Paul spoke of a concept of daily dying, which involved risking his life for Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:31), illustrating the importance of the Christian faith. He conveyed that one cannot be a Child of God while clinging to physical life. Jesus echoed this sentiment, telling His disciples, “Unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds” (John 12:24 ). James highlighted a behaviour not befitting a Child of God, often mistakenly attributed to Christians. It’s crucial to consider these teachings in the right context, to fully grasp the significance of Christianity.
“Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister or judges them speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbour?” (James 4:8-12 NIV).
The passage holds significant value and applies to those who have not yet embraced Christ. A Christian is characterized by the presence of Christ within them. The message of James is directed at nonbelievers who are yet to welcome Christ. Distinguishing between a Christian and a nonbeliever is essential. It is not accurate to consider someone who is double-minded a Christian. The crux of the matter lies in defining what it means to be a Christian. When one becomes a Christian, they are reborn as a new creation, with Christ residing in them. Many issues in Christianity arise from ambiguous definitions.
A double-minded person is considered unreliable and unpredictable. Such individuals are encouraged to draw closer to God, with the hope that God’s proximity will lead them to repentance. The audience James addressed was similar to the Laodiceans referred to in the Book of Revelation (Revelation 3:14-18). The admonishment directed at the people of Laodicea was meant to prompt them towards repentance, as later emphasized by Jesus’ depiction of Himself standing at the door, ready to be welcomed in.
“Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come into him and dine with him, and he with Me. To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne” (Revelation 3:20-21 NKJV)
Embracing Jesus as a guest in one’s life is a defining trait of a Christian. Without Jesus dwelling in one’s life, one cannot be considered a Christian. Someone may have been a Christian but have subsequently drifted away from the teachings of Christianity. James counsels, “Grieve, mourn, and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up” (James 4:9-10).
This scripture emphasizes a repentant attitude that may allow for a return to the Christian faith. Christians are specifically defined as those who abide by the teachings of Jesus, signified by the death of the flesh. However, very few people are willing to punish themselves. They would rather be punished externally than take stern measures to punish themselves. James went further to describe what he meant by people who had deviated from Christianity.
“Brothers and sisters do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister or judges them speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbour?
“Now listen, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.’ Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, ‘If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.’ As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil. If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them” (James 4:11-17 `
James describes individuals who are typically perceived as Christians, especially when loyal to a particular denomination. The label of Christianity is an attractive adornment for most people. They adopt the label for the convenience it offers; leading to a perception of Christianity as attractive, yet such adherents remain distant from God. They identify as Christians but lack a true connection to Christ; reminiscent of those alluded to by Jesus.
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’” (Matthew 7:21-23 NKJV).
The contempt with which Jesus portrays those pretenders will be treated sounds perilous. Nothing else can be said to be worse than this. In warning the Laodicean Church Jesus said it was better for them to be either cold or hot. The condition of remaining in between is most dangerous, when compared with being cold, for instance. A cold person does not give a second thought to Christianity. He classifies himself as a nonbeliever. Jesus signified dealing with such individuals, at appropriate times, possibly similarly to how He dealt with Paul.
Pretenders, considered as undeserving of a second chance, were admonished to be either hot or cold, lest He deems them unworthy of His regard and spits them out. Such rejection is indeed dreadful. As depicted in Matthew 7:21-23, being rejected is akin to being labelled as an evildoer. In Zimbabwe, it is the double-minded individuals—those who publicly denounce corruption yet privately profit from it—who have contributed to the nation’s turmoil.
The crucial question is whether it is possible to ever influence these individuals to recognize the gravity of their wrongdoing. The essence of warmth is that which condescendingly provides comfort. The exhortation to “Grieve, mourn, and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up,” does not easily resonate with those in blissful comfort. For the impact of James’ words to take hold, some disastrous circumstances must befall them from beyond. The Laodiceans were reminded of a loving parent’s actions towards His children: “Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline. Therefore, be zealous and repent” (Revelation 3:19).
For example, certain disasters, such as those caused by war or tsunamis, could serve as a wake-up call for some Christian individuals. This provides a perspective on the inexplicable tragedies that occur, where people often blame God. These events may be meant to alert those who are complacent in their Christian faith.
Consider the biblical narrative of Jonah, a prophet of God who defied a divine command, thereby, endangering all aboard the ship. The other passengers were innocent; it was God’s prophet who was rebellious. Upon discovery, Jonah offered to be thrown overboard, seemingly sealing his fate. This is another behaviour, ascribed to Christianity.
The global Christian population is often referenced as the largest of any religion, lending a sense of legitimacy to those identifying as Christian leaders. The substantial numbers that demonstrate Christianity’s swift expansion may suggest its superiority over other faiths. Nonetheless, a critical analysis necessitates juxtaposing these statistics with the teachings of Jesus.
“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves” (Matthew 7:13-15 NKJV).
The author of Christianity indicates that only a select few merit recognition as true Christians. The wide path that appeals to many should not be confused with the essence of Christianity. Unfortunately, such misconceptions have led to the degradation of Christianity. The exhortation from James may prompt individual Christians to assume responsibility for their actions. This is what could prevent God’s intervention, dismantling their empires, where God would be aiming at their redemption. The most important people in this world are God’s people.
Their indifferent attitudes can be dangerous, as they unintentionally affect innocent people, worldwide. Frequently, people are oblivious to the fact that a lukewarm approach to Christianity might contribute to negative trends worldwide. Rather than examine their actions in light of Scripture, some Christians engage in passionate all-night prayers, beseeching God for better conditions while overlooking the need to change their conduct.
Superficial Christians appear sincere in their actions and receive commendation from many. However, those insisting on a proper examination of the Scriptures are often labelled as extremists. None should be forced to join the Christian faith; rather, they should be encouraged to approach Christianity with honesty. In essence, what is wrong is insisting on practices not required by God, or neglecting the teachings that Jesus affirmed should be followed. A true Christian is one with whom the Holy Spirit resides. Jesus promised the Holy Spirit to those who obey His commandments.
Being a Christian begins with acknowledging oneself as God’s child, a status confirmed by Jesus. It also entails a commitment to diligently follow and implement Jesus’ teachings in one’s life. Additionally, it encompasses the assurance of having received the Holy Spirit, as pledged, through baptism following Jesus’ instructions. The identity of the person performing the baptism is secondary. The crucial aspect is grasping the importance of baptism in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. This act denotes attestation of one’s affiliation with Christianity.
A Christian encounters considerable risk when indulging in physical comfort. Paul’s reference to ‘dying daily’ (1 Corinthians 15:31) suggests forsaking the physical self for the spiritual self’s growth. When the body experiences pain and suffering, serving Christ, potentially to the point of death, the spiritual person benefits. Thus, Jesus taught that Christians should rejoice even during persecution. To embody the principle of ‘dying daily,’ a Christian might adopt three particular practices.
The primary principle is to embrace the idea of benefiting others by addressing their needs. This may include providing financial assistance where necessary or helping with physical tasks, especially for the elderly or those with disabilities. People often feel more comfortable receiving gifts than giving them. However, by regularly practising generosity, one develops a generous disposition, taking pleasure in aiding those in need. By doing so, a person embodies the philosophy of making others thankful for their existence. But of utmost importance is contributing to the spread of the gospel.
The second principle involves finding solace in the company of the disadvantaged rather than the advantaged. “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn” (Romans 12:15) encourages the practice of consistently addressing problems that diminish people’s joy. While rejoicing with them is positive, it is more impactful to concentrate on resolving the issues that lead to other people’s unhappiness. Often, the physical body is inclined to shy away from such challenging experiences.
The last of the three principles involves continually praying for others. A person committed to prayer is always aware of the hardships faced by others. It is commendable to cultivate a practice of praying for those in difficulty, irrespective of personal relationships. The parable of the Good Samaritan exemplifies an individual whose empathy reaches beyond familial ties. This is the attitude expected of someone devoted to prayer. Fundamentally, a Christian’s life is dedicated, not just to oneself, but to others for the entirety of their life.
“So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness” (Romans 8:8-10 NKJV).
A Christian should not focus only on personal comfort, as this does not reflect the principles of the Christian faith. The encouragement to “draw nearer to God,” as proposed by James, suggests that prioritizing comfort could be at odds with Christian identity. Authentic Christianity calls for overcoming the desires of the flesh. Physical comfort is not an indicator of one’s closeness to the faith; in fact, it often indicates the opposite. A radical transformation would be more appropriate in such instances.
Andrew Masuku is the author of Dimensions of a New Civilization, laying down standards for uplifting Zimbabwe from the current state of economic depression into a model for other nations worldwide. A decaying tree provides an opportunity for a blossoming sprout. Written from a Christian perspective, the book is a product of inspiration, bringing relief to those having witnessed the strings of unworkable solutions––leading to the current economic and social decay. Most Zimbabweans should find the book as a long-awaited providential oasis of hope, in a simple conversational tone.
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