Most modern scholars seem to agree that the book of James was written to Messianic Jews living in what is known as Galatia. Of course, we wouldn't recognize Galatia today because it is almost completely woven into the modern nation of Turkey. The Celtic genetic influence is clearly visible in the large number of Turks with red hair. Which has nothing to do with the letter of James to the Messianic Jews in Galatia. At the same time, the Gauls of Christ's day had a huge influence upon the Jewish people who lived there. Even Paul himself was from the city of Tarsus which was situated in southern Galatia. For James, (we won't try to discern which James) the message he brought to the Messianic Jews in Galatia was typically Jewish. At the time of this letter, Paul hadn't written one letter to any church yet. Paul was still going into the Jewish synagogues, and winning converts to "the Way," as Christianity was called in the beginning.
It is said that Martin Luther despised the book of James with its emphasis upon works, and condemnation of those whose lives were empty of works. Yet, a more modern understanding of James' writing shows that his reasoning was in line with the words of Jesus. Let me use an example to prove my point.
Every year my wife makes me plant a garden. Some of the plants are already cultivated and grown from seed somewhere else, mostly tomatoes, peppers, and strawberries. Still, whenever I put a seed in the ground, it is a seed. I don't know what that seed will be until it begins to grow. I water it, fertilize it, and remove weeds so that it will grow. Within that seed is the genetic information that will tell it what it is, and what it must do. As a seed, it doesn't have one piece of fruit on it. The fruit is in it, written within its genetic framework. Environmental conditions dictate whether the fruit will come. I've planted gardens only to have them devoured by bugs, and disease. I planted seeds when the spring rains came, and then watched severe drought, and heat burn the plant up. Still, no matter what conditions were around the plant, it at least attempted to make fruit.
James is arguing the same point, but in a view toward our own lives being fruitful. Never once does James say that doing good works is the path to salvation. He simply points out the obvious, that we should be producing fruit. This is the same message Christ taught. James questions the faith of a believer if they don't produce the expected fruit. I like to look at faith as the DNA code of our being a new creation in Christ. Our fruit reveals our DNA. Works (fruit) are the proof of who we are. Whether we are grapes, corn, wheat, figs, or any other number of other fruit bearing plants, we have to bear fruit.
The Messianic Jews in Galatia would've understood this. I think Martin Luther wrestled with the book of James because he'd seen the dark side of the early Catholic church. Living in Grace, and living by faith is one of the hardest things for Christians to do. It is human nature to establish dogma, and do 'things' to earn right standing with whatever god we worship. Thankfully, Jesus paid the price for our salvation, and all we have to do is believe that. Once we believe, and are born again, we are free to live out what our spiritual DNA says we are. Just as chlorophyll is the life blood of the plant kingdom, so to is love the life's blood of Christians. Love, will feed our works, and produce the seed of future generations to come. Love is the message of James. Look at your life, remove the weeds, kick out the bugs, and love.
