Turbo Group - November 11 reflection

• Read James 1:19-27. James instructs his readers in balancing devotion and personal piety with acts of justice and service. How can Christian community balance these two calls? What is the danger in giving priority to one over the other?

The book of James is so clear and forthright. He pulls no punches. In this passage, right at the beginning of the book, he lays out one of his key points about Christian community - we must be doers not only hearers of the word. In verses 23-25, James makes the point that we learn the word of God, it is written on our hearts, when we go out and do what it says. For those of us who are experiential learners, this is truly good news!

One of the dangers of a privatized faith is that our relationship with God becomes an end in itself, not an relationship that blesses others with signs of God's love through Jesus. Christian community, fellowship with other followers of Jesus, can help us balance the being and the doing. When our lives get out of sync, our group members can help us align our spirits. If we live too far in doing and we are not connecting with the source of life through prayer and Bible study, we lose our perspective. When we devote all of our time to the inward practices and do not move outward to serve, we close our spiritual lives to the revelation that God offers us in one another.