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| Speech and Anger (James 1:19-20) | |||||
 Printer Friendly Version - opens in separate window Someone once advised:"Keep your temper. Do not quarrel with an angry person, but give him a soft answer. It is commended by the Holy Spirit and, furthermore, it makes him madder than anything else you could say" Why do we so readily see the wry humour in this? Surely because it is something with which we can all identify. Who hasn't lost their temper at some time in their life? Indeed, people who don't lose their temper, at least occasionally, seem peculiar. I once knew a man who never lost his temper and it drove his wife crazy because she simply couldn't pick a fight with him. He was infuriatingly good natured and couldn't understand what the fuss was about. Those of us who consider ourselves normal can easily justify ourselves. Someone writing in The New Statesman observed: "I am righteously indignant; you are annoyed; he is making a fuss about nothing" James points out, however, that this is not how we serve God, build his kingdom and reflect his character and glory and, as James reminds us, "This you know, my beloved brethren" (v 19 NASB). The Bible has had a lot to say about anger: "A man of knowledge uses words with restraint, and a man of understanding is even-tempered. Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue" (Prov.17:27-28 c.f. 10:19; 15:1) James doesn't forbid all anger, there is such a thing as righteous indignation. However, he does condemn thoughtless, unrestrained temper that can lead to rash, harmful and irretrievable words. The writer of Ecclesiastes observed: "Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools" (Ecc.7:9) Most importantly, James points out that anger "does not work out the righteousness of God" (v.20 RSV). There are three main possible understandings of these words: Firstly, it could mean the righteousness conferred by God on the believer and referred to by Paul in Philip.3:9. The righteousness conferred on us because we are justified in Christ cannot be worked out or expressed by anger. Secondly, it might refer to God's justice. The justice of god cannot be achieved through anger and we cannot excuse our anger by claiming it is a tool of God's justice. The third possibility is a reference to the righteous conduct of our lives that meets God's approval. The NIV Bible says, "Man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires". Righteousness in the Bible is something you do and to 'work righteousness' is the opposite of 'working sin' (2:9). It is the conduct of the people of God that distinguishes us from the world more than anything else, "By this all men shall know that you are my disciples, if you love one another" (Jn.13:35). It is in our conduct that the righteousness of God is achieved, that the righteous life God desires is worked out. God confers on us the righteousness of his Son through faith in him. Ever after, we are called to pursue God's righteousness and seek his justice. How we work this out in our lives is the clearest indication to the world that we are the people of God and that God is with us - and anger doesn't achieve this. Sometimes in our witnessing we can forget this. In the cut and thrust of debate, in the face of opposition from the world and, let's be honest, in the presence of some pretty wacky and provoking ideas we can forget what is required of us above all else as the people of God. To love one another; to go the extra mile; to be the servant of all; to be slow to anger and abounding in love (Ps.103:8). Let's remember this week who and what we are in Christ and witness with our lives and conduct as well as with our words. |
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