In his satirical novel, Point Counter Point, 20th century English writer and philosopher, Aldous Huxley states that “parodies and caricatures are the most penetrating of criticisms." His argument provides an incredibly succinct and efficient articulation of what parody ultimately achieves. Parody is a satirical device that provides commentary through the means of imitation of the original.

In James’ letter to the ‘twelve tribes in the Dispersion,’ he expresses deep concern over a general trend of increased worldliness growing within the church. He recognizes the church, only a handful of decades into its existence, practicing deference to the wealthy to the detriment of the poor, uncontrolled, critical speech, operating from an ‘earthly, unspiritual, devilish wisdom’ that accounts for ‘disorder and wickedness of every kind,’ generally arrogant and not humble, and ‘double-minded and unstable’ in a way that subverts prayer. All of these are symptomatic of the church slipping into a pronounced state of something other than Christian. In response to what he observes, James pastorally admonishes them to literally do the word by which he means for them to not merely hear the teachings of Christ and act in opposition but ‘be doers of the word.’ Later in his letter, he will articulate this in similar striking fashion as he says, 'So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.'

His message went out to Christians spread throughout the then-known world in the first century to call them away from religion as a mental concept into that which it only can ever be: a faith brought forth in us by the Word of Truth as a participatory ethic that yields works because the conviction of belief is real.

If there are no available parking spots in our lot, please use the parking lot across Cadiz. Our primary parking area experiences its highest occupancy between the transition from our 9:30 to 11 am service.