The Way of Allegiance What is “Faith”? In our modern world, we often think of faith as a private, religious belief system—an intellectual agreement with a set of ideas about God. In the first century, “faith” was a political word. It meant loyalty or allegiance. Faced with the choice between violent revolt against Rome or passive compromise with the Empire, James offers a radical, “Third Way”: allegiance to Jesus as the one true King. My Notes & Reflections: The World of James James 1:1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion: Greetings. (James 1:1, ESV) This letter was written into an explosive, politically charged environment. Understanding this “powder keg” helps us understand what James is calling us to. A Timeline of Tension 160s BC: The Maccabean Revolt establishes a story that “God blesses a righteous rebellion.” 63 BC: Rome arrives, General Pompey takes Jerusalem, reigniting revolutionary fervor. 37 BC: Rome installs Herod the Great as “King of the Jews.” 6 AD: The Zealot party is born with the motto: “No King but God!” ~30 AD: Jesus is crucified by the Roman state. His followers claim He is the resurrected King. 40 AD: Emperor Caligula demands to be worshiped as a god. 50s-60s AD: Zealots begin public assassinations; Rome retaliates with executions (including James, the author of this letter). 70 AD: Rome sacks Jerusalem and destroys the Temple. In this volatile context, people were being forced to choose a side: Revolt: Fight back against Rome. Give your faith to the national story of rebellion. Compromise: “Play the game.” Give your faith to Rome for safety and security. James presents a “Third Way.” My Notes & Reflections: A Third Way: Faith as Allegiance James 1:2–4 2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. The key word here is “faith” (Greek: pistis). In the Roman Empire, pistis was what was demanded for Caesar. Citizens took oaths of loyalty (pistis). “I will be loyal (pistis) to Caesar… I will not value my life or that of my children more highly than my loyalty to him.” — Oath to Emperor Augustus, 3 B.C. Faith isn't just about what you believe; it's about who you are loyal to. It's a matter of allegiance. Let's reread James 1:3 with this understanding: “...for you know that the testing of your ALLEGIANCE produces steadfastness.” The “trials of various kinds” are the moments that test where our ultimate loyalty lies. They reveal who or what we truly trust. Central Question: Who or what has your allegiance? My Notes & Reflections: The King Worthy of Allegiance Why is Jesus worthy of our allegiance above all other powers, political parties, ideologies, or personal ambitions? The two demanding powers of James' day were Rome (the cross) and the Revolutionaries (the sword). Jesus stood between them and absorbed the full force of both. The cross was the moment the powers of this world did their absolute worst to the Son of God. The resurrection is God's declaration to the universe that Caesar is not Lord, violence is not the answer, and death does not get the final word. “The resurrection was the enthronement of Jesus as King. It was God announcing, 'This is my Son. This is the world's true ruler. The one you killed is now in charge.'” Our allegiance belongs to the only King who has faced the worst the world has to offer and conquered it—even death itself. My Notes & Reflections: So What? Our world also pulls us toward two default paths in the face of trials and chaos. The Way of Revolt: The path of anger, control, and anxious self-reliance. “If I just fight harder, I can fix this.” Our functional allegiance is to our own strength. The Way of Compromise: The path of comfort, ease, and avoidance. “This is too hard. I'll just check out.” Our functional allegiance is to our own comfort. James calls us to the Third Way: The Way of Allegiance to King Jesus. This week, become a student of your own heart. When you face a trial—stress at work, tension at home, anxiety about the future—pause and ask: What is this situation demanding my allegiance to? (My fear? My reputation? My political tribe? My need to be right?) What is my default reaction? (Am I defaulting to Revolt or Compromise?) In that moment, offer a simple, defiant prayer: ‘King Jesus, I feel the pull to take control here, but right now, I give my allegiance to you. I feel the temptation to just give in, but right now, I give my loyalty to you. Help me to trust you in this.' This is the beginning of Everyday Faith.