If you are a follower of Christ, I believe the events of this week provides you an excellent opportunity for you to pause for perspective.
Where does one begin? The right… the left… Republicans… Democrats… The main stream news media… The alternative news media… Big Tech… Woke… Redneck… Any and every one of these areas provide a jumping off point into this discussion. However, I want us to go one further step backwards.
As a follower of Christ participating in the public square – or simply trying to live life in 2021 – each of us must ask a deeper question. No matter who you support, at whom you are angry, or what you position is on any of the seemingly hundreds of issues related to the public square, we must each answer a fundamental question.
What role do you play? As you live through these historical days, what kind of wisdom are you employing? Are you wise? Do you have confidence in you, your position, your response to your position, and your response to the position of others?
The sad reality is this: Christians and even family members on either side of these issues are succumbing to disunity, unkindness, impatience, judgmentalism, and lovelessness. As I have scrolled through social media this week and listened to various conversations around me, my soul grieves for what I hear. People on both sides of these varied issues proclaiming themselves wise are potentially demonstrating they are fools. And before you consider everyone else, it is imperative that you consider your own heart first.
What role do you play? As you live through these historical days, what kind of wisdom are you employing? Are you wise? Do you have confidence in you, your position, your response to your position, and your response to the position of… Share on XWe Are Not the First Christians to Face Troubled Times.
We certainly are not the first Christians to face troubled times. In fact, the Bible refers to all kinds of troubles those who love God have faced. Perilous times are not new. In the New Testament, Pastor James, a servant and half-brother of Jesus, wrote to his congregation who were scattered all over Asia Minor as a result of persecution. Nero hunted down and killed Christ followers. Thousands of Christians were on the run from Jerusalem. They were under attack physically, financially, socially, and spiritually. In an effort to help his congregation, Pastor James writes to them and seeks to provide them perspective as I am doing today.
Who Is Wise Among You?
James asks his brothers and sisters-in-Christ as simple question, “Who is wise among you?” Here is the full context:
13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. 15 This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. 16 For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. 17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. 18 Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. (James 3:13-18)
When James asks the question, “Who is wise among you?”, he responds with a pointed answer. “Let the wise person show it by good conduct in the humility of wisdom.” In other words, if you wonder whether or not you are wise – or if you are on the right side of your issue – then look no further than your own conduct or behavior. Let your words, social media, and other conduct answer the question for you.
Because of the importance of the Gospel and our public testimony, we must answer the question as to whether or not we are wise – quite literally, are you wise?
If you wonder whether or not you are wise – or if you are on the right side of your issue – then look no further than your own conduct or behavior. Let your words, social media, and other conduct answer the question for you. Share on XWisdom from Below versus Wisdom from Above
James points out that there are only two kinds of wisdom: wisdom from above (from God) and wisdom from below (not from God). He categorizes both for us. Let me consider both very briefly (this could take multiple blogs to completely flesh out).
Wisdom from Below
The world’s wisdom James characterizes as earthly, sensual, and demonic. In other words, the world’s wisdom reflects the things of the world. This list of three items consistently characterize the world throughout the Scriptures. Earthly reflects what relates to this world, what you can touch, feel, and have. Sensual pertains to the flesh and what satisfies the flesh. Demonic refers to the greater battle of pride versus humility or evil versus good. These same three categories of wisdom are consistent with Eve’s temptation (Gen 3:6), Jesus’ temptation from the devil (Matt 4; Luke 4), and John’s description of the things in the world that followers of Christ are not to love (1 John 2:15-17).
Those who live life characterized by desires of the flesh, desires of the eyes, and the pride of life, according to James, also fit the categories of selfish and jealous people. They want what is best for them. These individuals live with a personal self-interest which reflects in their behavior. The world essentially sets the categories for which they live.
Wisdom from Above
Wisdom from above refers to God’s wisdom. This is the wisdom for which as Christians we are to pray as we seek to endure through troubled times (James 1:2-5). As we use this wisdom to navigate the incredible pressures of troubled times, God promises to bless us as we endure (James 1:12). The characterization of wisdom from above looks similar to the fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:13-26), walking in the newness of life in Christ (Eph 4:17-32), and one who is mature in Christ (Col 3:5-17).
James describe wisdom from above as first motivated by purity or a desire to honor the Lord or be God’s kind of person. Then he adds a number of other attributes to this kind of wisdom:
- Peaceable: peace-loving, desire to get along with others
- Gentle: gracious and forbearing
- Willing to yield: reasonable, sweet reasonableness
- Full of mercy: genuine concern for others
- Full…of good fruits: inner and outer man fruit of righteousness
- Without partiality: impartial, fair, stable
- Without hypocrisy: genuine and sincere
James provides an incredible list and creates a very high standard – a standard, in fact, that seemingly suggests that many people today on both sides of all these issues walk according to the wisdom from the world, not wisdom from above.
How to Test Yourself – Test Your Wisdom
James also provides a list of outcomes for both wisdom from below and wisdom from above. You can look at the results from each to work backwards to determine from what kind of wisdom you live.
The Result of Wisdom from Below
If you are living with wisdom from below where you are living selfishly and jealously, you can expect two results: confusion and every kind of evil. In other words, in your life if what gets produced from your efforts looks like a bunch of confusion and various kinds of evil, then you are living from the world’s wisdom. Your values will reflect what is primarily earthly (focusing on what you have or can get instead of eternity), sensual (pleasing the flesh instead of spiritual), and demonic (the agenda of the devil more than God’s priorities). When this happens, expect greater and greater confusion and every other sort of evil.
The Result of Wisdom from Above
If you are living with wisdom from above where you are living with a desire to be God’s kind of person or Christlike, then you should expect completely different results. You should instead expect a harvest of righteousness. Because you represent the Person of Peace, live consistent with the attitude and values of Christ, and seek to live in harmony with others in Christ, your harvest will include all kinds of righteousness – a field full of it. Instead of confusion and all kinds of evil in your field of life, you will enjoy peace and all kinds of righteousness.
Final Words
Friends, I’m afraid that much of what I see as social warriors on both sides are nothing more than those who live from wisdom from below. Why? Look at the fruit. True wisdom is demonstrated by humility, gentleness, reasonableness, and is full of good works.
Your side may be right. Your opinion may be right. But who cares if you engage others who disagree with you from the wisdom of the world. You can be right on an issue and still wrong because of your true values and conduct reflect wisdom from below.
Christian friend who is right… what about your attitude? pride? humility? mercy? impartiality? What is your spirit toward the one or ones with whom you disagree? Do you hate anyone? Are you angry? Are you argumentative?
Christian friend who is right... what about your attitude? pride? humility? mercy? impartiality? What is your spirit toward the one or ones with whom you disagree? Do you hate anyone? Are you angry? Are you argumentative? Share on XIf so…even in your rightness, you may be quite wrong. You can have insight on an issue and still operate out of wisdom from below. Just look at the result. Consider you conduct. Look for confusion and every kind of evil (even in the way you communicate with or think about others).
Instead, we must pursue wisdom from above that is gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruit, without hypocrisy, without partiality, and primarily motivated by a desire to honor the Lord. Then you should expect to see a harvest of righteousness surrounded by peace. If that is not you or your social media posts then possibly you do not have wisdom from above. If you consider others with disdain, look down upon them, or think badly about them, then possibly you do not have wisdom from above. And, as you know, this could go on and on.
It is time for every Christ follower – regardless how right and passionate you are on the issues – to pause for perspective. What kind of wisdom do you have?
At the end of the day, it does not matter how right you are if in the end you are following the wisdom of the world and not of God.
It is time for every Christ follower – regardless how right and passionate you are on the issues – to pause for perspective. What kind of wisdom do you have? At the end of the day, it does not matter how right you are if in the end you are following… Share on XImage Credit Getty
KevinCarson.com | Wisdom for Life in Christ Together
Thank you for the invitation to pause, pray and reflect. James example as he describes that “wisdom from above as first motivated by purity or a desire to honor the Lord or be God’s kind of person” is helpful in pointing myself (and others) to the Lord.
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Upon reflecting, I think back to the other national crossroads in my time. It was 911. I saw (and was hopeful) the church experienced a great humbling. People began to worship again! But, alas, I watch people set down the cross and pick up the flag. Maybe today’s church is more interested in patriotism than it is the cross of Christ. Jesus said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” There was opportunity for a reviving work after 911 as there is today. But, I fear that we love the flag more than we are willing to say no to self and die to self – “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Gal 2:20
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Praying with you, Kevin, that God’s people will have the wisdom you write about in this blog post!
I think in two ways Jeff. Politically & spiritually you are right. But also I wonder about those “right” Christians correcting all the “wrong” Christians? I see incredible attitude issues as we seek to “correct” each other. What do you think?
Humility is always the right answer. God gives grace humble (sanctifying grace – in addition to forgiving grace). We gain God’s favor and perspective when we are willing to walk in humility with one another.
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I do wonder where the “contending for the faith” voice fits in. We are all called to contend earnestly for The Faith (the objective content of God’s Word) once for all delivered to the saints. This does not need to be done contentiously – but it does need to be done. Jude found it necessary. I think that it what your post is doing – calling God’s people back to a perspective of wisdom from above.
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Yet, there are some voices in Christian circles that are unhelpful. I think back to you post about being a citizen of earth and a citizen of heaven. There certainly is a need for wisdom in navigating this difficult territory.
Thanks for sharing Kevin, Excellent advice for all of us.