Be Slow to Anger

 

The week of April 11-17 was horrendous for our country in terms of violence.  There were multiple mass shootings along with riots in several of our cities.  I am writing and submitting this piece early in the following week because of my personal schedule.  I fear the week of April 18-24 may be even worse.  Lord, have mercy on our foolishness!

Certainly, there are very real factors contributing to the violence that we are experiencing. Systemic racism is pervasive and a reality for far too many in our culture.  But despite all of the campaigns and slogans, racial divisions seem to be growing among us rather than healing.  And to be sure, the necessary shut-downs and stay-ins that were proper mitigations to stop the spread of the corona virus have only raised the heat on our disaffections with each other.  We need another way to try and live together.

In Jesus’ day, Jewish society was awash in injustice.  The wealthy Jewish religious leaders were practical politicians who curried favor with their Roman rulers, thereby enriching themselves through cruel tax burdens on the rest of the people. The simmering resentment that most of the people felt towards the religious elite and their Roman compatriots boiled over into mass violence in 66 A.D.  In retaliation, Rome sent an army that decimated Jerusalem four years later. 

“James the Just” was the primary leader of the Jerusalem Church in the years leading up to the violence in the Holy City.  He was the half-brother of Jesus and was admired for his piety and integrity by both Christians and non-believers.  While he was alive, he offered his share of pronouncements against the injustices that were occurring against the poor by the Jewish aristocracy.  His outspokenness ultimately led to his murder on the Temple steps by a new Roman-appointed high priest in 62 A.D.  His death only added fuel to the flame that would erupt four years later. 

Siege and Destruction of Jerusalem

But, before he died, James wrote a letter containing practical advice to the Jewish Christians spread throughout the Roman Empire.  His mind was steeped in Jewish wisdom from the Psalms and Proverbs and his Scripture-infused insight is manifest throughout his epistle.  While he was late in embracing his brother, Jesus,’ teaching and mission, he knew it well.  In a world awash with injustice, he wrote to the oppressed: “Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. HUMAN ANGER DOES NOT PRODUCE THE RIGHTEOUSNESS GOD DESIRES” (James 1:19-20, NLT, emphasis mine). 

I’m not really the right guy to preach that sermon.  When I experience injustice of any kind towards a loved one or myself, I am livid.  But I think Martin Luther King got it.  And his inspiring and biblical example of non-violence brought about major (if yet, undone) changes in our culture.  This is the kind of wisdom that comes from God.  And it is the kind of wisdom that can change the world if we would only embrace it.  Your anger and mine might be justified.  But if we continue on, our fate will likely be the same as ancient Jerusalem.  Our wrath will not produce the kind of justice and righteousness that we yearn for.  Only love and patience, which comes from God, will accomplish that end.