In the Book of James, there is a passage of Sacred Scripture that throughout my Christian life I have perhaps misunderstood.
It is in James 1:19-21, and it reads like this: (NIV version) "My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry. because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all the moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you."
First, I have always thought this section of Scripture was referring to how we communicate between one another...and there is nothing really wrong with that thought. Yet, there is a total different focus that James seems to be advocating in this passage, one that I had not really seen before.
{One thing of note: When James wrote this letter, the "Written Word" was not prevalent as it is today. As a result, verbal communication was vital in helping one another advance in a Christian lifestyle.}
Here is a Gleaning of James 1: 19-21
" You need to get a hold of this...if it is your desire to grow as followers of...Him. There are 3 areas of focus I would like to bring to your attention:
1) First, your attention to what the Sacred Scriptures declares should be a top priority. This involves practice with your goal being to make the Scriptures more important to you....than anything else in your life.
If you are into novels, biographies, or any other various forms of literature, it certainly is not wrong to do so. Yet, you need to develop a hunger...for the Sacred Scriptures. Your eagerness to listen or read should have its most influence in your life...when it comes to reading or hearing the Scriptures. This is what it means to be "quick to listen".
Certainly other people and literary achievements can have a positive influence in a person's life, yet learning the art of being an eager listener ( or student) of the Sacred Scriptures is most vital...in receiving a "Christian" education. The reason this is so important is the Sacred Scriptures has the power to influence the areas of our heart, and the Holy Spirit is able to make changes within us that enable us to be...more like Him! The Sacred Scriptures come with it the power to change our very hearts and souls.
2) Being "slow to speak" is also a necessary characteristic that needs developed in our daily growth in the "Christian lifestyle".
Slow to speak does not mean...you are being forced to speak slowly. Nor does it mean you are to remain silent and only speak if you think you have something valuable to say. God wants us free...and that includes our "free expression in speech".
Yet, here is where "speaking out" becomes a problem. Often times a discussion on the Sacred Scriptures becomes fruitless because people involved in the discussion "are more interested in what they have to say about a particular passage rather than actually hearing what the passage of Scripture is trying to convey (MacArthur's commentary).
I don't think God finds anything wrong with our thoughts and opinions on a particular section of Scripture, in fact I think God rather enjoys an "animated discussion". The key to all of this is listening clearly to what the Scriptures are saying, and not rushing off to form your own conclusions without having an understanding to what the Sacred Scriptures are actually saying.
Putting it in a more basic manner, don't just give "knee-jerk" reactions or thoughts when entering in on a discussion of the Scriptures...be "slow to speak"...put some thought and effort into it...and discipline yourselves to have a better understanding of what the Scriptures are trying to communicate to each one of us...before you speak and express your thoughts (which by the way, I think God is eager to hear).
3) Being "slow to get angry" is a "biggy", yet, the question is: "What are you getting all angry about?"
What I don't think it means is it is wrong to become angry or disagree with someone over a particular subject or passage of Scripture. I think the problem emerges when "your passion" leads to outbursts of anger that actually cause others to shift their focus of attention from the subject being discussed to....you.
When we allow our human anger to overrule our discussion of the Sacred Scripture, it doesn't promote the wishes and requirements God's desire is for us.
(NOTE: So, if someone uses the Scripture to support abortion...or perhaps gay rights....how do you react?....How about gun control?...What does the Scriptures really say about these things?...Does it? How about the horrific tragedy in Moore Oklahoma, where again the "killing of the innocents" was witnessed, this time from a tornado...where is God's Grace in all that? Are the Scriptures silent about tragedies?)
Honestly, the bottom line to what James is expressing from my humble opinion is:
1) to learn "the art" of being eager to hear or read the Sacred Scripture...and have your focus on the passage you might be studying.
2) to learn "the art" of speaking from an attentive mind, not just wanting to promote your own personal agenda.
3) to learn "the art" of recognizing a genuine and controlled passion that keeps others in mind and avoiding the emotional anger that shifts the focus of a discussion from the Sacred Scriptures...to you.
Finally, when you find you are battling behavior within yourself that rebels against the learning of the Sacred Scriptures, remind yourself these thoughts and emotional feelings have its roots in our hearts once given to our old and evil nature, immoral outbursts in our daily lives, or just "givin' in" to wickedness that desired to find growth in our individual lives.
Now is the time to practice ridding ourselves of these "spoiled and rotten virtues", through the power of our Lord Jesus, and replace them with time and study allotted to the study of the Sacred Scripture in our various and individual manners of study. This is of importance because it allows God's Word to take root in our own hearts and give Him a home there inside us. It also allows the Holy Spirit to transform and landscape the deepest thoughts that originate from our very hearts...which by doing so...exhibits the very power of God to save us.
It is in James 1:19-21, and it reads like this: (NIV version) "My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry. because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all the moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you."
First, I have always thought this section of Scripture was referring to how we communicate between one another...and there is nothing really wrong with that thought. Yet, there is a total different focus that James seems to be advocating in this passage, one that I had not really seen before.
{One thing of note: When James wrote this letter, the "Written Word" was not prevalent as it is today. As a result, verbal communication was vital in helping one another advance in a Christian lifestyle.}
Here is a Gleaning of James 1: 19-21
" You need to get a hold of this...if it is your desire to grow as followers of...Him. There are 3 areas of focus I would like to bring to your attention:
1) First, your attention to what the Sacred Scriptures declares should be a top priority. This involves practice with your goal being to make the Scriptures more important to you....than anything else in your life.
If you are into novels, biographies, or any other various forms of literature, it certainly is not wrong to do so. Yet, you need to develop a hunger...for the Sacred Scriptures. Your eagerness to listen or read should have its most influence in your life...when it comes to reading or hearing the Scriptures. This is what it means to be "quick to listen".
Certainly other people and literary achievements can have a positive influence in a person's life, yet learning the art of being an eager listener ( or student) of the Sacred Scriptures is most vital...in receiving a "Christian" education. The reason this is so important is the Sacred Scriptures has the power to influence the areas of our heart, and the Holy Spirit is able to make changes within us that enable us to be...more like Him! The Sacred Scriptures come with it the power to change our very hearts and souls.
2) Being "slow to speak" is also a necessary characteristic that needs developed in our daily growth in the "Christian lifestyle".
Slow to speak does not mean...you are being forced to speak slowly. Nor does it mean you are to remain silent and only speak if you think you have something valuable to say. God wants us free...and that includes our "free expression in speech".
Yet, here is where "speaking out" becomes a problem. Often times a discussion on the Sacred Scriptures becomes fruitless because people involved in the discussion "are more interested in what they have to say about a particular passage rather than actually hearing what the passage of Scripture is trying to convey (MacArthur's commentary).
I don't think God finds anything wrong with our thoughts and opinions on a particular section of Scripture, in fact I think God rather enjoys an "animated discussion". The key to all of this is listening clearly to what the Scriptures are saying, and not rushing off to form your own conclusions without having an understanding to what the Sacred Scriptures are actually saying.
Putting it in a more basic manner, don't just give "knee-jerk" reactions or thoughts when entering in on a discussion of the Scriptures...be "slow to speak"...put some thought and effort into it...and discipline yourselves to have a better understanding of what the Scriptures are trying to communicate to each one of us...before you speak and express your thoughts (which by the way, I think God is eager to hear).
3) Being "slow to get angry" is a "biggy", yet, the question is: "What are you getting all angry about?"
When we allow our human anger to overrule our discussion of the Sacred Scripture, it doesn't promote the wishes and requirements God's desire is for us.
(NOTE: So, if someone uses the Scripture to support abortion...or perhaps gay rights....how do you react?....How about gun control?...What does the Scriptures really say about these things?...Does it? How about the horrific tragedy in Moore Oklahoma, where again the "killing of the innocents" was witnessed, this time from a tornado...where is God's Grace in all that? Are the Scriptures silent about tragedies?)
Honestly, the bottom line to what James is expressing from my humble opinion is:
1) to learn "the art" of being eager to hear or read the Sacred Scripture...and have your focus on the passage you might be studying.
2) to learn "the art" of speaking from an attentive mind, not just wanting to promote your own personal agenda.
3) to learn "the art" of recognizing a genuine and controlled passion that keeps others in mind and avoiding the emotional anger that shifts the focus of a discussion from the Sacred Scriptures...to you.
Finally, when you find you are battling behavior within yourself that rebels against the learning of the Sacred Scriptures, remind yourself these thoughts and emotional feelings have its roots in our hearts once given to our old and evil nature, immoral outbursts in our daily lives, or just "givin' in" to wickedness that desired to find growth in our individual lives.
Now is the time to practice ridding ourselves of these "spoiled and rotten virtues", through the power of our Lord Jesus, and replace them with time and study allotted to the study of the Sacred Scripture in our various and individual manners of study. This is of importance because it allows God's Word to take root in our own hearts and give Him a home there inside us. It also allows the Holy Spirit to transform and landscape the deepest thoughts that originate from our very hearts...which by doing so...exhibits the very power of God to save us.
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