crackedharp

There are so many verses in the Bible about controlling and taming the tongue (I have read them all, because this is where I struggle the most!) I think James chose controlling the tongue as a "test", because it is such a difficult task. There probably isn't a better outward expression of what is inside our hearts and minds than what comes out of our mouth. One of my favorite verses is the one that says a spring can't give forth both fresh and bad water.... Taking care of orphans and widows is another outward expression of what is really inside. I don't remember where it is in the Bible that is says "what good does it do to tell someone who is hungry, 'Be filled'!" I think James is again reminding us we can't just be hearers of the Word.

I'm not sure there is a difference between the perfect/royal law? He is referring to "love your neighbor as yourself" and "Love the lord your God with all your heart, mind and soul". This law frees us from having to worry about a list of do's and don'ts...If we truly are focusing on the "perfect law", we will still be following all of God's commands, but not out of fear, or because we are trying to meet a list of requirements, but because we have been forever changed and forever freed from sin. We now obey His law through the power of His grace, the outpouring of His love within us... It is probably only in the past year or so that I have really realized the liberty that life in Christ gives. It is hard for me to express it, but I finally know I am free, a slave to sin no more. Christians sometimes get so bogged down in things like the length of women's skirts, whether to go to Disney movies, what kind of music is acceptable...I think that lately I am really impatient with such discussions. If I am truly free, if I am a new creation, then suddenly I'm not driven by how long my hem should be, or what my radio dial is tuned to. Because I am a child of Christ, I will now by his grace act and think differently. The same music I used to tolerate as "not that bad" is suddenly offensive and no longer something I want in my life. It's not that I don't listen to it because it is "bad", it is because I am free from that way of thinking, the mindset in those songs. Now I hear the lyrics and think, "If you only knew the real Answer!".

God asks some pretty big things of us...If we are thinking that we have to live up to his standards in our own strength..then it isn't any wonder we just want to be "hearers and not doers". I love watching home improvement shows. I've learned a lot of home improvement lingo, but it really looks like a lot of work, and I don't really want to be a "doer"! I think we approach our own lives as Christians in much the same way..."Love your neighbor...that sounds great....Be slow to anger....yeah, absolutely....But then when you come face to face with your neighbor and his annoying barking dog and foul mouthed kids that throw trash on you lawn...It's hard work to apply Christ's teachings! I don't want to love that annoying neighbor! I think once I started to realize that I can't ever do all Christ taught in my own strength, that I can't ever be a "doer" of his word on my own... that's when I started to ask for His help! Now I pray for His help and grace to deal with my annoying neighbor in a way that will please Him.

I have only been in one other Bible study before this one. (online or "real") I'm having a hard time responding to these questions without feeling like I am just parroting back what I just read. I guess I'll just respond to the second part of the question... I think your spiritual life better have everything to do with the Word. Prayer is great, church is great, even listening to Christian radio can be a part of your "spiritual life", but unless you are rooted in the Word, you aren't going to grow and flourish in your relationship with God. I really don't have as strong a background in what the Bible actually says as I should. I have been a Christian since I was eight, but I absorbed all sorts of ideas and beliefs along the way that didn't really come from God's word, but from the traditions of whatever denomination I happened to be attending. Within the past few years, we had a pastor that preached some things I hadn't ever heard before...I'm still not sure I agree with what he preached, but it taught me the importance of knowing God's Word so I can recognize false doctrine when I hear it.

To me the "doublemindedness" made me think of when I sort of half-heartedly pray about something, but press on with whatever I think will be the best solution. So hopefully new trials will help me pray and seek God's help first instead of as an afterthought, or as a way to "cover the bases", (but not really expecting any real answer). For me it is often after the trial that my faith grows the most....when I have the realization that God delivered me from the trial and I can see his hand in all that happened.

Why do people blame God for evil? I think because we only see such a small part of God's plan, it is sometimes easy to blame God for the evil around us. It is easy to think, "If God really loves me, if he really is in charge, he could keep this from happening to me". Does God tempt us with evil? Does he tempt sinful people with evil? This passage makes it pretty clear that God doesn't do the tempting. Why does he allow people to sin? Why does he allow evil to exist at all? I'm not sure I've got a quick answer for that one. I'm not sure any of the answers I've read really satisfy me either....

I think the trials in my life lately have made me realize I can't do things through my own strength, or intelligence, or hard work...I have learned I need God with me every step of the way. I think Satan tries to use trials to distract me, to keep me so busy with dealing with my circumstances that I don't immediately turn to God for help. I'm trying to hold on to the verse from the old hymn "What a Friend we have in Jesus"..."Oh what needless pain we suffer..take it to the Lord in prayer"

Hi, My name is Laurie and I'm from the Sacramento, CA area. James is my favorite book of the Bible, so I thought it would be a good one to try for an online Bible Study. Hopefully I will find time to keep up with it!