Evening star., 1925-08-01

James, whom Paul called the Lords
persona lities in the early days of
Christia nifty. He took a leading part
In the council OF Jerusalem. As presi-
dent of the conference. he guided its
delibera tions. made the closing address
and was the author of the decree that
brought religious freedom to the Gen
tile Christians. His relationship to
Christ. which has been q subject of
controversy among biblical scholars,
would have made him man Of mark
among the early Christians. He won
his leadership not through his kin
ship to Jesus, but by his own personal
cha racter. While like Joseph ne was
called just man, his speech and
epistles echo. as none other. the
sayings and spirit of the Christ. Al
though he may have been blinded by
the intimate fellowship that he had
enjoyed with Jesus in their Nazareth
home. so that he doubted his cla inns to
the Messia hship, he faced the facts
and was convinced when he saw He
had risen from the dead. After James
saw Jesus. he took his place with the
disciples, calling himself "a slave OF
the Lord Jesus Christ.
There Is a disa greement concerning
his kinship to the Master. Although
referred TO as the Lords brother" I"
the closest possible tie would be that
OF half-brOther. Many insist that
those spoken of as the brothers and
sisters of Jesus were really step.
brothers and sisters of the Christ. be.
ing the children OF Joseph by pre-
Vious maria ge. Others contend that
they were cousins who were reared
in the home Of our Lord, where they
fall h n a he dnN
that Jesus was subject to Joseph and
Mary. They probably looked to Him
as their elder brother, so that they
were blinded by their close fellowship
from recognizing Him as the long
expected Messiah. They felt keenly
the sha me of the cross. when He died
as common criminal. II required
the personal vision of the Risen Lord
to remove the fog of doubt and dis
trust from the mind of James. whose
influence proba bly, brought them into
fellowship with the hundred and
twenty disciples who waited for the
Lord s return. Another element that
made James hesitate was his con-
servetism. He was thoroughly Jewish
in his viewpoint and was the recog-
niZed leader OF the Palestine Jewish
Christians. His zeal for the law
spiritual life revealed by his deyotions
him great influence among the Jewish
believers, whom he addressed in the
earliest epistle that has come down to
us. He recognized the peril that the
Jewish Christian of the twelve
tribes in the dispersion" were facing
80 he called upon them to conquer
their races besetting sin. be on their
guard lest those sins should rea ppear
| in the Church through a loss of the
xrftn af rel oin q nd
| duty, during their Affections.
Pure Religion.
Pure religion required testings, so
| he summoned the scattered lew
| ish Christians 70 be patient dur
| ing their trials of persecution. count
! ing their troubles as cause of re-
| joicing. Persecution reveals the gen
uine Christian from the false, yet
many a weak disciple faces the danger
| of becoming discoura ged when their
| faith is being proven and perfected
| by the trials. He called upon them to
RENE ember that the source of their
| spiritual power was in prayer, so he
| urged upon them TO put their de-
| pendence for strength TO overcome the
| trials and perils OF persecution by
| communion with God in prayer. assur-
| ing them of His Willingness TO give
| light to a II who seek Divine guida nee.
| James pointed out the close rels
tionship that existed between the be
| lever and his attitude toward the
word of truth" II one is to listen
| in to Gods message he must be
spiritually prepared To hear, so James
called for them to remember the
dangers of indiscretion. OF hasty
speech due to anger. that would hinder
the reception of God 8 message. The
! way for the word of truth reach
| ing us may also. James pointed out,
| he blocked by an impure life. Be
! fore we can understand God. we must