It’s cold, really cold. The heating has gone out again. This time it has been out for about four hours and the inside of the small apartment is getting really chilly. I am dressed in all my winter gear, sitting around a wooden table with Marta, Duncan and Stass. Not only is there no heat, but the electricity also went out. The light from the candles and from the oil lamp makes the faces glow warmly as everyone squints at his Bible. I really want to get out my gloves, but I don't think I will be able to turn the pages, so I stick my hands in my pocket. As Duncan is speaking in Russian to Stass, I watch as his breath crystallizes in the air.

Kazakis dislike Russians
We are in a mid-size town in the northern part of Kazakhstan. We are traveling with Bro. Duncan Heaster, visiting brethren and contacts throughout Russia and surrounding countries. Kazakhstan is a former Russian republic south of Russia.

Our new brothers and sisters live in a tension-filled country. The Russians came in years ago and conquered the Kazaki people, imposing the Communist regime on them. Consequently, there is not much love between the Kazakis and the Russians. Now that the Kazakis are in control again (Russia withdrew as communism fell), there are very obvious racial tensions brewing as Kazakis are resentful of what Russian totalitarian rule did to their people and country.

Due to differing facial features, one can easily spot a Kazaki and distinguish him from a Russian and vice-versa. Kazakis have Asiatic features, whereas Russians have more European features. Since this makes discrimination and maliciousness easy to perpetrate, the Russian citizens have, if at all possible, moved back up to Russia leaving a void of trained, educated leadership for Kazakhstan. In the Kazakhstan general elections held last year the incumbent ruler, a military general, had the two leading opposing candidates disqualified from running leaving him to face a high school teacher and a comedian. Needless to say, he won.

A faith that works
Brother Stass, baptized while we were there, is sixteen years old and attends a nearby school. Over the months, he has been jotting down Bible questions and thoughts in a little notepad that has obviously seen much use. Stass picks a question and asks Duncan in Russian. Duncan translates it into English for Marta and me: “Why does it say in Romans 4 that Abraham was justified by faith and then in James 2:21, Abraham was justified by works?” Marta and I look at each other and think to ourselves, “I hope Duncan knows the answer,” as we swiftly turn up the passages to buy some time.

As I reach the James passage and swiftly read through the chapter, it hits me: the answer lies in the context of the chapter. James is responding that faith must be demonstrated by works. His mentioning of Abraham is an example of a faith that was made clear by works. But what really got my mind spinning in this chapter were verses 15-16 (James 2).

If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?

How often have I ever had to put this verse into practice? How often has my faith been demonstrated through my actions? Huddled around this cold table, the truth of these verses became clear. I grew up in a western country where there were always basic necessities: water, food, shelter. There was also political stability, religious freedom, and general personal safety. I can remember how, as a teenager, I couldn’t wait to get my own car and how new clothes meant just two torturous hours of shopping with Mom. The shower was there for whenever I got sweaty, the pool for when it was too hot. Doctors, orthodontists and other appointments were just annoying as they interrupted part of the day. High school was a necessary evil, sports making it worthwhile. My parents constantly put the idea of going to university in front of me, and at my graduation the whole family trekked up to northern California to come and watch.

I look around me here in Kazakhstan and see people without food, without adequate shelter, without safety, without all the things I have had all my life.

Ever since I was born, God has blessed my family with prosperity and a comfortable standard of living. I often forget this and complain and gripe and wonder why things can’t be even better. In many ways, I am too comfortable to appreciate God’s blessings. It is the state of being comfortable, too comfortable, that takes away the urgency and immediacy of living every day as though it is our last day before the return of Christ.

The urgency of real need
One of my favorite stories in the Bible is that of Jairus and the woman with an issue of blood in Luke 8. Jairus, a ruler in a nearby synagogue, comes to seek Jesus’ help. Jesus is in the midst of a crowd and, no doubt, the crowd split apart to allow this ruler access to Jesus. A woman with an issue of blood is standing off to the side watching the proceedings. When she hears Jairus ask Jesus for help, she is inspired by his faith. If the ruler of the synagogue thinks Jesus can help his daughter, Jesus could probably help her suffering as well. She doesn’t have enough clout, however, for the crowd to make way for her. Still she pushes and fights her way near to Jesus, just close enough to strain forward and touch him. Immediately, she is healed.

Stass’ background and zeal inspires me. Living in a tumultuous country that has severe economic and societal problems, he has very little of the niceties that I had growing up. Yet he knows no different. He pores over the Bible with an enthusiasm and urgency that leave me speechless. His little red notebook is filled with the gleanings and questions of an active, thoughtful reader. He has grasped one of the few solid objects in his life and has embraced it.

It is seeing the example of Stass and his faith that makes me both ashamed and inspired in the same instant -- ashamed, because I have not found this sense of urgency or devotion -- inspired, because I see that it is possible to attain.

The Bible came alive
Due to the comfortable circumstances of our lives, James 2:15-16 is a difficult message for us to understand. As most of us have never experienced true physical need, it is often hard to spot that need and help someone.

The brothers and sisters in Kazakhstan were amazing. Despite having practically nothing, they provided us with food and shelter as best as they could. As well, they nourished us spiritually with their wonderful example of faith. They epitomized James’ lesson of true faith being shown in works.

Danger of having too much
Too often we forget what wonderful gifts we have been given. We have been blessed with homes, families, comforts and jobs. With these blessings comes a danger that we will be distracted by it all and become lukewarm toward God. We need to humble ourselves and act. We need to find and search for a religious fervor that is hard to achieve while living a comfortable, easy life.

Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world (James 1:27).

Matt Patterson, Los Angeles, California
June 1999