Look at what James says at the end of yesterday’s reading:

19 Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God, 20 but should write to them to abstain from the things polluted by idols, and from sexual immorality, and from what has been strangled, and from blood. 21 For from ancient generations Moses has had in every city those who proclaim him, for he is read every Sabbath in the synagogues.

It is ‘his judgement’ that we shouldn’t make it hard for people to come to Jesus.  At the same time, we should encourage people to abstain from some of these things like idols, sexual immorality, unclean foods, and from blood.   Now, what we lose in this is something that Paul comes back to over and over again, and that James gets at in his own writing, and that is that these are encouragements, not ultimatums.  These aren’t a way to measure people for judgement by the church.  The reason these are suggested is for the benefit of those around the believer...we want the people around the believer, you and me, to not feel hindered as they come to Jesus.  We want them to be drawn to Jesus.  A person guilted into faith is a person that creates a spiritual foundation on sand...because guilt is a by-product of realizing you don’t measure up...and God isn’t measuring anything.

How inviting is my life?  Do people look at my life and see a joy that is desirable?  In the midst of pain, is there an element of peace that they look at and want to emulate?  When I suffer, do I suffer well?  When I win, do I do it well?  My life should be a reflection of what’s going on in my heart, and that’s what God is after in me.  That’s way more compelling than rules.  That’s way more inviting than shame.  That is clearly what is being taught through Jesus’ ministry.

These few words from James are at the heart of why our Christian faith, the Jesus movement was so successful in spreading - it was seen as an invitation into something better.  It is also the greatest opportunity of our generation - that we could begin to change that narrative again, and that we could begin to brand our faith as such, an invitation to something better.  In a word that is torn apart by racial injustice, poverty, inequality in so many different ways, the one thing we can all do is to heed James’ advice and to make it easy for those around us to come to Jesus.  It takes intentionality, it takes forgiveness, and it requires our leaning on God’s Grace and guidance...but that is exactly the position God wants us in as His followers.  It’s funny how that works.  Today, I pray that I would see opportunities to make my life more invitational for His kingdom.