This file can be printed for personal use and study. © Reachout Trust - www.reachouttrust.org
Speech and Anger (James 1:19-20)
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.