Adult Bible Study Online

Committed living

See this lesson as a Word Document

Lesson text: James 1:17-27
By: Omar Eby
Email: ebyo@emu.edu

It’s August and we’re looking at five “images of Christ in us,” as set forth by the epistle of James. Today we could study a list of negative statements: “Don’t be a shifting shadow” (v. 17); “Don’t be angry” (v. 19); “Don’t deceive yourself” (vv. 22, 26); “Don’t forget what you look like” (v. 24); “Don’t forget the orphans and the widows” (v. 27); “Don’t let the world pollute you” (v. 27). Can anything be said for discussing negative statements? Isn’t there something sturdy and engaging about these declamations? Or is the teaching of the “thou shalt nots” totally counter to what is pedagogically correct?

Does flipping the statements around and making them positive teachings cause them to feel mealy-mouthed? “Be a light that throws shadows”; “Know who you are and what you want”; “Know what you look like to yourself and others”; “Always remember the dispossessed”; “Be pure in motive and action.”

Perhaps the week’s labor tilts me toward reflecting on the power of negatives: one wedding, four funerals, and two church league softball games. Were too many sweet words piling up? Are the soft “lies” of social convention needed to oil even religious rituals?

Or was it Billy and Franklin Graham allowing John McCain to visit them for a prayer or to hear confession—we don’t know. Was this a sincere move after John Hagee’s endorsement sullied the Republican’s attempt to secure evangelical blessings? “Thou shalt not deceive thyself.” Billy, Franklin, Menno—“Keep yourselves from being polluted by the world” (v. 24). Shall we try this bit of current events as an example on the class?

“Don’t merely listen to the word” (v. 22) and then deceive ourselves by glancing away from that mirror. Are we tempted with smug piety? We go to church. We hear the word (ancient and contemporary) read. We listen for one hour on Sunday. Then we go away from the mirror for six days, forgetful?

Rather, let our hearts in solitude be bent in study to “hear” a word. “Blessed is the man and woman and child who meditates day and night on the law of the Lord. They shall be planted” (Psalm 1:1, paraphrased).

This message relates to the Adult Bible Study. For additional information on Adult Bible Study or Adult Bible Study Teacher, send email to info@mpn.net. To order either publication call Mennonite Publishing Network at 1 800 245-7894.