My dear brothers and sisters, understand this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger, for human anger does not accomplish God’s righteousness. (1:19-20)
This little gem from James flies in the face of our American culture these days. During racial tension, political campaigns, and information (or misinformation) about COVID there has been a lot of speaking but very little listening. This is not an indictment on any view in particular but just a general statement to us all. It is easy to fall into the trap of being more interested in winning an argument or converting a person to our position than listening to people’s hearts and converting them to Christ. James tells us to be quick to listen and slow to speak.
Additionally, he tells us to be slow to anger. Human anger accomplishes very little, but it is often the “go-to” response of many in our culture. As a culture, it seems we have no issues with anger. In fact, we often venerate anger as a positive trait! We speak of things like “righteous indignation” and justify our right to be angry about the things we don’t like. In our culture, we admire “straight shooters” and we talk about the positive virtue of “speaking your mind.” Conversely, in Africa, the biggest sin you can commit is to lose your temper in public. In this relational society, they think that public anger is sometimes worse than adultery or drunkenness.
I am not interested in going into a theological debate about which sin is worse in the eyes of God. The point I am making is that there is nothing holy about human anger and it does not accomplish the righteousness of God. African culture has its blind spots and weaknesses as well, but on this one they are right and we are wrong. Self-control is a fruit of the Spirit and it takes great self-control (and great kindness—another fruit of the Spirit) to bite your tongue and actively listen to someone when they are speaking; especially if they are saying what you DON’T want to hear. It takes the work of the Holy Spirit within you to be “slow to anger” and to let things go. His Spirit working through you and bearing fruit in you is what DOES accomplish the righteousness of God. Let’s aim for that!
