Read James. It is five short chapters. What is the message James is trying to get across?
I think James is saying to follow through on recognizing as equals those whom we consider to be less knowledgeable than ourselves. He doesn't talk about communion, but this has everything to do with communion.
Those of us with protestant families tend to read James wrong, sometimes; focusing too much on belief. Where we start to get confused is 1:6 where the NIV says "must believe and not doubt." This is very confusing, because we think it is about belief. No. It is about faithfulness to persevere in what we ought to do.
James begins by talking about perseverance (1:4). This is his focus. He says perseverance is the tool that is being used to complete each person. In other words it is our path to success, a gift from God for our completion as Christians. To persevere, to endure. To endure what? People. We must honor and endure each other, but today we fail utterly to do this. We don't want to deal with people, and so we fail verse 1:6. We are double minded in this respect. James says that we are to consider it 'Pure joy'. Pure joy!? We do not consider it pure joy. James words, his short and sweet book thuds upon the floor where it becomes dusty and forgotten.
I think James is saying to follow through on recognizing as equals those whom we consider to be less knowledgeable than ourselves. He doesn't talk about communion, but this has everything to do with communion.
Those of us with protestant families tend to read James wrong, sometimes; focusing too much on belief. Where we start to get confused is 1:6 where the NIV says "must believe and not doubt." This is very confusing, because we think it is about belief. No. It is about faithfulness to persevere in what we ought to do.
James begins by talking about perseverance (1:4). This is his focus. He says perseverance is the tool that is being used to complete each person. In other words it is our path to success, a gift from God for our completion as Christians. To persevere, to endure. To endure what? People. We must honor and endure each other, but today we fail utterly to do this. We don't want to deal with people, and so we fail verse 1:6. We are double minded in this respect. James says that we are to consider it 'Pure joy'. Pure joy!? We do not consider it pure joy. James words, his short and sweet book thuds upon the floor where it becomes dusty and forgotten.