Because most of us have the habit of reading the Bible alone, it’s easy for us to personalize or privatize the Scriptures. Now, there’s nothing wrong with personal Bible study. Getting alone with the Lord and opening our hearts and minds to His Word is a great privilege. It’s a discipline, true, but the benefits are fantastic! Make the effort; you won’t regret it!
But we should be careful not to let this method keep us from learning what God wants us to grasp. There’s a social dimension to the Bible that we’re more sensitive to when we hear the Word in public settings.
Here’s an example of what I mean.
“For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.” – James 3:16
During our recent church service, this was one of the Scriptures put on the screen. At first glance, it looks like a verse targeting the condition of our hearts. Envy and selfish ambition are personal vices, so the disorder and evil they foster must also be personal.
Yet most of the book of James deals with social issues within the church. How Christians treat one another is important to Jesus; it’s something He takes seriously.
If we interpret disorder as a private phenomenon, we’ll view it as something like a personality disorder. Is that what James had in mind? I don’t believe he was warning against psychiatric problems!
So what was the apostle getting at? Off the top of my head, I didn’t know what the Greek word for “disorder” was, so I looked it up. The Greek word is a long one: akatastasia!
It’s not a common term, occurring only five times in the Greek New Testament. Here’s how the NIV translated it in the other appearances:
- “And when you hear of wars and revolts, do not be alarmed; for these things must take place first, but the end will not follow immediately.” – Luke 21:9
- “for God is not a God of confusion, but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints” – 1 Corinthians 14:33
- “in beatings, in imprisonments, in mob attacks, in labors, in sleeplessness, in hunger” – 2 Corinthians 6:5
- “For I am afraid that perhaps when I come I may find you to be not what I wish, and may be found by you to be not what you wish; that perhaps there will be strife, jealousy, angry tempers, selfishness, slanders, gossip, arrogance, disturbances” – 2 Corinthians 12:20
There’s also one verse in the Greek Old Testament that uses the word: “A false tongue hates truth, and an unguarded mouth works instability” (Proverbs 26:28 [NETS]).
So let’s list all the ways the NIV translated akatastasia: disorder, revolts, confusion, mob attacks, disturbances, and instability. These are social disasters!
Yet James treats disorder as a moral matter. It’s synonymous with “every evil practice.” And these are the fruits of the sinful attitudes of envy and selfish ambition.
Is disorder moral or social? It’s both. Although it germinates within our souls, it doesn’t stay there. Disorder corrupts relationships.
We can also take this in reverse. Evil associations and disordered relationships contaminate our souls. When we see “the wrong person” succeeding where we’ve failed, we get jealous. When we’re dissatisfied with what we have and what we do, we get greedy for what other enjoy. It’s a vicious cycle that feeds on itself, degrading our hearts and our churches.
The Lord has a better way–His wisdom!
“But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.” – James 3:17
Like disorder, wisdom is both personal and corporate. James describes wisdom in relational terms. God’s wisdom shows up when we show up, when we get involved in the difficulties and challenges people face. Instead of competing with them, we love them like Jesus loves us. And we do what we can to bless them.
The practical expression of godly wisdom not only helps people through their problems, it also fosters our growth in Christ. We become more like Him when we decide to think and act like He does. When we obey the Word and rely on the Spirit, we bless ourselves, and we build up fellow Christians.
The result is peace.
“Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.” – James 3:18
This is the victory Jesus has for us. Let’s not fall short of what He’s offering us. Let’s thank Him, accept it, and share it.
Peace is possible!
