Jesus Creed

Jesus Creed

A Brother’s Wisdom 59

posted by Scot McKnight | 12:14pm Wednesday May 27, 2009

Argument1.jpg Wisdom does not hang out with divisiveness. Wisdom can find its way into disagreements, but it will pursue the way of peace so it avoids being schismatic and divisive in style.

Notice how James puts this in James 3:14-16:

But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.

Grammatically, this “but” contrasts with the works-in-humble-wisdom of 3:13. The wise person, in other words, cannot be characterized as a fighter, a schismatic, a divisive person, or a one given to constant strife. Why?


In the book of James, the schismatic emerges from self-ambition, denial of the truth (don’t we often recognize in our arguments that we have too much personally at stake?), and the earthly. Envy and selfish ambition create chaos. Wisdom doesn’t.

Anyone want to tell us a story where this lesson was learned? The unwise want to win, so they linger for the last word; the wise want truth and a community marked by love, so they walk away from strife.

Envy, zeal and selfish ambition are a style of what one thinks is the pursuit of truth — but James says that style of pursuing truth is neither wise nor truth-seeking. Tomorrow we look at the way of wisdom again.



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RJS

posted May 27, 2009 at 12:41 pm


Scot,
Great stuff – especially the idea that a wise person cannot be one characterized as a divisive person – a “fighter”. We need to read more James into our approach.



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Pat

posted May 27, 2009 at 7:57 pm


I think where I’m currently struggling is knowing when to walk away rather than fight for the things that God has called you to do.



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Brad

posted May 28, 2009 at 9:29 am


I would be careful to interpret James as saying that there’s no zeal or “fight” as we teach (as teaching seems to be the context – see v1). Paul (and Jesus) was zealous and a fighter, and at times called out in harsh terms those false fox teachers who found their way into the fold. His bold words were not meant to be divisive, but rather to be protecting words – words from a pastor shepherding the flock. And actually, the kind of things that James speaks against here seems to be characteristics of those who Paul “fought” against: bad teachers who were selfishly ambitious (and bitter??).
All to say: it’s not bad to be bold and “harsh” at points (as Paul was toward men like James seems to describe above). YET, we also must remember Paul’s words to Timothy, that Timothy correct his opponents with gentleness. So, when to use which? May the Spirit guide us to discern.
But this all aside, my guess is that you are concerned with those of us who are bold and harsh when the “opposition” isn’t necessarily false teachers with bad motives (i.e. – The neo-reformed “crew” (who I follow) “versus” your “crew” (who I don’t follow as much, but appreciate at times).
May we love the brother(sister)hood.
Love you guys.



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