Finding Peace In The Midst Of A Raging World
A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. — Proverbs 15:1 (ESV)
The jump from critiquing an argument to criticizing someone’s character is a short one. So, too, is the jump from civil discourse to blind quarreling. Neither derail is healthy nor productive for anyone involved, and both are based in fear-elicited emotions.
It is extremely easy to get worked up when we are in an emotional state of mind. Like a domino effect, we spread the condition to our neighbor. This has been made only easier through social media and more frequent, as of late, with the current political state of affairs.
He is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain. — 1 Timothy 6:4–5 (ESV)
The context of this Scripture is in regards to someone who teaches a different doctrine than that of the words of Jesus Christ, but the unhealthy craving to stir controversy isn’t limited to doctrine only. If we are not diligent in understanding our purpose, we are culpable in any envy, dissension, slander, suspicions, or friction kindled by careless words and acts. If those actions are wrought in arrogance, bitterness, anger, etc., they teach the world that those are justifiable ways of expressing dissent and acquiring aspirations.
So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness… — 2 Timothy 2:22–25 (ESV)
Words are nihility in comparison to the work God does through us when we act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with him. That said, correction is important, but it must be done with gentleness of heart or it means little.
Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; — James 1:19 (ESV)
Beyond the spiritual consequences, there’s a real practical reason for being quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger. By taking a breath and praying before acting, we move from reacting to responding. Our emotions are good things made by God that stir our purpose and passion for him. In our broken state that can become quickly perverted, however. Unchecked, our emotions can quickly burn into firestorms of hurt feelings and bitterness, leading to a hardness of heart toward others and a numbness to God’s purpose for our life. Turning to The Lord first ensures we don’t return hurt for hurt.
What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. — James 4:1–3 (ESV)
Going to God in prayer does little if we are not willing to cede our desire to be right in our eyes rather than his. Selfishness and conceit do not bode well as requests to a selfless and righteous God. To ask of things in Jesus’s name means exactly that. In his “ónoma.” Ónoma in Greek, means “the manifestation or revelation of someone’s character” [1]. That means to pray as Jesus prayed. “…not my will, but yours, be done” (Luke 22:42 ESV). So prayer is not about what we want, but what The Lord knows we need.
THE SUMMARY
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. — Romans 12:2 (ESV)
Make no mistake, there are great evils in the world and they do need to be spoken out against, and at times (though with great caution and reluctance) fervently dealt with. We should still be prudent in our opinions, but never seek to force others to agree with us. Instead — whenever able — we should listen to opposing ideas and respond thoughtfully in love. The aim should never be to put people in their place — or to esteem ourselves — but rather to refine understanding, change hearts and lives, and glorify God. When we can’t agree, we need to drop it and better our relationship with our neighbor. Without trust, without respect, without love, our words are just noise. Hardened hearts aren’t susceptible to change. The inherit worth of our neighbor is far more important than any discourse in God’s eyes.
That said…
We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, — 2 Corinthians 10:5 (ESV)
But we don’t do that through hate and arrogance! We do so through love and gentleness and by spending time with The Lord in his Word. Discourse can be a peaceable affair. More than all this, when the world rages we have a hope greater than anything made by man. We have a Savior seated at the right hand of God: Jesus. He is on the throne. All we really need to do in life is take a knee before him and entrust the world he created to him. Rage on world!
As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. —Joshua 24:15b
Image Credit: “Rage” by Travis Wise is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
[1] HELPS Word-studies copyright © 1987, 2011 by Helps Ministries, Inc.
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
