The Privileges of Church Membership

Last week we looked at the appropriate response and disposition to have when you are suffering. Patience in suffering. Waiting for the return of Christ, as Jesus will return and wipe away every tear - and the eternal weight of glory that you suffering is working toward will be realized.

This week James gives us the practical instruction and response when suffering comes. Last week looked at the attitude to maintain during suffering, this section we look at the appropriate action in suffering.

James teaches us the importance of prayer.

James in this text also teaches us the importance of belonging to a church community. This has been assumed in most of his letter, however, here we read and see that James assumes that Christians belong to a church community.

If not, who is going to pray? If you’re not part of a church. Who are these elders? Who are the one anothers directed to? Who is the one another that should be confessing to? Who is the one another that you should be praying for? Who is going to lead you back if you wander from the truth?

I would go so far as to assert that this text assumes what we call church membership. A formal commitment to a local community of Christian believes stating that you will pray for, confess to, ministry with, and serve those within this community, and who to protect from wandering.

Church membership also gives the elders the understanding of who they should be praying for, caring for, and shepherding.

The New Testament know nothing of a lone ranger Christian. This book leaves no room for “I love Jesus, but I hate the church.”

Who prays for you? There is someone in this church, who I will not name - because I didn’t ask permission to share this - but anything you say or do around me can be worked into a sermon, who recently told me that they have asked their kids and grandkids “Who is going to pray for you when I die?” The sentiment behind this idea is the importance of being in a Christian community that will hold you up in prayer.

Prayer is important. But it is not only important, but it is powerful.

What we see in this text instead is that the Christian ought to be connected to the Christian community because of the privileges of being connected.

If I had not submitted my sermon title to Lois early… so the title in the bulletin and that on the screen are different: The Privileges of Church Membership.

These are not all inclusive, but two significant aspects of belonging to a church are present here.

The Privileges that we read of here in this text are prayer, and protection.

The Privilege of Prayer

James 5:13 ESV

13 Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise.

James begins this section with something rather obvious. Are things going well for you? No. Then pray. They are? Then praise God - rejoice in the Lord for your good cheer. James however spends most of the time in this text speaking of use praying for one another.

Contrary to being patient and joyous, James teaches us here to pray when suffering. James has already instructed us to pray when we lack wisdom - and God will gracious give to all who ask him. Now James instructed us to pray when one is suffering.

Most people do not need to be told to pray when they are suffering. When you are in over your head it is easy to turn to the Lord in desperation to ask for relief.

And this leads us right into verse 14 is anyone sick… let him call for prayer…

James 5:14 ESV

14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.

Now many of you will immediately have questions about the anointing oil part of this verse - and I will address that but it is the least important part of this verse.

What is very significant about this text is that elders is listed.

Though it might seem simple, the mention of elders in the plural also demonstrates the Biblical standard assumes that churches ought to have more than one elder. Just as lone ranger Christian is foreign to the New Testament, so is the Lone Ranger Pastor.

James demonstrates to us that the office of elder is already established here in the church. This isn’t just call the old men of the church, but calling those who sit in the office of elder. Those that the church has called and recognized to serve in the position of elder/shepherd/pastor. This means that you at least need to have some sort of awareness of the elders. The church elders should probably know your name.

Jim and I are not omniscient. We do not know when you are sick, or how to pray for you if you do not let us know. This text puts the responsibility on the sick to contact the pastor. In other words, if we don’t know you can’t be mad at us that we didn’t visit. Jim and I are never put out by hospital visits.

And while I understand that call here does not refer to a phone call… it kind of does for us. Now before we go too far - I’m not suggesting that you cannot text or email me concerning a health issue.

This might also mean that your kids need to contact me, or us. All of you should have my phone number and Jim’s phone number.

Illness significant enough to call the elders. I’ll be glad to pray for you if you have a cold or food poisoning, but James is describing a severe or terminal illness.

What about the oil?

This one is a bit dicey… I have a friend from seminary who is a pastor who anointed three men sick with cancer with oil during a worship service and someone got upset with him because it wasn’t baptist. In his defense, it may not be baptist but it is biblical. And if your tradition gets in the way of you being biblical then you should dump your tradition.

Even so this is generally foreign to most Christians. Because it sounds either charismatic, or it sounds catholic.

R.C. Sproul Jr. wrote “Why do we anoint with oil? Because the Bible says so. Why does the Bible say so? I don’t know.” Now I have a different take on it but that’s really all the reason we need.

It’s not magic, it’s not mysticism, it’s not medicine. It is consecration.

First, it’s probably olive oil. Not some essential oil. James is not describing bringing lavender oil, or tea tree oil to the hospitals as if they will magically remove the ailment. Essential oils may have their benefits, but they aren’t magic… and they aren’t what James is talking about here.

The oil is not magic. The reason your loved one died of cancer is not because the pastor did not bring oil. Anointing with oil will not chase off all disease - this does not guarantee healing.

This is not the doctrine of “extreme unction” that the catholics hold to. “Last Rites”. This isn’t a sacrament - it does not convey grace upon the dying. It does not remove sin.

Oil as medicine? Some have argued that this is due to oil being used in medicine. There are plenty of benefits to olive oil. But the elders are not responsible for practicing medicine. If you call me because you have a serious ailment and I come pray for you - and if I anoint you with oil -

However, we don’t see the Bible describe oil as medicinal. We do see oil described as a means of anointing or consecration. Where anointing occurs most frequently in the Old Testament is with prophets, priests, kings. They were anointed in the Old Testament to demonstrate separation unto God. In the New Testament, the anointing of oil is paired with the disciples healing the sick and casting out demons. (Mark 6:13) Anointing is also partnered with the understanding of the anointing of the Holy Spirit that is upon all believers (Acts 10:38, 1 Jn 2:20, 27).

The anointing of oil provides the understanding that we are praying to God for healing, but that God alone is the healer.

Sam Emadi, a pastor in Kentucky and a part of 9Marks, wrote:

“Anointing with oil is a physical act expressing a spiritual truth: we belong to God and have committed ourselves wholly into his care. Prayer expresses this point with words; anointing with oil expresses that point in action.”

So what does the oil do?

This is an issue that we have with a lot of things as modernists. If something doesn’t DO something we don’t want to do it. This is why some people object to baptism - if it doesn’t do anything why bother. This is the wrong understanding of baptism but also wrong attitude.

The oil confirms that which has already been done. Much like Baptism is a confirmation of an action that has already happened. However, the use of oil is not ordained by Jesus, and not as well defended in the NT as Baptism. Baptism is necessary for obedience to Christ, anointing with oil is a

However, I’m also not going to chase anyone down with oil. Remember that the person who is suffering is to call the elders for prayer and anointing. So if you want us to pray without any oil because you don’t understand it, are not convinced, or it weirds you out - that’s fine.

Though I fear I have focused too much on oil and not enough on prayer.

Looking to verse 15 we find the continuing on of the importance of prayer. And additionally, the power and the significance of prayer.

James 5:15–16 ESV

15 And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.

When understood wrongly verses 15-16 can be taken to state things that they are not saying. God is not promises that everyone will recover from being sick. Contrary to what some cultic groups have said “It is not always God’s will to heal.” The prayer of faith does not describe a specific kind of prayer, but rather it demonstrates that the church ought to pray for the recovery of believers that they might be raised up by God.

It might be easy to look at this verse and think that James is stating that sins committed have caused the sickness. While some sicknesses are the result of sin - this is not always the case. One of the healthiest and godliest men I know was recently diagnosed with cancer.

And given that James just referenced Job a few verses above this seems unlikely. The major conflict that Job has with his friends is that they think God is cursing him because of his sin - when Job does not believe that to be true - and is shown to be correct.

One of the ways that Christians ought to pray for one another is connected to the confession of sins. Confession to a priest is not required in Scripture, confession of sins to God and to one another is. The purpose of confession and prayer here is that in the praying for one another, we would pray for our brother or sister to not return to that sin. To be healed. And additionally, for us to pray that when they fall they look to Christ.

James then in verse 17-18 uses the example of Elijah. Elijah is a prophet who had many of his prayers answered - specifically miraculous prayers.

James 5:17–18 ESV

17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. 18 Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit.

It’s easy to look at the prophets and the men of the Bible and think if only I had as much faith as Elijah my prayer life would be better. We look at 1 Kings 17-18 and celebrate Elijah for his great faith. He predicts a drought, he does this miracle with the jar of oil and the jar of flour so that they will never be spent, raises this widows son, and he confronts Ahab. Through Elijah’s ministry there is this incredible event where Elijah demonstrates that the Lord is God of everyone and everywhere because he lights a soaking wet altar on fire. (Our Bible Club students would remember this in the The God Contest book we read this year.)

But what happens in 1 Kings 19? Elijah flees from Jezebel. Elijah fears Jezebel more than he fears YHWH at that moment. He has seen the Lord do incredible things

Elijah is not perfect. But the reason his prayers are answered is not because he is superhuman. He had the same nature we do. He sinned like we do.

Elijah has a nature just like us. James is telling us that the prayers of Elijah are not more special that you own prayers. Prayer is powerful. Though many have come to scoff at the idea of prayers being offered up after a tragedy, we have a book with a testimony of how prayer works. We have seen prayer work in our own congregation. With cancers in remission, tumors slowing their growth, successful surgeries, and healing.

v. 16 The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.

Do not be discouraged from prayer simply because those whose prayers are answered are seemingly more holy than you. Pursue righteousness but do not set other Christians and their prayers on a pedestal that might discourage you from prayer.

Two weeks ago during our family worship time, we read John 17. Jesus’ final moments before his arrested. And he spends them praying. He prays concerning his ministry, and his passion. He prays for his disciples… and then he prays for us. Jesus prays for those who would hear the message of the disciples and believe.

As the Lord Jesus prayed for each of us, we ought to also pray for each other.

The Privilege of Protection

James 5:19–20 ESV

19 My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, 20 let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.

In this final section, James once again focuses on the need for community. Moreover, the need for Christians to remain among the community of faith to protect them from sin, and heresy. For the final time, James will address his audience as brothers. One again reinforcing the closeness, and communal aspect of the church. This is about protecting other believers from wandering away from the truth - away from the gospel - and into sin.

Correcting your brother or sister in Christ, and turning them away from sin is certainly a tough thing to do yet an important privilege.

Reminding them of the gospel.

REPEAT GOSPEL

Though the prayer of faith may raise someone someone up from illness. And even though one day each of us will die.

Those who trust in Jesus will raise us up on the last day.

While it is Jesus alone who saves. James speaks of the one who brings back their brother from wandering as one who will save his soul from death. This is the same sort of example as one who calls for an ambulance when they someone having a seizure. The warning of a concerned Christian to return a wayward brother may be the instrument the Lord uses to

James is not returning to the idea that every disease is a result of sin. Instead remember that the penalty for sin is death. So when James states that bringing a man saves his soul from death he is referring to that in eternal sense.

So as we look at the book of James and see what Good Religion is… to care for orphans and widows. To tame your tongue. To keep oneself unstained from the world. To show no partiality. Loving your neighbor as yourself. To have a faith that is demonstrated by good works. To show patience, joy in suffering.