Bible In Poetry: James 2 Poem by Dr John Celes

Favoritism Forbidden:

1 My brothers, then as believers
In our Lord Savior Jesus Christ,
Do not show favoritism.
2 Suppose a man attired fine,
Comes to your meeting wearing rich
Clothes and gold ring and a poor man
In shabby clothes also walks in,
3 If you show special attention
To man in fine clothes and do say,
'Here is a good seat for you, Sir',
But tell the poor man, 'You stand there'
Or 'Sit on the floor by my feet, '
4 Have you not discriminated,
Among yourselves and turned judges,
With evil thoughts and unfairness?
5 O listen, dear brothers, ‘Hasn’t God
Chosen those poor in eyes of world,
To be the richer ones in faith,
And inherit God’s kingdom then,
As promised to those who love Him?
6 But you have insulted the poor.
Is not the rich who exploit you?
Aren’t they who drag you to the court?
7Aren’t they not ones who slander most
The noble name of God, the Lord?
8 If you follow the royal law,
That’s found in Holy Scripture well,
'You love your neighbor as yourself, '
Then, you are doing the right thing.
9 But if you show favoritism,
You sin and will be convicted,
By law of land as lawbreakers.
10 For whoever keeps the whole law,
And stumbles yet at just one point,
Is guilty of breaking it all.
11 'Do not commit adultery, '
Also it is said, 'Don’t murder.'
If you don’t commit adultery,
But do commit then murder still,
You have become a lawbreaker.
12 So speak and act as those who are,
Going to be judged by the law.
That gives the freedom to all men,
13 Because the judgment sans mercy,
Will be then shown to anyone,
Who hasn’t been merciful to men.
So mercy triumphs o’er judgment!

Faith and Deeds:

14 What good is it, my brothers dear,
If man who claims to have good faith,
But has no deeds? Can faith save him?
15 Suppose a brother or sister
Is without clothes and daily food,
16 If one of you says to him/ her,
'I wish you well; keep warm, well-fed, '
But does nothing about their needs,
What good is it by asking then?
17 Similarly, faith by itself,
Without any action, is dead.
18 But one will say, 'You’ve faith; I’ve deeds.'
Show me your faith without good deeds;
I’ll show my faith by what I do.
19 Then you believe there is one God.
The demons too believe like that.
20 You foolish man, do you want facts
That faith without deeds is useless?
21 Wasn’t our ancestor Abraham,
Considered righteous for what
He did, when he offered his son
Isaac upon the altar then?
22 His faith and actions worked as one;
His faith was made whole by his deed.
23And scripture was fulfilled that says,
'For, Abraham believed in God,
And credited with righteousness, '
And he was called God's beloved friend.
24 You see a person justified
By what he does, not faith alone.
25 In the same way, was not Rahab
The prostitute turned righteous,
For what she did when she lodged spies,
And sent them off another way?
26 Just as the body sans spirit
Is dead, so’s faith without good deeds.

Copyright by Dr John Celes 7-9-2007