It took me about 10 minutes to read the last part of the letter from James. In verse 17 of chapter 3 James lays out the characteristics of a life filled with godly wisdom. Eugene Peterson summarizes these characteristics with the phrase, “getting along with others.” That has been the mantra in my family since before I went to kindergarten; learning to get along with other people. First it was my siblings and cousins, and now it is my coworkers and church family. And not one time did God ever say that the process of cooperation would be easy or even enjoyable. But we need to view it as Jesus viewed the cross; not from the immediate selfish desires, but from obedience to God’s will. Repeatedly, throughout scripture, we are called to be united, living in harmony, one people with the single focus of glorifying God. James pushed the thought just as strongly as Jesus and Paul did. Yet from my perspective the Church is too often more concerned with being “right”, then being submissive to God. I’ve been guilty of that before, and I’m sure I will be again. But that doesn’t justify the action or the end result of a divided Church. We all need to be aware that we don't create division for the sake of our passions.
Stuart
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