In C.S. Lewis’s classic series, The Chronicles of Narnia, Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucie wander into a magical world called Narnia. It was created by the powerful and mysterious Aslan, but is currently ruled by an evil witch, Jadis. The four are staying in the house of the Beavers when Edmund wanders off. Let’s listen to how they think they can help him, but how Mr. Beaver suggests best helping find Edmund. While Peter thinks they need to immediately go and find Edmund, Mr. Beaver urges them to find Aslan, the only hope for Edmund who has wandered off to her - to the white witch.
In James 5:20, we read “if one of you should wander from the truth … a sinner from the error of their way” (19-20). Pastor James knew that Christians, sadly, can wander into sin, and that such wandering is NEVER God’s will for our lives, NEVER blesses us, NEVER leads to happiness. The ancient pastor and theologian Augustine of Hippo described four different states for mankind in relation to sin. They’re helpful for understanding where we are as Christians.
Posse Peccare, Posse Non Peccare: Can sin and Can not to sin = Adam & Eve, Created to Worship, but fell into sin. “Man when he was created received great powers of free will, but lost them by sinning.” So originally we could sin or we could not sin. With the hiss of the serpent, sadly, mankind chose to sin and rebel against God.
Non Posse Non Peccare = Cannot not sin = The world, fallen in sin, love to sin. “Without the Spirit man’s will is not free, since it has been laid under by shackling and conquering desires.” Also “The free will has been so enslaved that it can have no power for righteousness.” Even when we become aware of our sin, we are powerless to overcome it, because we are enslaved to sin. It is the plight of every person before Christ to swap from one sin to another. Even the good we do is motivated only for our own glory, not for Jesus’s. Before Jesus, we cannot not sin.
Posse Non Peccare = Can not sin = Christians, empowered by the Holy Spirit, are still sinful but redeemed. We live in a tension between old man and new man. “If God has regard for him, and inspires him with faith in God’s help, and the Spirit of God begins to work in him, then the mightier power of love strives against the power of the flesh; and although there is still in the man’s own nature a power that fights against him (for his disease is not completely cured), yet he lives the life of the just by faith, and lives in righteousness so far as he does not yield to evil lust, but conquers it by the love of holiness.” When we by faith in Jesus alone become Christians, we have God’s power in us and can choose not to sin. Sadly, we can also still choose to sin. It’s a daily battle.
Non Posse Peccare = Cannot sin = Glorified Christians in heaven. “He who by steadfast piety advances in this course, shall attain at last to peace, that peace which, after this life is over, shall be perfected in the repose of the spirit, and finally in the resurrection of the body.” When Jesus returns, all who have trusted in Him for salvation, and submitted to Him as Lord, will not only be welcomed into heaven, but will be transformed so that we will never again want to sin at all, indeed our wills will be perfected so that we cannot and will not ever sin again.
So, a wandering Christian is someone who has professed faith in Jesus, they have the power of the Holy Spirit, but currently they are returning to the ways of the old man. They’re venturing back to sin town. They are giving into the fleshly desires, rather than the heavenly desires. They’re believing lies from Satan, taking again the forbidden fruit.
Can a Christian lose their salvation? Praise God, no, because God is too strong to lose one of His own. “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand,” (John 10:27-29). We are doubly held by the power of Father and Son, over whom none is greater. This includes our own power to rebel against Him. He lovingly conquers our hearts and keeps us saved to the end if we have truly received Him by faith.
“And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession – to the praise of his glory,” (Ephesians 1:13-14). The Holy Spirit guarantees we will be glorified, and remain God’s possession forever. So, by the combined power of Father and Son, and the indwelling guarantee of the Holy Spirit – by the full weight of the Trinitarian God, true Christians are kept saved until the end. No one can lose their salvation. The Baptist Faith and Message states: “All true believers endure to the end. Those whom God has accepted in Christ, and sanctified by His Spirit, will never fall away from the state of grace, but shall persevere to the end,” (BFM 2000, V. God’s Purpose of Grace).
But, if a Christian cannot lose her salvation, why does James mention: “Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death?” (James 5:20). First, the death James spoke of may simply be physical death. God is a loving Father, and so He disciplines those He loves. That discipline may be in the form of withholding monetary blessings when we are sinning or turning to idols, it may be in the form of withholding health to our physical bodies when we use our physical bodies to sin, it may be some other difficulty, all to call us back from sin to Himself. I think in some cases, God may even keep us saved by bringing about physical death.
James may also be speaking of spiritual death, and being separated from God forever in hell. While no true Christian can lose his salvation, there is such thing as a false believer. Some people pray a prayer and ask Jesus to save them, but they never submit to Jesus’s Lordship. They want heaven, but don’t want to journey with Jesus. They love their sin more than their savior. That’s why James warned against dead faith that claimed to trust Jesus, but did not obey Jesus. John also warned against such false believers: “No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God. This is how we know who the children of God and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not God’s child, nor is anyone who does not love their brother and sister,” (1 John 3:9-10). True Christians have the Holy Spirit. False believers do not have the Holy Spirit. True Christians are changed by the Holy Spirit to more and more put sin to death. False believers are not changed by the Holy Spirit and continue sin habits unchanged. When true Christians stumble into sin, God convicts them and they repent. When false believers stumble into sin, they are content to stay there. So, the book of James has warned us not to be comfortable in our sin: If you love your sin more than Jesus, you may not be a Christian. If you are unwilling to obey Jesus, you may not be a Christian. If you are comfortable habitually disobeying Jesus, you may not be a Christian.
Now we come to the point of these last two verses, James says that one of the ways God keeps true Christians saved, even though true Christians sadly do wander into sin at times, God calls and sends other Christians to help, guide, warn, and turn wandering Christians back to Jesus. If “someone should bring that person back” (19), and “whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them” (20) point to a special "someone" and a special "whoever." These last two verses are a call to look around at fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. To know them. To care for them in love. To be sensitive to their sufferings, and to love them enough to turn them back from living in sin town. CHRISTIAN, YOU’RE CALLED BY GOD TO LOVE OTHERS ENOUGH TO BRING ‘EM BACK FROM SIN TO JOURNEYING WITH JESUS.
All true believers endure to the end by God’s power. AND, God often uses the means of loving Christians to keep wandering Christians saved to the end. You are not only called, as a Christian, to walk with Jesus, but also to help others walk with Jesus. Sometimes that’s with encouragement “KEEP GOING” and “ATTA BOY”. Sometimes that’s with loving truth: “COME BACK” and “DON’T GO THAT WAY.” Paul explained it this way: “Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ,” (Galatians 6:1-2). James called out the someone’s and the whoever’s who would bring ‘em back and turn sinners from their ways. Paul called out the you who’s to restore those caught in sin gently. Christian, be the someone, be the whoever, be the you who (not the delicious chocolate drink, but you who live by the Spirit and help someone caught in sin).
One of the ways God guarantees our salvation is when we wander in sin, He moves the hearts of other Christians to come and bring us back to walking with Jesus. You are called to then help wandering Christians come back to walking with Jesus. We know Christians are called to love one another. How easy it is to love Christians when they are living like Christians. But what about when they’re not? What about when your friend stops going to church, picks back up their old sin habit, and starts living like they did before Jesus? What does love look like then? It doesn’t look like ignoring them. It doesn’t look like pretending nothing has changed. It doesn’t look like condemning them impatiently. It looks like lovingly bring ‘em back to Jesus.
Now we’re ready to understand what James meant by the last verse: “Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins” (20). Who knows how many times we will hear on the final day, that God’s Spirit sent this friend or that someone, or that you who, and they intervened and that was a turning point back to Jesus? Christian, God is calling you to walk with Jesus and to help others walk with Jesus. Christian, what if in heaven God celebrates your faithfulness to love your friend enough to bring ‘em back from sin to walking with Jesus?
What does it mean to cover a multitude of sins? We know that someone is only saved by God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ. I don’t save anyone. God uses me to speak the gospel, and to turn the volume up on the gospel by loving someone with patience and grace. But no Christian saves anyone, only God does that. And, think about what happens when someone turns back to walking with Jesus:
THEY’RE SINS STOP. The first multitude of sins that are covered is the wandering Christians. By calling them back, when they return to walking with Jesus, when they repent, hundreds or thousands of future sins are avoided. Sin spreads. When one sin is stopped, the future spread of sin is also stopped. Suppose you know a Christian couple who is struggling in their marriage. He’s tired of her nagging. She’s tired of feeling neglected. He says, “She doesn’t respect me.” She tells others, “He doesn’t love my anymore.” He begins turning to pornography to escape. She begins turning to romantic novels for an emotional escape. He feels justified when he begins noticing another woman at work. She feels justified when she wants a divorce and wants out. Did you see the multitude of sins? From internal sins, to verbal sins, to action sins.
What if this story didn’t end in divorce? What is when the man was talking to his friend and complaining about his wife, the friend said, “Hey man, be careful. I’m sorry you and your wife are struggling, but don’t speak about her like that. Love her with your words, too. Is everything ok between you guys?” What if the man hears this, and the affair never happens? What if the pornography is confessed? What if the marriage is saved? What if when the woman tells her friend what a horrible husband she has, the friend loves her enough to ask, “Hey, it seems like there’s a lot going on. Tell me, why did you say that about your husband. Are y’all ok?” Then, the friend brings in their pastor. The couple begins to get counseling. Sin is confessed and repented of. He apologizes for neglecting her and changes his work schedule. She apologizes for nagging him, and begins lifting him up. A year later they celebrate and anniversary and thank God. Do you see? A multitude of sins is covered and stopped when repentance occurs. God is calling out the YOU WHO’s to bring ‘em back to Jesus.
We also cover a multitude of sins WITHIN THE CHURCH. One of the reasons the Bible commands us to join a local church as brothers and sisters is so we can help one when someone wanders into sin. I and the pastors of this church are charged with shepherding the flock of Jesus. The flock we are charged with is those members of this church. The rest are guests. I’m not charged with shepherding you. My prayer is that you’ll turn to Jesus and join this flock. I welcome you, but you’re not yet under my charge. When a member of this church is lovingly called out of sin back to Jesus, and they repent, not only does the cycle of sin stop, but other members of this church may also be helped not to turn to sin.
I knew a couple once who was very similar to the one we just spoke about. He moved out. She began an emotional affair with someone at work. He prayed for her. Christian friends reached out to her and begged her to turn back to Jesus. After much time and prayer she did – she turned to Jesus. She broke off the affair before it became physical. One night she stood up in the church and publicly apologized to God, and to her husband. There was a lot of celebrating. It was beautiful. Not only was that family impacted, but the whole church was impacted. By their example of repentance, many marriages were strengthened. Many sins covered.
Finally, I think the multitude of sins covered can also refer to IN THE WORLD. You see, when Christians love one another enough to bring one another back from sin to walking with Jesus, we are a compelling community the world cannot ignore. The world says, “if you’re not harming others live however you want.” Our nation is filled with APATHY – you live your life, I’ll live my life. There’s very little love. Not true love anyway. So, when the world sees a family of believers who says, “NO! I love you too much to ignore the sin you’re wandering into. I’m going to patiently seek to bring you back to Jesus,” there’s something profoundly compelling about that love. Who knows how many millions have been attracted to Jesus, and who’s sins are ultimately forgiven by faith in Jesus, because they found a church filled with people who actually loved one another?
Let’s recap. James is calling Christians to be the someone’s, the whoever’s, the you who’s who will bring back wandering Christians to walking with Jesus. As a follower of Jesus, not only am I called to journey with Jesus, I’m called to help others journey with Jesus. It’s part of what loving one another entails.
How do we bring ‘em back? FROM ERROR TO TRUTH IN LOVE.
Suppose you agree with James. Suppose you know someone wandering from the truth. Traveling off the narrow road of journeying with Jesus and going back to the broad road that leads to destruction. Suppose you want to be the “YOU WHO” and bring them back to Jesus. HOW? I almost imagine Pastor James smiling and saying, “That’s what I’ve been telling you all along.” I mean, there’s no verse 21. For such a practical book, one could charge James with not getting practical and telling us how to be the someone that brings a person back from sin. But, I think James is wiser than we credit him. I think he almost expected us to cycle back through his letter, but rereading it for HOW to help BRING ‘EM BACK. I reread James and found 21 ways Christians can wander from the truth, with hints and suggestions through the letter for how to bring ‘em back.
TO BRING ‘EM BACK FROM SIN & ERROR, LOVE ‘EM WITH TRUTH. The general approach of James is to love ‘em with truth. That is to patiently point them back to Jesus with Scripture, with prayer, with a tenacious friendship that neither ignores nor approves of sin, but doesn’t have an “I’m done with you” attitude, either.
1. Some may have begun doubting God, embracing a double-minded approach to life and religion (perhaps dabbling in idolatry to solve their difficulties): “But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind,” (James 1:6). To help a doubter, pursue joy in God together. Help the doubter with praying together out loud, and reading Scripture together out loud, so that they can taste and see that the Lord is good.
2. Some may have begun grumbling because of their poverty, or boasting because of their wealth: “Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position. But the rich should take pride in their humiliation – since they will pass away like a wild flower,” (James 1:9). To help a poor brother trust God, study who we are in Christ and what benefits we have (now and forever) because of our salvation. Together speak the gospel to the lost and share testimonies remembering the infinite riches we have in Jesus. To help the rich brother stay humble, practice confessing sins and serving others. There is healing from greed to using our time, talents, and resources to serve.
3. Some may be ready to give up faith in Jesus because the trials have become too hard: “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). Struggling Christians need to be reminded of what God has promised: what is the hope of heaven? What is eternal life? How much does God love us? Help them to experience the gospel again. Directing them to a devotional experience of Jesus is helpful. Maybe read one of the gospels aloud, and then take time to highlight how good Jesus is. What if you offered to read the gospel of John with them?
4. Some may have been tempted to blame God for their mistakes: “When tempted, no one should say, ‘God is tempting me.’ For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire,” (James 1:13-14). Christians who are wandering into sin may get defensive, and may try to excuse their sin by blaming God and others: “God made me like this!” or “God put me in this position.” With compassion, give ‘em TRUTH. We must help Christians take responsibility for their own evil choices, as well as focus on knowing the Holy God as He is. Help them understand God and His attributes, as well as practice confessing their sins rather than trying to excuse them.
5. Some may have been deceived into thinking other gods offer good gifts, or God has ceased being good to them due to their hardships: “Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights,” (James 1:17). Christians wandering into sin may put distance between themselves and God thinking God has failed them. Keep inviting them to church, and keep praying for them and visiting with them. Model for them gratitude towards God so they too can begin thanking God for daily blessings. Together, serve someone else. Often when we take God’s gifts for granted, we have become myopic, and willfully blind to others’ suffering.
6. Some have begun sinning with angry words: “My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires,” (James 1:19-20). Christians wandering into error will sometimes say harsh things from an angry heart. First, develop a skin thick with grace so as to overlook insults. And, at times confront the harsh speaking. “What you said hurt me.” Ask them to identify the cause of their anger and model kindness. “You seem upset. Can you help me understand what’s fueling your anger? I care about you. I’m here to listen. Please tell me what’s going on.” If they open up, don’t immediately try to fix them. Instead, empathize and offer to pray with them. “Wow, that’s a lot. I’m sorry for you. Can we pray together?” Then, ask if they are ready to hear what God has to say. Take them back to God’s word.
7. Some have begun emulating the world in a variety of morally filthy choices: “Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you,” (James 1:21). Christians wandering into sin do need to have sin called out for the evil that it is. Confront them, in love, not based on pet peeves, but based on true sins. “From what you’ve told me, one issue is that when you said this, you were in sin. Because the Bible says not to say such things.” Then, take them back to Jesus. “And, we know that if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Would you like to confess your sins? I’m willing to pray with you.”
8. Some have deceived themselves by thinking that Christianity is a mental exercise, rather than a call to obedience: “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says,” (Jam 1:22). Christians wandering into sin may not see the sin they’re wandering into. And, they may be able to talk a good game, knowing a lot of good theology. Helping them will include calling them not only to repent of sins they have committed, but to put on practices they have omitted. For instance, many Christians can tell you that Jesus expects us to commit to following Him, but when it comes to consistently attending church, we endlessly excuse ourselves: “I was too tired this week. I was busy. I wasn’t feeling great. I’m exhausted. I don’t get anything out of it. It’s boring.” And on and on the list goes. When helping wandering Christians, we will need to model for them the kinds of things Jesus says to do, and one of those is to not give up the habit of meeting together. By your faithful attendance, and faithfully inviting those who aren’t here, you can help turn a wandering Christian back to the truth.
9. Some think they’re great Christians, but have wandered into ungodly speech (boasting, lying, inaccurate theology, slandering others): “Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress,” (Jam 1:26-27). Christians who think too highly of themselves and are not careful with their words certainly have an arrogance problem. Sometimes, praying for them and inviting them to care for others is the best remedy, rather than listening to them brag about themselves. While at times, listening to someone shows compassion, at other times it encourages them in their sin. People who are self-absorbed do not need an audience, they need to stop obsessing about themselves. Instead, invite them to come and help someone else, serve someone else, care for someone else, provide for someone else, listen to someone else. They need to speak less and listen more.
10. Some Christians have begun showing favoritism towards the rich: “My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism,” (James 2:1). Christians suffering under hardship may wander away from the godly value of all people, and begin valuing those who can help them. Gently help them to view people God’s way, and from an eternal perspective: “Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised to those who love him?” (James 2:5). Invite them to small group Bible study, or to meet others from your church, and to invest in eternal riches (which always includes people). Serving in children’s ministry would be perfect.
11. Some Christians have wandered into unmerciful actions, failing to extend mercy to fellow Christians: “Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful,” (James 2:12-13). Sometimes Christians can treat one another poorly, and a revenge cycle ensues. Churches die this way. Be the one to initiate a good change by being quick to forgive. Help someone wandering into an unforgiving and unmerciful position by rehearsing the gospel: it’s light side and dark side. The dark side of the gospel is that we all deserve God’s wrath for our sins against Him. We will appear before God for judgment. The light side of the gospel is that we are forgiven by God’s grace towards us in Jesus Christ if we believe. If we have been shown that degree of mercy, why not extend mercy to others? Remember the story Jesus told? The master forgave the begging servant a mountain of debt. Then the servant was flint-hearted towards a friend who owed him a small sum. When the master heard of the servant’s unmerciful harshness, he threw the worthless servant in jail. Jesus warned, “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart,” (Matthew 18:35). Acknowledge when Christians are not treated fairly, but call one another to mercy, because God shows us mercy in Jesus Christ.
12. Some Christians lived however they wanted, relying on their profession for their assurance of salvation: “What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? … faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead,” (James 2:14-17). Christians wandering into “anything goes” lifestyles need to be reminded of God’s holiness, and the nature of our salvation. Remind them, as James did, that demons believe there is a God, and even fear Him, but they refuse to honor Him by trusting and obeying Him. When we live as if we can merely profess faith, but not obey Jesus, we’re being demonic. Challenge them to join you as you put your faith into practice, especially in caring for others in their times of need – go together and pray for someone else. This can wake someone up fast!
13. Some Christians have wandered with their mouths by tearing down others in the congregation setting the church on fire with harsh words as it were: “With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be,” (James 3:9-10). Christians who use God’s air, and the lungs and vocal cords God created for them to praise God and curse others, need to be called out: “Do you realize how harsh what you just said was?” Help them to hear the poison and get a sense of the damage words can do, “When you speak to your wife like that, you are poisoning your marriage.” “When your son hears those hot words, it’s like you’re burning your son.” “You are filling the church with delicious water from your praise music, but filthy water in the way you harshly criticize.” Study Jesus and how he used His words to perfectly bless those He was around, and how he controlled his words when angry. Encourage them to genuinely apologize to those they have hurt with their unkind words.
14. Some Christians wandered into self-promoting ambition, and were vocally envious of others: “If you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such ‘wisdom’ does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic,” (James 3:15). Christians who look at churches with more money, more people, more resources and speak enviously or aspire to someday be a “real church” like them, or Christians who covet positions of leadership in order to make a name for themselves, are guilty of this kind of error. Help turn them away from their sinful ambition by pursuing heavenly wisdom: “But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy, and good fruit, impartial and sincere,” (James 3:17). After studying each aspect of heavenly wisdom, pursue them. Hunt for ways to promote peace, to consider others, to submit to godly leaders. Model for them praying for leaders, especially when tempted to think they could do such a better job if only they were in charge.
15. Some Christians wandered away from the truth into the error of fighting with one another: “What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you?” (James 4:1). Fighting Christians need to look at the pride in their own hearts, discerning their own contribution to the disagreement. Help them to remember that there’s spiritual warfare going on daily, and that fighting within God’s family only furthers Satan’s agenda: “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you,” (James 4:7). Help them humble themselves before God by confessing their sin, and leading in reconciling with those they fought. So much good comes from apologizing for the “little things.” “I’m sorry I spoke harshly with you. Please forgive me,” can bring a lot of healing.
16. Some Christians gossiped about others, or gave some people a bad reputation by false reports: “Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister or judges speaks against the law and judges it,” (James 4:11). Christians who slander other Christians are forgetting their roles. God alone is the judge. Our role is not to try to punish one another with condemning words. Lead them to write letters of apology, or offer to help mediate so they can apologize to those they have slandered. It’s ok to get one of the pastors involved here.
17. Some wealthy Christians boasted about their future financial success, even before they had earned the money: “Now listen, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money. Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow.” (James 4:13-14). Wealthy Christians can be easily lured to trust their wealth, and their abilities to earn money, as their source of happiness. Help them understand God’s omnipotence, God’s omnipresence, and God’s omniscience. Help them to worship Almighty God, and not the almighty dollar. Encourage them to embrace the good life of giving money away so that it doesn’t claim such a tight hold on their hearts. Talk about how good it feels to support a heavenly cause.
18. Some wealthy Christians did not pay their employees fairly or obtained their wealth in deceitful ways: “Now listen, you rich people … your wealth has rotten … Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out against you,” (James 5:1-4). Wealthy Christians who are successful in the world’s eyes can overlook “small” sins in the name of success: “The ends justify the means,” so the worldly wisdom goes. Help them to think of people, not just “business.” Have they met their employees? What are their names? Do they have families? Help them to see Jesus’s compassion on people, especially the poor, hungry, helpless. Meet them where they work so you can understand their world. Help them brainstorm ways to be generous Christian bosses. Hold them accountable.
19. Some suffering Christians looked to get-rich-quick schemes to get out of poverty: “Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming,” (James 5:7). There’s a strong lure to want to end financial difficulty ASAP by any means. But, help Christians not make foolish financial choices. Praise simple, dependable, hard work. Call out laziness and impatience. Remind them that Jesus will return, and make all things new.
20. Some suffering Christians swore oaths or entered financial agreements to get out of poverty: “Above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear – not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. All you need to say is a simple ‘Yes’ or ‘No.’” (James 5:12). Suffering Christians may be tempted to wander into foolish financial agreements. Pledging tomorrow’s earnings for today’s desires. Help Christians consider a purchase carefully before buying, especially buying on credit. Foster a culture of contentment, rather than “keeping up with the Joneses.” What if we can have more fun with low-cost things, rather than having to have the nicest clothes, the newest cars, or the most expensive experiences? Don’t participate in foolish financial agreements, such as massive credit card debt, or encouraging others to do similar foolish things.
21. Some suffering Christians wandered away from God by neglecting prayer: “Pray for each other so that you may be healed,” (James 5:16). Busy, suffering Christians may wander simply by neglecting God, and leaving off prayer to that indefinite ‘tomorrow.’ Invade such foolish sin with prayer NOW. Pray together. Pray often. Don’t just say, “I’ll pray for you.” Stop, pray. We need to lift one another up in prayer exponentially more than we do.
So, to bring ‘em back, love ‘em with the truth. Christian, this is a high-calling, to love someone enough to help them back from wandering away. Be the YOU WHO lives by the Spirit and restores someone gently.
In Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, we see the culmination of a years-long saga of wandering come to a close. Darth Vader delivers his son, Luke Skywalker to Emperor Palpatine. Little did Vader know, Luke’s plan was to call Anakin Skywalker, his father, back to the light, even risking his own life in the process. First, Emperor Palpatine forced Darth Vader and Luke to a lightsaber duel, a duel that Luke won. But, before he struck down his father, Luke stopped. He flung away his lightsaber and declared to the Emperor in defiance, “Never. I’ll never turn to the dark side. You failed, your highness. I’m a jedi, like my father before me.” In frustration Palpatine sends lightning bolts scorching through Luke’s body. As he suffers, Luke cries out, “Father, please.” Something inside of Anakin Skywalker snaps, or turns back on, and in a moment, he seizes the Emperor and hurls him down into the ship’s reactor core. Anakin’s years of wandering come to a close. Within minutes Anakin will pass away, but not before he tells Luke, “Tell your sister, you were right.” Anakin was once a Jedi, but for years wandered away to the dark side as a Sith Lord. As Obi-Wan Kenobi put it, Darth Vader betrayed and murdered Anakin because he was seduced to the dark side. Most gave up on Anakin as a completely lost cause. But his son, Luke, didn’t give up on him, but pursued this wanderer to call him back. Christian, pursue those wandering, and seek to help them turn back to journeying with Jesus.
Scott Hubbard wrote a helpful article on Desiring God, to help Christians think about what we really need when we slowly begin to wander away from Jesus. Listen to this wake up call: The longer you fight against your sin, the more temptations you may face to no longer fight so hard. Once, perhaps, your zeal burned; your spiritual blood boiled. But as months passed and years rolled by, desires for a more comfortable Christianity somehow wedged beneath your armor. Paul talks of killing sin, starving sin, but you have begun to wonder whether a less decisive, more long-term approach may work just as well. Jesus speaks of tearing out an eye and cutting off a hand – you theoretically agree, but if honest, can hardly imagine self-denial so extreme. You may have once found relish in the righteous ferocity of a man like John Own, who wrote of walking over the bellies of his lusts. But some time has passed since your boots have trampled any lusts. And as another Puritan once put it, you may feel tempted to speak of your sins as Lot did of Zoar: “Is it not a little one?” (Genesis 19:20). Time makes way for many little sins – and little sins, in time, make way for large ones. The softening happens slowly, by degrees, and I can attest. And often, what we need most in such seasons is a righteous trumpet blast, a rousing note that shakes the bones and awakens us back to reality. Such the apostle John gives to us in his first letter: “No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God,” (1 John 3:9). To the question, ‘Can the born again make a practice of sinning?” John responds simply, clearly, unequivocally: impossible.
Do you desperately need to hear the trumpet blast? WAKE UP, when you’re toying with sin, you’re toying with death. Christians cannot lose their salvation, but habitual sinners may not be true Christians. Wake up! Repent! Turn to Jesus. By His grace, work to put sin to death. Don’t be comfortable in your sin. Begin praying and confessing now, and find sweet forgiveness in Jesus, as well as the strength to put your sin more and more to death.
Is the Holy Spirit moving you to put the trumpet to your lips? You may be called to be the trumpet blast that lovingly wakes someone else up. Find your courage in Christ. Stop giving into timidity. Fathers, tell your sons what happens when they refuse to return to Christ. May we be the people, the YOU WHO’s, to bring ‘em back with loving truth to Jesus.
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