“Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom.”
This is the opening sentence of a short paragraph in the New Testament letter written by James. He was addressing a volatile and bitter conflict within the Church in m Jerusalem that featured questions that have faced religious n people since the beginnings of religion. But it was not the questions that were proving toxic. The questions, when discussed honestly with mutual respect, actually served to strengthen the faith of Believers.
The danger was that the quest for wisdom and integrity had become a contest of allegiances and a conquest of wills.
Discussions became rants. Earnest concern had become bitter passion and zealotry. Points of view devolved into partisan factions… camps of angry and self-satisfied people more interested in denouncing the other camps than in resolving the questions that faced them.
James had a word for this kind of spirit, “eritheia.”
It was not a religious word. Rather, it was a word used to describe political intrigue and contention.
Socrates used it in reference to politicians who exploited difficult times and issues for self-promotion. Eritheia, or selfish ambition, abandoned the search for wisdom and constructive solutions and focused on increasing social status, personal power, or even political d office. The use of half-truths and the manipulation of popular passions for this purpose was considered fair play.
James’s solution to those who were still interested in wisdom, righteousness and justice was to cultivate spirits that were “peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering without hypocrisy.” Of course, James was speaking to those who desired to be people of faith, a real faith in a Wise God. Thisadvice would not be a recipe for political success… in our time or in Socrates’!
As a Christian, I believe the Church needs to speak with a prophetic voice to the issues and events of our world. I also believe that, unfortunately, we have let ourselves be co-opted as political action committees for more parochial parties and concerns.
But, if we are to be more than fuel for someone else’s political or religious eritheia, we need to offer something more than propaganda and jingoes from the left or the right. We also need to develop a spiritual foundation of unflappable calm in a hurricane of fear and anger. We cannot promote peace if we are raging within ourselves. Don’t misunderstand me. Fear and anger are reasonable first-responses to many of the events that shape our world. Christian peace is not a spiritual lobotomy. But anxiety and discouragement is spreading like a brush fire because wisdom is scarce.
The problem is that wisdom is not natural to the human spirit. God’s Word teaches that it must be sought from God and nurtured in our heart by our life’s choices. James, moved by the Holy, Spirit says, “And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.”
Righteousness is not religious prudery or simple good manners, it is the description of choices that are just, compassionate, and that reflect the whole truth of God… choices that are determined by wisdom.
Angry, fearful passions and a spirit of conquest do not accomplish wisdom and righteousness. Not from God’s perspective. It seems trite to ask, “What would Jesus do?” But it is productive to ask Jesus what he thinks about the issues that are at stake and then wait in patience for his response.
He will give insight in what we read, from discussions we choose to learn from and from his Spirit as we pray and think. The Word of God says that such wisdom is cultivated over time, not taken off the shelf or out of a human manifesto.
What’s more, it can be cultivated only when it is “sown in peace by those who make peace.” In other words, God reveals true wisdom when people of faith seek to build consensus and discover what is right rather than inflame fears and conquer their opponents.
Unfortunately, there are differences that cannot be reconciled. But we jump to that conclusion too quickly and too easily in our marriages, our politics and our religion. It will always be this way until we are willing to sacrifice our egos and become people who seek God’s insight, courage and peace to live wisely.
Periodically, a guest columnist will offer Spiritual Reflections. This week’s contributor is Pastor Dave Harvey, who has served as pastor of Grand Marais Evangelical Free Church since February of 2008.
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