was more clear on some things than Paul.

But the real question is this, are you saying there are some things commanded in the book of James that we specifically can ignore? If so, which are they?

I'm not baiting. I believe there are some things in the NT that we can de-emphasize now, that are less valid now that they were in the first century. For example, prohibiting women from teaching. I don't think that is a commandment regarding nature, but rather circumstance. I've just seen to many examples of anointed females teachers.

The problem I have with Lee's approach to James is although James was clearly a very Jewish Christian, I do not believe the main reason his book is in the NT is to demonstrate someone who was less than clear. If anything the point is to show that God needs different perspectives to state his whole case.

Igzy, I don't consider your response as baiting, just healthy debate.

Yes, I think James' propensity toward keeping the law is not something we believers need to practice. He has many other edifying points but keeping the OT law was a mixture. Then the question comes up why are such teachings allowed to be included. Some variation is there to show different perspectives as you said, however, I believe that God also includes things to show us what not to do. OT law keeping was a big problem to the early church as previously shown. We can all learn from that.

[Cal]

Originally Posted by Cassidy

Igzy, I don't consider your response as baiting, just healthy debate.

Yes, I think James' propensity toward keeping the law is not something we believers need to practice. He has many other edifying points but keeping the OT law was a mixture. Then the question comes up why are such teachings allowed to be included. Some variation is there to show different perspectives as you said, however, I believe that God also includes things to show us what not to do. OT law keeping was a big problem to the early church as previously shown. We can all learn from that.

Okay, but here's a problem. Once you generally undermine the book of James, you may undermine some things he taught that God doesn't want us to lose sight of, that are top shelf stuff.

For example, James knew what he was doing when he seemed to challenge the teaching of justification by faith. He knew Paul taught it. He wasn't committing an ignorant error that somehow God and creative theologians have saved. He was saying if you don't have works you don't have faith, perhaps not even saving faith. He was tweaking Paul's teaching, or at least the misapplication of it.

So in other words, James may not exist primarily to tell us not to take law-keeping too far. It may exist primarily to tell us not to take disregarding the law too far!

Here's another piece of evidence. Every serious Christian I've ever seen since I left the LRC--I mean those who walk the walk and don't just talk the talk--highly regard the book of James. That says something.

[TLFisher]

Originally Posted by Igzy

Every serious Christian I've ever seen since I left the LRC--I mean those who walk the walk and don't just talk the talk--highly regard the book of James. That says something.

Amen!

"All scripture is breathed out of God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness." 2 Timothy 3:16

The emphasis in quoting 2 Timothy 3:16 is when I have heard criticisms of whether a book such as James belongs of the Bible or not, I remember that verse.

[ZNPaaneah]

Originally Posted by Igzy

Okay, but here's a problem. Once you generally undermine the book of James, you may undermine some things he taught that God doesn't want us to lose sight of, that are top shelf stuff.

For example, James knew what he was doing when he seemed to challenge the teaching of justification by faith. He knew Paul taught it. He wasn't committing an ignorant error that somehow God and creative theologians have saved. He was saying if you don't have works you don't have faith, perhaps not even saving faith. He was tweaking Paul's teaching, or at least the misapplication of it.

So in other words, James may not exist primarily to tell us not to take law-keeping too far. It may exist primarily to tell us not to take disregarding the law too far!

Here's another piece of evidence. Every serious Christian I've ever seen since I left the LRC--I mean those who walk the walk and don't just talk the talk--highly regard the book of James. That says something.

Yes, James flies in the face of many beloved WL teachings. How about "true religion" or "don't be a hearer only". It seems to me that every group that goes seriously wrong it is because they have become hearers only and not doers, or they have forgotten what true religion is.

James said "no man can tame the tongue" yet WL ignored this, hired an expensive legal team and did his darnedest to do just that. If they had tamed the tongue that would be a work of faith, not a work of a legal team.

James talks about how you have respect for the rich and it these same people who sue you. James had the LRC pegged.

The conclusion of James is that the miseries are come upon the rich, their gold is cankered and their garments are moth eaten. Isn't this the case with WL and his ministry? In his arrogance he dismissed the book of James and now he is the one who is being dismissed.

[Cassidy]

Igzy,

Okay, but here's a problem. Once you generally undermine the book of James, you may undermine some things he taught that God doesn't want us to lose sight of, that are top shelf stuff.

I understand that concern but it is manageable. Early in my christian life I was very bothered about a direct teaching of Jesus. The one about if you committed certain sins you should pluck your eyes out or cut your hand off. A brother got me through that one but it did not cause me to lose sight of everything else in the gospels or that particular book. (ZNP, that is a direct teaching but don't go doing anything drastic! )

For example, James knew what he was doing when he seemed to challenge the teaching of justification by faith. He knew Paul taught it. He wasn't committing an ignorant error that somehow God and creative theologians have saved. He was saying if you don't have works you don't have faith, perhaps not even saving faith. He was tweaking Paul's teaching, or at least the misapplication of it.

I do not know if James was tweaking Paul's teaching or the misapplication of it. Maybe he was. However, I do not see a conflict between the two teachings as I view one as the cause and the other as the proof. One is about life and the other is about living. I have no quarrel with those who think the two are utterly incompatible but I myself do not think there is an issue with both standing side by side.

So in other words, James may not exist primarily to tell us not to take law-keeping too far. It may exist primarily to tell us not to take disregarding the law too far!

I don't agree with this as pertains to believers because it is impossible to keep the law and as James says if you break one point you've broken the whole. The law was a child conductor and at some point the child conductor is no longer needed. I am also fine with teaching children the 10 commandments and others parts but once they are regenerated Christ has come. I also think the law liberally should be applied to rowdy teenagers.

Here's another piece of evidence. Every serious Christian I've ever seen since I left the LRC--I mean those who walk the walk and don't just talk the talk--highly regard the book of James. That says something.

It does say something but it is not definitive. 2000 years ago some might have considered that if all the Christians in Jerusalem are zealous for the law then that should be considered as relevant.

[ZNPaaneah]

Originally Posted by Cassidy

Igzy,

Okay, but here's a problem. Once you generally undermine the book of James, you may undermine some things he taught that God doesn't want us to lose sight of, that are top shelf stuff.

I understand that concern but it is manageable.

I don't understand how this is "manageable". You referred to a verse you didn't understand, fair enough, you don't understand it, you put it on the back burner, you ask for fellowship, etc. If you or WL did not understand the Book of James don't give a training on it.

To my understanding once you decide that some books are more in line with the "vision" than other books you have crossed a major line. Like Igzy said, the book is in the Bible for a reason. One of those reasons is that James clearly had a burden for Jewish saints who were having trouble making the transition to the New Testament. You might think that burden doesn't apply to you, yet way too much of what James speaks seems to be directed squarely at the errors of the LRC. It may very well be that the cure for the errors in the LRC were in James all this time, had they received this book and not to doubtful disputations, then perhaps things would have been different. To me it is like the human body. Which parts of your body could you cut off and do without? It seems incredibly foolish to treat the Bible that way.

[ZNPaaneah]

Originally Posted by Cassidy

Yes, I think James' propensity toward keeping the law is not something we believers need to practice. He has many other edifying points but keeping the OT law was a mixture. Then the question comes up why are such teachings allowed to be included. Some variation is there to show different perspectives as you said, however, I believe that God also includes things to show us what not to do. OT law keeping was a big problem to the early church as previously shown. We can all learn from that.

This is the issue with the WL version of the Book of James. They cannot read this book without mixing into it the account of him in Acts.

So they teach that the Book of James teaches both the NT and keeping the law as a mixture. Because this is what they read in Acts, not in the Book of James.

James
1:8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

The book of James makes it clear you cannot have a muddled, double minded view of the gospel. This may very well be a result of his repenting of having this view earlier in his life.

However, to support the assertion that James teaches us to keep the law they do not quote the Book of James, they quote the accounts in Acts and Galatians.

This would be like explaining Paul's teaching about "I am crucified with Christ" by teaching about how he dragged off Christians to be put to death. It may very well be that there is a strong contrast with his past, but it indicates his repentance for his sins.

[Ohio]

Originally Posted by ZNPaaneah

This is the issue with the WL version of the Book of James. They cannot read this book without mixing into it the account of him in Acts. So they teach that the Book of James teaches both the NT and keeping the law as a mixture. Because this is what they read in Acts, not in the Book of James.

That right. My old friend Cassidy said the same thing the other day. He's still looking thru the epistle of James for that verse that says Christians should follow the law, "Duh, I know it's in there somewhere, Bro Lee said so ..."

Actually I'm laughing at myself too. I just recently read thru James to make sure that verse was not there. I'm hard on ole Cass at times but I still love him in Christ.


Hey did you see CountMeWorthy in that group hug? It's named after her. Where she been?

[ZNPaaneah]

Originally Posted by Ohio

That right. My old friend Cassidy said the same thing the other day. He's still looking thru the epistle of James for that verse that says Christians should follow the law, "Duh, I know it's in there somewhere, Bro Lee said so ..."

Actually I'm laughing at myself too. I just recently read thru James to make sure that verse was not there. I'm hard on ole Cass at times but I still love him in Christ.


Hey did you see CountMeWorthy in that group hug? It's named after her. Where she been?

Witness Lee took issue with "to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad". However, this does not mean that James is confused. It most likely means that his audience was, hence "a double minded man is unstable in all his ways".

If a congregation of Christians referred to themselves as "the twelve tribes" (we have groups like this in NY, including "the lost tribe", etc) it doesn't mean that I am confused in my vision because I have a burden to share with them. Just another example of shoddy scholarship by WL (though to be fair many others have had the same impression). Still it is awfully short sighted to appreciate that Paul had the ministry to the uncircumcision and then think that a ministry to the circumcision is confused and mixed.

[ZNPaaneah]

Originally Posted by Ohio

That right. My old friend Cassidy said the same thing the other day. He's still looking thru the epistle of James for that verse that says Christians should follow the law, "Duh, I know it's in there somewhere, Bro Lee said so ..."

James
4:17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

I feel that LSM's sacrament, "the doctrine of dirt" is an egregious error. I find it impossible to believe that WN and WL did not know this. I can imagine WN might have come up with this idea as a way to solve the problem of division. But surely the more he taught it, the more he explained it, the more trainings and messages they gave the more issues they had at some point they must have realized this teaching doesn't hold water and is an error.

WL taught that Abraham's sacrifice signified that God the Father offered His only begotten Son for our sins that we could be saved. He also taught that this is why God chose this land. He also taught that King David purchased the land as a sin offering. How could he not have realized his error? I have to believe he knew what he was doing and ergo it was sin.

[TLFisher]

Originally Posted by ZNPaaneah

James
4:17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

The RcV footnote to James 4:17 says:
"A concluding word to all the charges in the preceding verses. It says that if the recipients of this Epistle are helped by James's writing and yet will not do as he wrote, to them it is sin."

Reading James 4, I do not read anywhere in scripture where James writing is based on a conditional "if the recipients of this Epistle are helped by James's writing".

[Cassidy]

"This is the issue with the WL version of the Book of James. They cannot read this book without mixing into it the account of him in Acts."

ZNP,

Guilty as charged.

But why is it a problem to include James' epistle, the acts of James in the book of Acts, and the account mentioned in Galatians to get a complete rounded view of James' teaching and practice?

[ZNPaaneah]

Originally Posted by Cassidy

"This is the issue with the WL version of the Book of James. They cannot read this book without mixing into it the account of him in Acts."

ZNP,

Guilty as charged.

But why is it a problem to include James' epistle, the acts of James in the book of Acts, and the account mentioned in Galatians to get a complete rounded view of James' teaching and practice?

You only used half of the quote. I continued with the next sentence "So". As a result you make the erroneous conclusion that since Acts records James being zealous for the Law that his epistle does the same. There is nothing wrong with using Acts as background, just as we also use the account of Paul persecuting christians or Peter denying the Lord.

For example, WL talks about James being zealous for the Law in Acts, then refers to the epistle being written to "the twelve tribes in the dispersion" and concludes that James was not clear on the NT economy. This conclusion is not confirmed. If I write to someone who is confused it doesn't mean that I am. If I am burdened for Jews having trouble making the transition from the OT economy to the NT economy it doesn't mean that I am also having that problem.

WL then uses the account in Galatians and Acts to support his thesis. Again, clear support would come from verses within the book of James. All you have really proved is that at one point in James life he was confused, and that at the time he wrote his epistle he was now burdened for others that were confused. You have not provided any evidence that the epistle itself is a mixture.

Should I disparage the epistles of Peter because he denied the Lord? Should I shun the epistles of Paul because he persecuted the church? People get burdens because they themselves were in the very same situation. Paul said that once we overcome we can comfort others with the very same comfort that we received.

[Cassidy]

"All you have really proved is that at one point in James life he was confused, and that at the time he wrote his epistle he was now burdened for others that were confused. You have not provided any evidence that the epistle itself is a mixture.

Should I disparage the epistles of Peter because he denied the Lord? Should I shun the epistles of Paul because he persecuted the church? People get burdens because they themselves were in the very same situation. Paul said that once we overcome we can comfort others with the very same comfort that we received."

Before, I say what I am about to say I feel a need to reiterate something. There are many attributes and qualities about James that are not only admirable but truly stellar. In the RCV footnotes in the book of James, Witness Lee writes a very glowing description of this precious brother and apostle.

ZNP,

You argument about considering Peter's mistakes in the gospels, and then not rejecting his epistle's because of those mistakes is a reasonable. No, we should not reject Peter's epistle's because he denied the Lord in the gospels.

Same for Saul who persecuted the church. We should not reject Paul's epistles written after his conversion just because he persecuted the church at one point before his conversion. I agree with you 100%.

As I indicated in my opening to this note, I also do not totally disregard the book of James and neither did Witness Lee.

However, in applying your reasonable argument to James we encounter an issue. And it is not insignificant. The epistle of James was written before Acts 21 which says that thousands among the Jews believed and they were "all are zealous for the law". So rather than, as in the case of Peter and Paul, a progression away from early errors we find James is not only the elder in a city where all are zealous for the law but James then proposes that Paul sponsors some new converts to observe a law ritual. The purpose of sponsoring the ritual is so that everyone will know that Paul was not teaching "apostasy from Moses", (such as not needing to circumcise their children). Since these events occurred after his epistle was written we cannot apply the same logic as we did for Peter and Paul.

The confusion James held about the Jewish believers needing to observe the OT law was being held and promoted by him even after his epistle was written.

[ZNPaaneah]

Originally Posted by Cassidy

"All you have really proved is that at one point in James life he was confused, and that at the time he wrote his epistle he was now burdened for others that were confused. You have not provided any evidence that the epistle itself is a mixture.

Should I disparage the epistles of Peter because he denied the Lord? Should I shun the epistles of Paul because he persecuted the church? People get burdens because they themselves were in the very same situation. Paul said that once we overcome we can comfort others with the very same comfort that we received."

Before, I say what I am about to say I feel a need to reiterate something. There are many attributes and qualities about James that are not only admirable but truly stellar. In the RCV footnotes in the book of James, Witness Lee writes a very glowing description of this precious brother and apostle.

ZNP,

You argument about considering Peter's mistakes in the gospels, and then not rejecting his epistle's because of those mistakes is a reasonable. No, we should not reject Peter's epistle's because he denied the Lord in the gospels.

Same for Saul who persecuted the church. We should not reject Paul's epistles written after his conversion just because he persecuted the church at one point before his conversion. I agree with you 100%.

As I indicated in my opening to this note, I also do not totally disregard the book of James and neither did Witness Lee.

However, in applying your reasonable argument to James we encounter an issue. And it is not insignificant. The epistle of James was written before Acts 21 which says that thousands among the Jews believed and they were "all are zealous for the law". So rather than, as in the case of Peter and Paul, a progression away from early errors we find James is not only the elder in a city where all are zealous for the law but James then proposes that Paul sponsors some new converts to observe a law ritual. The purpose of sponsoring the ritual is so that everyone will know that Paul was not teaching "apostasy from Moses", (such as not needing to circumcise their children). Since these events occurred after his epistle was written we cannot apply the same logic as we did for Peter and Paul.

The confusion James held about the Jewish believers needing to observe the OT law was being held and promoted by him even after his epistle was written.

Not only so but it is very likely that Galatians was written after the book of James, though perhaps within a couple of years of this book.

I have already said that Acts is a valid reason to question the book. But without something in the book itself you don't have evidence, only a suspicion.

It seems to me, (and this is merely my take on the NT, I am quite open to critique) that if Paul rebukes Peter to his face that is the kind of thing that is going to travel very quickly through the churches. (Imagine that BP rebukes Max R directly to his face when some from the LSM office come and visit. Do you honestly think that news would not go straight back to WL?)

If Paul's rebuke is directly related to James then I would expect James would hear it and consider it carefully. We know that Peter received the rebuke and I see no reason at all to think that James didn't also receive it. Also, the book of Galatians relates accounts and stories that happened prior to Paul writing the book. That seems quite obvious.

Now according to the book of Acts the period of time from Peter feeling that he could not eat with the gentiles to the time he realized that the Lord had shown him that is what he wanted to do, to the time he actually baptized them, to the time he met with James to defend these actions was a matter of days, perhaps a week or two. The fact that "all were zealous for the law" indicates that there is a real need to do something. Who better to repent than James? Who better to speak than James? There is no reason to think his repentance and then letter was years in the making. It could have been a month.

So, the account in Acts 21 shows that at the time that the book of James was written "all were zealous for the law". Seems like a compelling reason for why James was burdened to write. According to the account in Galatians and Acts we can surmise that much of this zealousness for the law was due to James himself. Again, seems like a compelling reason why he would repent and why he would be burdened to do something about it.

So once again, there are two very reasonable ways to look at this.

1. James had a mixed view, it caused everyone following him to also have a mixed view (those who came from James) and we can see this in his epistle. (However, to support this thesis you have to show direct quotes from his epistle which point to his error.)

2. James had a mixed view. It caused others to also be led astray. He was rebuked for this and repented, receiving a revelation (the Lord appeared to him) partly as a result of hearing of Paul's rebuke of Peter. After the Lord appeared to him he wrote the book of James to address the "double minded" situation described in Acts 21 and also in Galatians. (To support this thesis the book would have to be written to those who are confused "to the 12 tribes in the dispersion", it would have to very clearly state that Jesus is Lord and we are no longer in the OT "James a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ". It would have to explain this transition from the OT to the NT "the trying of faith worketh patience, but let patience have her perfect work" (the NT is a perfect work and is an example of how patient God is).

The point is you have to support your theory with what James actually wrote. Was his burden to teach Christians to be zealous for the Law or was his burden for those who were confused and trying to help them make the transition to the NT.

Now if I was Paul I would not be quick to write the account in Galatians. You need to give Peter and James an opportunity to digest it. However, once Peter and James have received the word and repented I would feel much better about sharing my side of the story. So the act of writing Galatians seems to me to indicate that yes, Paul rebuked them but they received the rebuke and repented. Otherwise, the fact that they rejected his rebuke should also be mentioned in Galatians to explain what caused the schism. We know that Paul was not shy about explaining why there was a schism with him and Mark.

[Cassidy]

"Now according to the book of Acts the period of time from Peter feeling that he could not eat with the gentiles to the time he realized that the Lord had shown him that is what he wanted to do, to the time he actually baptized them, to the time he met with James to defend these actions was a matter of days, perhaps a week or two. The fact that "all were zealous for the law" indicates that there is a real need to do something. Who better to repent than James? Who better to speak than James? There is no reason to think his repentance and then letter was years in the making. It could have been a month."

Brother ZNP,

The timeline for the events above were probably closer to 20 years.

Peter saw the vision from the roof of Simon the Tanner's house (which is still there by the way according to a certain tour guide ) and baptized the house of Cornelius up the coast shortly thereafter in the range of AD 39-41...

... and James wrote his epistle in about AD 48-51...

...and then the incident in Acts 21 where "all were zealous for the law" occurred around AD 58-60

[TLFisher]

Originally Posted by ZNPaaneah

The book of James makes it clear you cannot have a muddled, double minded view of the gospel. This may very well be a result of his repenting of having this view earlier in his life.

However, to support the assertion that James teaches us to keep the law they do not quote the Book of James, they quote the accounts in Acts and Galatians.

This would be like explaining Paul's teaching about "I am crucified with Christ" by teaching about how he dragged off Christians to be put to death. It may very well be that there is a strong contrast with his past, but it indicates his repentance for his sins.

Same can be said about Mark. Acts has a negative account of Mark and later on in Paul's epistles, there's an affirming word about Mark. Clearly something happened between the account in Acts and later as seen in Colossians, 2 Timothy, and Philemon.