Murder or Exploitation?
Remember that this was a group of people that really didn’t have a lot to begin with. And yet, this issue sounds serious. James does his best OT Prophet imitation here with his use of biting language. Were they really killing each other to get what they want? I don’t believe that “murder” is primary here. It doesn’t fit into the letter that way. The recipients were the ones being killed. I think a better way to look at James’ use of murder here is “gain at the expense of someone else’s loss... exploitation, taking someone’s life not by stopping their heart, but by using their life. Gaining something for yourself on the back of others.” At least, we need to give some thought to how we treat the poor. Not just those we see in person, but the ones we might be exploiting in other countries. The laborers that provide us with comforts, while in return they receive very little. Are we "murdering" people? It's a good question...
Created over 1 year ago
