Ralph Porter

© 2003

    How do we respond when the pressure rises? When times are hard and we don't know what to expect tomorrow?

    Back in 1982-83 we lived in a town in Guatemala that was right in the heart of the revolutionary guerilla movement. People were concerned about their future. Some Christians paid with their lives for being faithful to their convictions and living for Christ. We were asked to minister to the pastors in El Salvador, where things were even worse and it was uncertain from one visit to the next if we would ever see our brothers in Christ again. The pressure was rising and it cost them something to be faithful.

    A few years ago we took a close look at world conditions and took a "snap shot" of what was going on in different parts of the world at the same time. In Nepal, twenty-eight Christians were hospitalized on Good Friday after being beaten by police. In Nigeria, thirty-six persons were reported killed and $4 million in property was destroyed when Muslim bandits attacked a Christian community

    In India, Hindu nationalists launched a series of attacks against Christians. In Chechnya, a rash of kidnappings and brutal murders prompted evangelical Christians to flee one town. Indonesian churches were burned by militant Muslim mobs. In Pakistan, more than a dozen Christians were charged with violating a blasphemy law. In Viet Nam, thirty pastors were imprisoned for serving Christ. Individuals who follow unsanctioned religious groups were subject to harassment and arrest.

    It's reported that more than two hundred million Christians in more than seventy countries face the relentless threat of persecution for their faith. The events at Columbine High School a couple of years ago made us all wonder how close to our own backyard that persecution may come! As a child growing up in the United States, I never thought I would see the day when Christians were hated and persecuted in this country. But that day has come and I expect conditions will get worse before they get better.

    Biblical examples of people suffering seem "Long ago and far away!" It's not so long ago! And not so far away! We really don't know what to expect in the future! How do we respond when the hard times come?

    Max Lucado tells us that when a potter bakes a pot, he checks its solidity by pulling it out of the oven and thumping it. If it "sings," it's ready. If it "thuds," it's placed back in the oven. The character of a person is also checked by thumping. In contrast to the first century church of James day, and the persecution endured by the church in some parts of the world today, the worst we may have to deal with in our life is a bit of "thumping!" How do we respond when we're "thumped" by people at work, school, family, or people in the grocery store?

    The worst pressure most of us have to deal with is late night phone calls, a grouchy teacher or boss, a grumpy mom, a complaining husband, burnt meals, or flat tires.

    For others it's a lot worse. George Stulac tells the story of Jim and Marie. They devoted themselves to building what they had: a good income, nice home in the country, two fine sons-now grown young men. Then, one night, their older son stopped to check the mailbox near their home. A truck came over the hill and smashed into him. A year later, they had lost their son and lost his job. Leaving a friend's home one evening, Jim commented: "You know, in the last year I've lost my son and l've lost my job, -and I've never been happier in my life!"

    Is there an observable difference between the way we face hard times and the way people around us who don't know Christ face them? Hard times demonstrate the true nature of our faith in Christ. James was written to help God's people face times like these.

    I believe that the church needs to become more familiar with the biblical books written to prepare God's people for hard times. Many biblical books were written for that reason: James, Peter, Hebrews, Philippians, Job, Daniel, Revelation, and parts of others.

    I'm not an alarmist--there are already too many of those around! But I do believe that the Lord wants His people to know how to face suffering for His name. He wants us to know how to respond when the pressure rises in our lives.

    James was written to Jewish believers, about ten to twenty years after the death of Christ. They were scattered because of the Jewish persecution (Acts 8:1-4). They were suffering for their faith. They were expelled from their synagogue. They were cut off from their families. Many lost their jobs or had their businesses boycotted.

    How do we respond when facing those kinds of issues? The pressures of life produce a self-centered interest in self-preservation! We try to protect ourselves! These suffering believers are watching out for themselves; not helping one another. Some were throwing in the towel.

    James, as a pastor of the Jerusalem church, felt a pastoral responsibility toward those who had gone out from his church. His situation reminds me of an itinerant Guatemalan pastor who visited our home during the revolution. He sat on our back porch and wept. "I minister to twenty churches spread all over the surrounding hills. Now, when I go to these communities, the churches are boarded up, the people have escaped. I can't find them! How can I minister to them if I can't even find them?"

    James demonstrates how God's people ought to live during times of discouragement and pressure. What the American church needs today is a theology of suffering-a theology of how to live in the "pressure cooker" of life! We need to learn that times of pressure aren't the time to rejoice less! Times of sickness aren't the time to pray less! Times of loss aren't the time to love others less. Now is precisely the time to demonstrate--in real life--the joy, peace, and love the Spirit produces in God's children!

    James issues a call to faith in the midst of the pressures of a fallen world. This is not a call to a theoretical (doctrinal) faith! It's a call to a living, visible, productive faith. The faith he wants to see in us is a living faith--a faith that works.

A LIVING FAITH PRODUCES FRUIT

EVEN IN THE MIDST OF PRESSURE.

    After a brief introduction (1:1), in which he introduces himself and describes the situation of the scattered church, James affirms the first major premise of his message to the church under pressure:

    James begins by describing the situation of people who, like Job, find themselves overwhelmed by all kinds of trials. Sometimes we're "bombarded" by problems of all colors, shapes and sizes--coming at us from all directions (Job 1:14-19)!

14 A messenger came to Job and said, "The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were grazing nearby, 15 and the Sabeans attacked and carried them off. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!"

16 While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, "The fire of God fell from the sky and burned up the sheep and the servants, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!"

17 While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, "The Chaldeans ... swept down on your camels and carried them off. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!"

18 While he was still speaking, yet another messenger came and said, "Your sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother's house, 19 when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on them and they are dead, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!"

    Job sits down and tries to figure it out. He deals with the "why" of his suffering. James deals with how to live in midst of such affliction. How should we respond?

1.    PRINCIPLE OF A JOYFUL ATTITUDE    1:2

    When you fall into "multi-faceted" afflictions, one after another, the first aid to victory in the midst of affliction is to "Consider it pure joy!"

    What is this? . . . the wacko counsel of a lunatic pastor? He doesn't say "accept it!' or "you might as well be resigned to it!" He says: "Consider it pure joy!" Not because we're looking for trouble. Not because we enjoy pain. Not because we deny reality. First you face the trials; there's no joy in denying them. The ability to rejoice is based on the recognition of the reality of the problems. We rejoice under pressure, because we understand God's good purpose for our lives.

    Is this realistic? How can we rejoice under pressure? Shall we consider it joy when we receive unjust treatment? Is there cause to be glad when I'm seriously ill? In the midst of a financial crisis-with no hope for improvement-can we rejoice?!! If pressures in my job weigh on me day after day, is that a time for joy?!! How about a family crisis-a broken marriage, a child in trouble, the loss of a loved one-is that included? How can we be joyful under that kind of pressure?!!

    Aren't we suppose to be authentic? How can you rejoice in times like these? My baby was stillborn. My child died of leukemia last month. My husband just walked out on me? How can we rejoice at a time like that?

    We can rejoice when we understand that His grace is made perfect in our weakness! James didn't say "consider it pure joy IF you face trials! He assumes the pressure will be part of life in God's family--especially among those who seek to live godly lives.

    He urges us to find joy in the midst of those experiences, when we feel alienated, disenfranchised, unpopular, even when difficulties come our way which have no apparent connection with our faith.

    Some time ago I was visiting a brother going through a rough week. He commented: "When we get serious about doing what God wants, it shouldn't surprise us that we're attacked! We rejoice in the midst of affliction because we understand God's good purpose for our lives. "Consider it pure joy!"

2.    THE PRINCIPLE OF THE DIVINE PERSPECTIVE    1:3-4

    The second factor for enduring pressure is to see it from God's point of view. Proper perspective comes when we realize that God permits problems in our lives to produce maturity.

PRESSURE => PERSEVERANCE => PERFECTION

    God sends trials to produce perseverance. The word James uses refers to "endurance," the ability to bear up under a load. It introduces a frame of mind which endures the pressure, rather than giving in to the desire to throw in the towel.

    The ability to endure produces perfection. Perseverance isn't the end in itself! It's a lifestyle that leads to maturity! We accept the pressure because we know the One who sent it. He's a God of love Who is seeking the best way to perfect us. He's seeking our good--not our destruction.

    Someone has said: "A Christian is like a teabag; not worth much until he goes through some hot water." Pressure produces things of value! Fiery pressure of the furnace produces hardened steel. Heat and pressure produce a diamond. The crushed flower produces perfume. In the same way, the pressure of life makes US into God's treasure!

    Pressure is the process God uses to enable us to become all he wants us to be. Parents experience this with children. When they begin to grow, they face hard times. Another child makes fun of them or picks on them. We get so mad. We want to jump in and set the other child straight. But if we jump in, our children won't develop as they need to. If they're to develop strength and staying power, they have to endure the pressure. That's the only way to grow up and become mature.

    The same thing is true of a butterfly. If we try to liberate it from it's struggle and set it free, we'll destroy its life! It will never develop the strength to fly and survive! The only way to get to maturity is through the struggle!

    That's why we rejoice when the pressure rises. We know what God wants to do in us. God doesn't send trials as a sign of His displeasure. Because of His love He transforms us into all He wants us to be

    Oswald Sanders wrote:

        When God wants to drill a man, and thrill a man, and skill a man,

        When God wants to mold a man to play the noblest part,

        When He yearns with all His heart to create so great and bold a man 

            that all the world shall be amazed,

        Watch His methods! Watch His ways!

        How He ruthlessly perfects whom He royally elects!

        How He hammers him and hurts him, 

            and with mighty blows converts him into trial shapes of clay

                which only God understands;

                while his tortured heart is crying and he lifts beseeching hands!

        How He bends--but never breaks--when his good He undertakes;

        How He uses whom He chooses and with every purpose fuses him;

        By every act induces him to try His splendor out.

        GOD KNOWS WHAT HE'S ABOUT!

3.    THE PRINCIPLE OF PATIENT ENDURANCE    1:4

    Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. This fact introduces the third factor for enduring affliction: patience. We always seek the quickest way out from under the pressure. We want to respond: "O.K., Lord. I get the point. Take away the trial!" Like the old riddle: "Why did the chicken cross the street?" (to get to the other side!). That's how we are about affliction. We want to get it over with! God wants our trials to continue until we receive the full benefit--so that we will be complete, not lacking anything.

    There's a fundamental difference in attitude when Helen and I sit down to eat a meal. I eat to get fed--to get it over with! Helen, on the other hand, thinks that a meal is something we should "savor!" We ought to take our time and enjoy it!

    That's how it is with the pressure of life. Sometimes we have to "savor it" a while to learn the whole lesson God wants to teach us--so that we will lack nothing! If we want to "lack nothing," sometimes we have to "savor it" for a while!

    Harry Truman used to counsel people: "If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen!" But God wants us in the pressure cooker--because it's while we're in the pressure cooker that God perfects what He's preparing!

    When people of faith face the pressures of life, there are three appropriate responses to the pressure:

    1.    We're able to have joy in the midst of the pressure    1:2

    2.    We don't focus on our problems, but on God's purposes    1:3-4

    3.    We're willing to endure the pressure in order to see God's work completed in us.    1:4

              For people who've set their hearts on becoming Christlike, this is cause for JOY!