“Know this, my dear brothers and sisters: everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to grow angry. This is because an angry person doesn’t produce God’s righteousness.”
James
1:19, 20. (Common English Bible)
Sydney Harris shares an occasion
when he was walking with a friend home from the office. On the way, his friend
stopped at a newsstand to purchase the evening paper. Completing the
transaction, Harris’ friend thanked the vendor politely. The vendor didn’t even
acknowledge. “A sullen fellow, isn’t he?” Harris commented. “Oh, he’s that way
every night,” shrugged his friend. “Then
why do you continue being so polite to him?” Sydney Harris asked. “Why not?”
inquired his friend. “Why should I let him decide how I’m going to act?” Notice
that the operative word is “act.” His friend acts toward people. Many of us react toward them.[i]
This is the guidance James provides
– “quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to grow angry.” In addition to conforming
to the format of a letter, James belongs to the literary genre of Wisdom
literature. Such literature was widespread throughout the Middle East during
the 1st century CE. Advancing understanding of wise instructions for
life in general, sacred Wisdom literature communicates to readers how to live
happily as a disciple of Jesus Christ. Various values and actions consistent
with discipleship are examined and urged as faithful expressions of fidelity to
God. Here, James implores Christians to “act” toward one another rather than
“react.”
James knows who he is. He is a
disciple of Jesus Christ. This knowledge provides James with an understanding
of the behavior that is now expected of him – the understanding that refuses to
return anger with anger, incivility with incivility. Each one of us has natural
impulses, internal responses to the behavior of others. Yet, failure to harness
those impulses, when they would be hurtful to another, is to surrender our
command of our conduct. That is slavery to impulses, which make of us mere
responders to others. That is when our discipleship stumbles – those occasions
when we pour out invective after it has been poured out over us.
Throughout the teachings of Jesus we
are enjoined to return good for evil, to turn the other cheek when the hand of
another strikes us. That requires uncommon strength, uncommon control of sinful
impulses to defend our honor. That requires that we “act” as Jesus demonstrates
in his own life and ministry, rather than “respond” as Peter did with the sword
the night Jesus was arrested in the garden. Nobody is unhappier than the one
who has surrendered command of his or her inner impulses and strikes back when
injured – physically or emotionally. Yet, God’s righteousness expands when we
return anger with love. That is were joy is found.
[i]
Earl Nightingale, “Be an Actor, Not a Reactor,” Transformational Living: Positivity, Mindset, and Persistence (Shippensburg, PA: Sound Wisdom, 2019) 37.
No comments:
Post a Comment