As we begin our study on James, we will find a wonderful book that has been accepted and rejected for different reasons in Church History. While Martin Luther, one of the fathers of the Protestant Reformation referred to it as "an epistle of straw" because of its emphasis on works, others would herald this letter as a marvelous work of metaphorical art.

Some scholars have complained that the book of James lacks enough emphasis on Christian theology, citing that the Christology (the parts that talk about Christ's work and effects) and the overall gist of the letter lies in Jewish Theology. To this, I can only say that they have not looked deep enough, for there is abundant Christian theology in this book.

The book of James has always been one of my favorites because of its seemless integration of the theoretical and the practical. James quotes Jesus and the Old Testament, and he deals adeptly with Scripture and its application to his own Jerusalem Church, of which he is the pastor. Pastors today would do well to study James' method of practically applying the issues of the Bible to God’s people.

This book is all about heavenly wisdom, how to be a Christian in our world, and how we should treat other Christians and people. Join me as we move through the book of James and discuss the issues about how to live wisely in a world that deeply needs an example of true Christian wisdom.