The doctor will see you now

I’ve been revisiting the letter of James recently. To be honest it’s a bit of a kick in the spiritual teeth. He doesn’t mince his words.

Now, I am prone to be quite a spiritual masochist. I enjoy leaving church feeling like I have been confronted; reprimanded; given extra homework. James’ letter isn’t that.

It’s more like this: we probably know people who knew they were off-colour; felt under the weather; spotted a few weird things going on in their bodies. However, when they finally got themselves to the doctors for a check-up, they were immediately sent to hospital for blood tests and scans, only to be told they were seriously ill and in need of urgent treatment. Well, reading James is that sort of consultation.