Christianity is a Team Sport

James 5:12-20

I don’t want to dive too deep into stories of my recent trip to Europe, but one thing throughout the trip really surprised me – how much I connected with the IWs this time. I’ve always made friends, but this time there was a real connection. Rob and I ended up talking for hours about swimming and our connection over that which led into other, deeper subjects. There was a real, brotherly connection there and I believe it will pay off in many ways for both of us – they need us here and we need them there: we need each other. Whether it’s prayer or financial support, connection to home, or even just trusted friends, we need each other. I think this is ultimately what James is getting to as he completes his letter.

Being connected to our church family is vitally important. Bearing one another’s burdens is one of our most powerful tools in overcoming this world, and I believe this is what James was trying to get at and why he finished the letter the way he did. Consider all that the displaced Jewish Christians faced. They had to deal with fear, exhaustion, danger, jealousy, disease, hunger, the wild and the natural elements, all while dealing with their own pride and struggles. And James reminded them of all of this throughout the letter. It’s been tough! But I think James saw this as a good thing. They needed to understand what normal was.

Difficulty is the Reality, Not the Exception

Nowhere in the book of James does he advise people on how to escape their situation or end the persecution. There was no pondering about whether it would be sin to assassinate a pre-Christian Paul or if their freedom in Christ gave them room to fight back against the powers that be. The situation was the reality and the letter was all about how to live inside that reality. There was no changing the situation. There was only a focus on proper living in light of that reality; and it’s on purpose! Compare James 1:2-4 to 5:19-20 – the very first sentence from the letter to the last: trials are meant for your growth and should be overcome. Jesus said that persecution is something everyone would face (in this world you will have trouble…John 16:33) and Paul reiterated that all who want to live godly lives in Christ will be persecuted (2 Tim 3:12). Persecution was, and is, the reality.

Christian Community is Our Secret Weapon

The Jewish believers at that time had their work cut out for them, but it is important to note that they were not alone. They did have each other; in fact, there was a growing and expanding Christian community that was coming from this persecution and that was not happening by accident. God was growing this Christian community – it was a huge part of His plan all along. Going back to that beginning to end comparison, notice that v20 adds an ingredient – each other. James puts in here at the end that they’re going to need other believers. One thing we have seen through this journey is all the struggles these travelers have faced. Some of it due to their circumstances, but some of it to their own sin. This is why the key verse here at the end of this letter is 5:16 – confessing to each other. They still had a really difficult road ahead and would need to confess and seek help. Everyone will face that rough road and James clinches the importance of repentence, confession, and ultimately getting back up again as he concludes the letter.

Next Steps

The road the Jewish Christians walked, and the road we walk today, is intentionally challenging – remember what Jesus said about the wide (easy, but leads to death) vs narrow (difficult, but leads to life) roads – having each other to confess and pray to is a huge key to our ability to persevere to the end. Bearing one another’s burdens is one of our most powerful tools in overcoming this world; it’s our secret weapon. We need each other – Christianity is a team sport.

1. Get to know each other – go out for a meal, have your church family over. The people here are to your benefit, so get to know them!
2. Participate in church activities: prayer team, family dinner, special gatherings. Serve each other.
3. Pray for each other – often and a lot!

I would like to invite you, as you ponder this message, if there is something you need prayer for, or something that you need to confess, to share it with a trusted Christian friend. Whatever it is, you are not alone. We are in this together.