fishwitz - james 1:20
mans anger
James 1:20 for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.
I am a devoted, 16-year-listener to the man who rescued AM radio from oblivion. I don’t know if I’m devoted, addicted, or compulsive, but I never miss. But recently I’ve found myself disagreeing more often than not. And today I read an inspired post about the recent political scene: “I have been very disappointed in all the complaining…”
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might” (Deuteronomy 6:5). I want to be as much like my wife as I can, because I love her very much. I want to be as much like God as I can, because I love Him very much. Any time I become aware of falling short because of my wrath, I am painfully aware that I have not “produced the righteousness of God.”
More than once I have gone off the handle with Brad, the artist of this comic. And each time I have become painfully aware of the impact, not only on my brother, but on the Kingdom. I left the denomination in which I was raised because of the wrath on both sides of the schism-in-progress. The issues have been important: President-elect, Presiding Bishop, Ministry Leader. But when the issues are contested in wrathful exchanges, the issue is no longer, well, no longer the issue.
In today’s comic, Boo has been seriously injured. Who was he listening to? What was the topic? Did he agree or disagree with the report? None of those is significant, because in wrath, Boo wrecked his car.
How do we produce the righteousness of God? What would Jesus do? When I read that inspired post this afternoon, I sent a message to the author telling her I thought it was inspired. I did not write of any disagreement with pieces of her message. I wanted to commend her. I wanted to “be Jesus” and “produce the righteousness of God” in this setting.
Then I got home and read the passage Brad had selected for today’s comic. Coincidental? I think not. Inspired? Definitely. Nice timing, Boo!
I will pray for you, and will you please pray for me? Let’s pray that we can “produce the righteousness of God” and be the representatives of Christ that this world needs to see. And let’s all pray for our next president, Barack Obama.
Thanks for the time you took to read this article.
Stevene
