Be Patient Until . . .

The words to this video don’t precisely fit James’ message today. But, I can’t resist playing it, because when our kids were small, they loved Music Machine. Give a listen.

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Be patient, then, my friends, until the Lord comes. See how patient farmers are as they wait for their land to produce precious crops. They wait patiently for the autumn and spring rains. You also must be patient. Keep your hopes high, for the day of the Lord’s coming is near. Do not complain against one another, my friends, so that God will not judge you. The Judge is near, ready to appear. My friends, remember the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. Take them as examples of patient endurance under suffering. We call them happy because they endured. You have heard of Job’s patience, and you know how the Lord provided for him in the end. For the Lord is full of mercy and compassion. Above all, my friends, do not use an oath when you make a promise. Do not swear by heaven or by earth or by anything else. Say only “Yes” when you mean yes, and “No” when you mean no, and then you will not come under God’s judgment (James 5:7-12, TEV).

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News about intolerance toward American Christians comes in occasional reports, making the acts seem isolated—until they pile up in the following summary from “Time Magazine” . . .

“Some of the faithful have paid unexpected prices for their beliefs lately: the teacher in New Jersey suspended for giving a student a Bible; the football coach in Washington placed on leave for saying a prayer on the field at the end of a game; the fire chief in Atlanta fired for self-publishing a book defending Christian moral teaching; the Marine court-martialed for pasting a Bible verse above her desk; and other examples of the new intolerance. Anti-Christian activists hurl smears like “bigot” and “hater” at Americans who hold traditional beliefs about marriage and accuse anti-abortion Christians of waging a supposed ‘war on women’.

“Some Christian institutions face pressure to conform to secularist ideology—or else. Flagship evangelical schools like Gordon College in Massachusetts and Kings College in New York have had their accreditation questioned. Some secularists argue that Christian schools don’t deserve accreditation, period. Activists have targeted home-schooling for being a Christian thing; atheist Richard Dawkins and others have even called it tantamount to child abuse. Student groups like InterVarsity have been kicked off campuses. Christian charities, including adoption agencies, Catholic hospitals and crisis pregnancy centers have become objects of attack”.

Jewish Christians faced harsher intolerance in the decade after Jesus’ death, resurrection and ascension. While many Jews trusted Jesus as Messiah, many more held the Sanhedrin’s view that Jesus was a deceiver who diverted the Jews from ridding Jerusalem of the Romans. Driven from their homes, these Jewish Christians often found themselves at the mercy of wealthy landowners. To those Jewish Christians, James writes these encouraging words . . .

Call for Patience (5:7a).

“Patient” (five times in varied forms here) is the Greek makrothumeo—patient with stress on waiting. How long? ” . . . until the Lord comes.” Then the need to patiently endure injustice will be no more.

Like the Farmers (5:7b).

Jewish Christian works see this daily: landowners waiting for harvest they expect to come from the seasonal rains they expect to fall. A lesson from God’s creation . . .

Be Patient (5:8).

“Keep your hopes high” is “Today’s English Version’s” translation of the Greek stayrizo— “establish” or “strengthen your hearts” so they remain immovable. Why? ” . . . for the day of the Lord’s coming is near.”

No Complaining (5:9).

The stress of unjust suffering boils grumbling up. Friend becomes enemy. Nerves fray. The closest brother turns into a convenient target. But they mustn’t “complain against one another” so that they will not incur God’s judgment. And he is near. At the door.

Remember the Prophets (5:10,11).

Suffering isn’t strange for God’s people. Their prophets are their models. These Jewish Christians stand in the prophets’ line. And when we think of them, James reminds them, “We call them makarizom (blessed, happy, favored) because they endured.” A beatitude: “Blessed are those who endure suffering for the Lord is full of mercy and compassion.” Not only with his coming will injustice end, but in today’s suffering there is favor for the forebearer. And how can we be confident the Lord is full of mercy and compassion? We see his mercy and compassion lavished on Job in the end.

Speak Simply Honest (5:12).

Perhaps in their suffering stress, these Jewish Christians brothers are promising to “do better next time.” Hard to tell from the context. One thing, however, is clear. Swearing oaths to keep a promise should be unnecessary. When they say “yes” they should mean simply “yes.” When “no” they should mean simply “no.” Plain, unvarnished honesty.

If these Jewish Christians lived in America today, they’d probably march in protest or sue the landowners! Our society is litigious; that, is, we’re a contentious people prone to lawsuits. So the imperative, “be patient until the Lord comes”, sounds quaint and falls on deaf ears.

Even so injustice remains. Wrongs don’t get righted. The poor and powerless are vulnerable to the rich and influential. The summary of intolerance toward Christians (above) reminds us that, while we have legal recourse in America. it seems as if anything pertaining to sexuality holds sway over religious freedom.

But the Judge, our Lord, is standing at the door. He will come to right the wrongs. And from then on forever righteousness shall reign.