“Quick to Listen & Slow to Speak” Colchester Federated Church, September 1, 2024, Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost (James 1:17-27)

We will be exploring the Letter of James during the Sundays of September.  Before we get into the specifics, it’s helpful to orient ourselves as to some of those historical who, what, where, when, and why questions to understand this letter better.  This James is none other than the brother of Jesus and the leader of Jesus’ followers in Jerusalem.  Sometimes people call him James of Jerusalem or James the Just.  James may have written the letter himself before the outbreak of the Jewish War of 66-70 CE (James was martyred in 62 CE).  Or the letter might have been written in his name around the same time (given the author’s proficiency with Greek).  The Letter of James is addressed “to the twelve tribes who are scattered outside the land of Israel.”[1]  This was in reference to the Babylonian Exile and that many prayed for and looked forward to the day when the 12-tribe kingdom would be restored in the land of Israel. 

Now unlike Paul who often wrote letters to faith communities about specific situations (and sometimes communities in conflict), this letter is broad in scope.  In fact, some Biblical scholars argue that this letter belongs to the genre of Wisdom Literature.  For New Testament scholars who believe the letter was written by another author, it seems that James of Jerusalem was widely revered among the early Christian community.  Folks wanted to preserve James’ words that echoed (and in some cases expanded upon) the moral teachings of his brother Jesus.  The Letter of James is aligned with the Sermon on the Mount—arguably the most important moral teaching Jesus shared with us.

As we listen to this Letter, we remember that Proverbs, Job, Ecclesiastes, and the Song of Solomon are Old Testament Wisdom Literature.  Their purpose was to compile instructions—wisdom sometimes passed down from generation to generation—to help folks understand how to live wisely.  The Letter of James contains sayings expressed as wise instructions for how people can live out our lives faithfully following Jesus. 

Perhaps the most famous wisdom saying in James’ Letter is that faith without works is dead.  As an aside, Martin Luther famously called the Letter of James an “Epistle of Straw” and wanted it removed from the Bible because Luther felt that it contradicted Paul’s teachings about justification by faith alone.  There are Christians who are not fans of James because this letter is a call to action as followers of Jesus.  It also proves that Paul’s interpretations of Jesus’ teachings were not the only interpretations out there.  There were other theologies present within the Jesus movement from the beginning—look no further than James of Jerusalem, the brother of Jesus himself![2]

As we explore the letter together, we will do so by moving from wisdom saying to wisdom saying.  Because it is helpful to view this book as Wisdom Literature and to ponder the wisdom sayings, engaging with the guidance shared in each section of the letter.  Okay, with all of that hopefully clarified, we begin this morning with James’ instruction about listening, speaking, and being slow to grow angry.

James wrote, “Know this, my dear brothers and sisters: everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to grow angry.  This is because an angry person doesn’t produce God’s righteousness.”[3]

There are certain popular phrases about anger in our culture that when we really stop and think about them, there’s some flaws in the logic.  Perhaps the most famous is “sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.”  Not true at all.  Words said in anger can be hurtful, even if we know there’s more going on for that person when the words are directed at us.  Or there’s the advice often given that “you should never go to bed angry.”  Though if the alternative is saying something deeply hurtful to someone you love, perhaps it is better to go to bed angry!

One of my go-to resources for healthy relationships is The Gottman Institute.  There was a helpful resource shared on their Blog written by a couples’ therapist named Kyle Benson about “the anger iceberg.”  We can ask ourselves, what’s the point and purpose of anger?  Psychologist Daniel Goleman helpfully explains that “emotions are, in essence, impulses to act, the instant plans for handling life that evolution has instilled in us.”[4]  For instance, anger on a physical level causes blood to flow into our hands.  Why?  Because from an evolutionary perspective that blood flow makes it easier for us to hold a weapon or strike an enemy.  When we are angry, our heart rate increases and we experience a rush of hormones in our bodies—including adrenaline.  Sometimes our breathing becomes shallower or our muscles tense up.  Perhaps we clench our jaws.  Our stomachs can start churning.  Our faces can become flushed or hot.  We might start to sweat or even feel dizzy or tingly in our bodies.  Basically, we experience a surge of energy when we are angry.  Because our bodies are being primed to act.  Anger is ingrained within us to protect us. 

However, sometimes the anger that is arising is masking the feelings beneath the surface.  When someone gets angry, there are underlying feelings that the anger might be protecting.  That’s why it’s helpful to think of the anger iceberg.  The tips that are shared for listening when anger has come to the surface is to not take it personally (which is obviously so difficult!), but to do our best to help that angry person identify their feelings.  Another tip is to not tell somehow who is angry to “calm down.”  Don’t do it.  Not a good idea. Couples’ therapist Kyle Benson helpfully advises, “The goal here is not to change or fix your partner’s emotions, but rather to stand on their anger iceberg with them (unless, of course, their anger is harmful or destructive to your well-being).  Communicate that you understand and accept their feelings.  When you do this well, your partner’s anger will subside.  Not to mention they will feel heard, which builds trust over time.”[5]  Finally, we can help identify the obstacle—what is the underlying cause of the anger surfacing?  Because there is a reason why anger arises within us.

In the end, there is a whole lot of wisdom shared by James of Jerusalem in the Letter of James written nearly two thousand years ago when it comes to anger.  James advised the earliest followers of his brother Jesus, “Know this, my dear brothers and sisters: everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to grow angry.”[6]  Another way to think about this is that God gave us two ears and one mouth for a reason.  We are perhaps invited to listen twice as much as we speak, especially when we can physically feel the anger surging in our bodies.  Words can heal, and words can wound.  Words said in anger cannot be unsaid.  Hence James’ wisdom that as followers of Christ we are called to be quick to listen and slow to speak and slow to grow angry.  May it be so with us, and thanks be to God.  Amen.

[1] James 1:1, CEB.
[2] Patrick J. Hartin, “James” in The CEB Study Bible with Apocrypha, pgs. 453-454 NT & Sophie Laws and Walter T. Wilson, “The Letter of James” in The HarperCollins Study Bible, pgs. 2052-2053.
[3] James 1:19-20.
[4] Daniel Goleman as quoted by Kyle Benson, “The Anger Iceberg,” The Gottman Institute, updated June 26, 2024, https://www.gottman.com/blog/the-anger-iceberg/
[5] Kyle Benson, “The Anger Iceberg,” The Gottman Institute, updated June 26, 2024, https://www.gottman.com/blog/the-anger-iceberg/
[6] James 1:19.

Photo by Cassie Matias on Unsplash