James 1:27 is regularly cited as proof of social justice implications of the gospel, so let’s think through how this passage and another one re widows help us see the difference between personal & congregational duties.
Start w/ the simple observation that James 1:26 addresses an individual’s spiritual condition (“his own heart, this man’s religion is worthless”). The point of v. 27=same as epistle, I.e., test of genuine faith. The proper use of this text is personal, not congregational.
Iow, “to visit orphans and widows in their distress” is not the mission of the church; it is the fruit of genuine faith in an individual. This distinction betw personal and congregational is confirmed by 1 Timothy 5:3-16.
The main thrust of this passage is that widows are to be cared for (v. 3), but the bulk of the passage explains who is responsible for whom. And it is clear that the congregation is only responsible for believing widows who have no one else to care for them.
Individual believers carry the spiritual and practical responsibility for their own (vv. 4, 8) so that the church will “not be burdened” (v. 16). Why? So it “may assist those who are widows indeed” (v.16). The spheres of personal and congregational are very clear here.
This distinction often gets smashed in this discussion. 2 wrong polar positions:
All individual responsibilities = congregational responsibilities.
Not a congregational responsibility = not an individual responsibility.
NT = individuals have duties, the congregation has duties.
All individual responsibilities = congregational responsibilities.
Not a congregational responsibility = not an individual responsibility.
NT = individuals have duties, the congregation has duties.
Believer, take care of the widows in your life!
Congregation, take care of this carefully defined subset of widows:
Believers, “fixed hope on God”
Left alone (5)
Lived godly (5b, 9-10)
Late in life, (9a)
IOW, cong doesn’t have a general duty for widows. Believers do.
Congregation, take care of this carefully defined subset of widows:
Believers, “fixed hope on God”
Left alone (5)
Lived godly (5b, 9-10)
Late in life, (9a)
IOW, cong doesn’t have a general duty for widows. Believers do.
I think the failure to recognize this distinction betw personal and congregational is a root failure of the social justice advocates. The congregation is not responsible for everything that ind believers are.
Some, overreacting to this, run the risk of denying that believers should be taught & accountable for their biblical responsibilities. If not taking care of your widows = denial of the faith, it would lead to church discipline, right?
Recognizing these spheres (or the spirituality of the church) does not contradict this at all. But it does keep the cong focused on its commission to make and mature disciples. Individual believers, loving God & their neighbors, are responsible to shine as lights.
Confusing and/or conflating these spheres undercuts the church’s mission and has repeatedly undermined the gospel message in order to justify this shift. And every time it happens it bears very bad fruit.
Hoping this contributes more light than heat. Let’s slow down a little and think carefully about what the text says, to whom it is said, and then wrestle with its implications for us personally and congregationally.
