Putting Away Anger

"Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls." - James 1:19-21

We now make a transition in the book of James from the focus being, "rejoice in times of trial" to, "live out your faith in Christ." This new message is introduced in the passage quoted above and is possibly the most essential message given throughout the whole book of James. As I have said before, the over-arching theme in James is "the importance of making faith in Jesus Christ real and practical." From James 1:19 to about James 3:18, the focus is on "living as a Christian" as opposed to "claiming the Christian name." This message clearly applies to the theme of the whole book in that living as a Christian is how a person makes their faith real and practical. For that reason, this two-chapter section is essential to the book as a whole. Having said that, let's take a look at how James introduces these important scriptures.

These passages begin with, "know this, my beloved brothers." Often, James is looked at as a book focused on condemning the Christian. However, James starts by trying to see eye-to-eye with his brothers and sisters in Christ and reminds them that though he is trying to correct them, he loves them. The Christian has much to learn from such gentle correction. Though we are to correct our brothers and sisters, we must love them as we do so.

James continues, "let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God." That scripture should hit you like a bulldozer. How many Christians today do we see who are quick to listen? Who choose their words wisely? Who have made a commitment to restrain anger? I think we find the opposite in our churches. We find people who are prideful, have much to say, are easily angered by church politics, and don't listen when others are talking. What is the result of speaking without thinking? Stupid statements that can easily breed an argument. I have a friend who has taken the "slow to speak" part of this scripture so seriously that he will not even respond to someone speaking to him without having thought about his choice of words first (which causes a person to think before speaking to him). The Christian needs to be motivated to speak clearly, patiently, lovingly, and free of anger. Just as James makes an example of when he introduces these passages.

Christians today talk of a righteous anger: an anger towards people who sin or are unrighteous. However, I think that often times this idea of righteous anger is used to justify an actually unrighteous anger. What anger can man produce that is righteous? Just because Jesus (God) has a right to be angry, doesn't mean man does. We are supposed to be like Jesus, yes. But we aren't supposed to forgive sins as he did, nor are we supposed to carry around a righteous anger for the sins of others as he did. After-all, he was God. In The Cost Of Discipleship, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a Christian martyr killed in the concentration camps during the holocaust, writes,

 "Judging others makes us blind, whereas love is illuminating. By judging others we blind ourselves to our own evil and to the grace which others are just as entitled to as we are."

Remember, Christ didn't just come to save you.

"Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls." I wonder how many Christians really put away their filthiness. Why do studies show that divorce rates are the same between Christians and non-Christians? Or that, in almost every category, Christians are participating in things of the world? Do you understand that this is exactly what James was warning against when he said, "rampant wickedness"? The body of Christ needs to become the true body of Christ and put away its filthiness and receive with meekness or "gentleness" (by the strict definition of the greek word prautes), in stark contrast to anger, Jesus Christ (the word) who is able to save our souls.

My friends, I wish that you would listen to people, that you would choose your words wisely, and that you would not become angry quickly. Receive Jesus every day again and again with humility and gentleness; for when we receive Jesus with gentleness, we will spread him with gentleness. Do not be angry with people, for a fallen person can hardly justify any kind of anger. A person will never come to Jesus by your anger with them, rather by your meekness will they accept Christ. By your acceptance of them, which is on the basis of Christ's acceptance of you, will a person come to Christ. The Christian is a messenger of the "good news." We have not only the responsibility of delivering that good news, but doing so as if it is actually good news. The Christian must not only tell others of Jesus, but tell others of Christ; not only of reconciliation, but of sanctification. That is the mission of the Christian, are you involved?