The Faith and Witness of James

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The Faith and Witness of James

by Jonathon Wright

See Acts 6:1-8:3 for historical background.

Many Christians know and understand that James was a key leader who held the church together in Acts 15 at the Jerusalem Council. He was the one who stood up for Paul and the Gentiles to be included in the family of God. If he did not take a stand and wisely show from Scripture how it was God’s plan, would you and I even have known about or come to embrace Christ or Christianity?

The book of Acts is one of our primary sources concerning the apostles and the early Christians in Jerusalem. James was an apostle to the Jewish people in the same way that Paul was an apostle to the Gentiles. However, after Acts 15:13, James is mentioned one other time (see Acts 21:18). James is playing an important role and it is often overlooked. He, like many others, was an unsung hero of the New Testament Church. In my opinion, Peter may have been the rock that Christ used to help build the Church, but James was the glue that helped to hold the Church together—after the death of Stephen and the scattering of the Church.

The book of James gives the reader a glimpse into the teaching, doctrine, and character that kept the influence of the Gospel and the apostles in Jerusalem, even when the rest of the Christian world was scattered and pushed away. James offered the Church encouragement, practical wisdom, and sound doctrine that would bless and strengthen their faith. I hope as you read James you will see the significance and the value he had to the early Church and our daily lives.

Here I offer an overview of a key theme in James and some personal application:

An Optimistic Opening in James 1:1-14.

The author is writing to the scattered tribes of Israel, or Jewish Christians, that had been driven out of Jerusalem because of religious persecution. He encourages them to count it all as joy. James is not “a pie in the sky” kind of guy, or one who thinks life is always going to be pleasant. However, James started with an optimistic opening. He held a hope given to him by our Lord that they would be witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the world. He saw and understood that these events were a positive step to fulfill that promise Christ had given to

them. His opening encourages these early saints to wait and endure optimistically—simply because of who God is.

“Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him” (James 1:12).

I live my life by the principle to endure when hard times come. I do this with the hope of seeing better days—and God has got me through some tough times. How important do you think it is to have an optimistic faith kind of attitude, given the ever-changing circumstances of our lives?

About The Author

Jonathon Wright currently lives in Cleveland, Tennessee, and has been a member of the Church of God for about twenty years. He is a graduate of Lee University and Beacon University where he earned a BA and MA in Biblical Studies. He loves studying the Bible and has done so for over thirty years, but only now has God given him a desire and the opportunity to be a writer. He is currently beginning the process of writing a book on Genesis entitled, God’s Good Prophetic Plan: From Beginning to End.