Monday, April 14

Trials to Be Considered Joy

Monday, April 14

James 1: 2, 3

The Epistle of James was distinctly different from the letters from Paul. When we think of the harmony of Scripture, we don’t get any “harmony” unless different notes are sung simultaneously. James’ message emphasizes works flowing from faith.  (2:16)   Paul’s message emphasizes faith saving without works. (Eph. 2: 8, 9) But there is harmony. Both admit faith saves, and both admit that works are the necessary fruit of a genuine faith. Both men began as Jewish legalists, and both were converted by meeting the resurrected Jesus.  Importantly, both men suffered for the Gospel and wrote about the blessing that suffering and hardship play in God’s orchestration of His Kingdom.

Bach wrote a song which is very “unBachian.” It does not fit our ear when it comes to the gifted Lutheran composer. Yet it remains a favorite for many, including me. “Toccota and Fugue in D Minor” is a fascinating work. Besides the breadth, speed, range, and angst that the listener experiences, in several places Bach wrote discordant-long-whole-notes in chords and notes that don’t seem to go together.  So it lacks a kind of “harmony.” But over time, my ear has relished those passages and chords. They represent the full expression of life to me, including the beauty and pain.

Consider it all joy, my brothers and sisters, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

James and his brothers made early attempts in Jesus’ ministry to remove Him from the spotlight, probably fearing for His life, and the parallel concern for any fallout the larger family members would suffer from Jesus’ challenges to the traditional teaching of Jewish leaders which claimed “you are saved by being Jewish and good.” Of course, the family was right that Jesus was exposed to risk and suffering. He was beaten and nailed to a cross. That was the tragic discordant necessity of God, to bring the Good News to us. Pain and death – played in the low long notes of God in Christ – allow us to be the “Sheep That Safely Graze,” another harmonic Bach piece, in the pastures of the freedom of the Good News.

How do we reframe the trials and testing into something good and Godly? Well, first consider the Passion of Jesus. Suffering was linked to our salvation. Jesus did it for us, but He also said that His followers would be persecuted, even though it is only by grace that we are saved. One key for reframing is the word James used for “consider.” It seems to often be associated with leadership.   Here’s the idea: at first experience, trials are painful, but we should “consider” them “joy” because the faith and truth of God tells us they are to be joy.  This realization leads us to embrace problems as a manifestation of God’s will, and eventually we see and feel the joy of a “complete” life in Christ.

 “Consider” seems like a decision. If we trust James’ word, we trust that joy in Christ is woven into pain. Discordant joy. It can be, and is, a beautiful chord of God’s composition. Tears now.  Joy later.