The journey of James, the brother of Jesus, from skepticism to spiritual leadership unfolds as a compelling narrative of transformation following the Resurrection. His epistle, crafted for Jewish Christians scattered across the Roman Empire, transcends mere theological reflection; it serves as an impetus for practical faith— a blueprint for living out one’s convictions in tangible ways.
James implores us to be “doers of the word” (James 1:22), urging Christians to translate belief into tangible action, particularly on the pressing social issues facing Southeast Asia. His message on social justice and caring for the impoverished is not a relic of past teachings; it addresses the stark realities faced by many Christian minorities contending with poverty and inequality. Yet, these believers encounter a significant barrier: a lack of access to Scriptures in their native languages. This gap limits their ability to fully grasp the richness of God’s Word.
As James poignantly articulates, understanding is essential to action. Without comprehension, listeners are paralyzed in a cycle of hearing without doing, akin to glancing in a mirror and walking away unchanged. (James 1:23)
To not forget what is heard (James 1:25), God’s Word must speak directly to the hearts of believers. How can one truly listen and act if understanding is elusive? How can faith manifest without a clear interpretation of its foundational texts? For Christians to truly look carefully into Scripture (James 1:25), they must have the tools to grasp it fully—they must have verses in a language closest to their hearts.
Access to God’s Word is no mere luxury; it’s a vital prerequisite for living a robust faith in action; be doers of the Word and let your faith produce good deeds (James 2:17) — give a verse today.
The Old Testament “Cannot Not Be There”
“I have been asking myself why it is important to have the Old Testament in our language,” began Ayta Mag-Indi pastor Dino at a meeting with translation facilitator Roce and other community leaders. “We need to translate the Old Testament because the Gospel, the life of Jesus, is like the result of what is written in the Old Testament – it cannot not be there. What happened to Jesus was already foretold there; God loved us even before Jesus came – it was already there.”
Pastor Benny added, “Having the Old Testament is very important because there is a lot of similarity between Jewish culture and Ayta culture. The complete Bible is where we will base our personhood as Aytas; it is our history as Aytas; we have something to base it on. We cannot separate the Old Testament from the New Testament.”
Discovering their identity as part of God’s love story means everything to the five Ayta groups in the Mt. Pinatubo region. Believed to be the original inhabitants of the Philippine islands, these communities remain at the bottom of the socio-economic scale. The ongoing Bible translation effort will strengthen Ayta Christ-followers as they learn to value their language and culture while abandoning tribal practices like revenge killing, instead embracing grace, forgiveness, and love.
Your gift during our 1-for-1 matching challenge will double your impact, helping communities like the Ayta receive the complete Word of God in their heart language.