A perfect man
I pity those who think they have it all figured out...their God, the scriptures, the church. The guy with all the answers puts his God in a box. God is unfigureoutable: His thoughts are purely alien to ours, His manners beyond comprehending. If we would think about it for a couple of heartbeats we would know that we don’t need a god who is like us - frail, subject to failure, flaws, faltering and fatigued - a god facing the pressures of “life” and not knowing where to go or what to do - a god who is tempted or acts on emotions as we do. So I continue to learn and to grow. Simple truths that I miss I am amazed by. So today my loyal blog-dudes and dudettes I have a thought for you and I’d like for you to weigh in on it.
In James 3:2 the practical writer of the New Testament pens the Spirit’s breath: “...we all stumble in many things (I love biblical understatement, dj). If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body.” To be rather “trek-sih” (in honor of the new Star Trek) - “so say we all.” Or, “amen”. But I’ve begun to think I have not done justice to this verse.
You and I have both heard those who used this verse to passively dismiss their own unwillingness to disciple themselves or to grow. And I think at times in my preaching and teaching I may have inadvertently given them a pass. I have met so many people with this dismissive attitude toward their tongue.
“That’s just how I am” (well, change), “I just say what’s on my mind” (maybe the wrong things are on it then), “I am just frank” (no, you’re mean), “I just keep on saying stuff I shouldn’t” (well, if you do it recklessly {wouldn’t that word be much more descriptive if it was spelled wrecklessly} , it is sinful).
Here’s where I’ve messed up. I have said: “You’ll never completely tame/control your tongue (which is probably true), if you could you would be perfect.” I should have known better but the following simple truth has escaped me:
The word “perfect” (didn’t that used to be a word-processor?) is from the Greek word: “teleioV” (teleios) that is used five times in James. It is MUCH better translated for today’s person trying to understand the Lord’s Will for her life: “Mature or complete”. But the translators don’t help us any here. Almost without exception they translate the word “perfect” (KJV, NKJV, ESV, NIV, NLT, NASV, ASV, NCV, TNIV, Darby’s, Websters, Young’s), leaving the idea that none of us will ever reach it and we might as well not really try. But that is not James point at all. He is talking about and trying to help us grow up! A side note would be contextually in verse 1 he is talking about those who have (or should have) matured to the point that they are recognized as teachers. That’s the point, they have matured.
I am not familiar with the “Weymouth New Testament” but it nails the thought here: “For we often stumble and fall, all of us. If there is any one who never stumbles in speech, that man has reached maturity of character and is able to curb his whole nature.”
Stop excusing yourself - grow up! Folks, I have been a Christian for nearly 40 years - I still stumble in word, with my tongue, but I have grown. I don’t do it as often as I used to. I have learned and try to learn from my mistakes, I kick myself every time I misspeak (and folks, I have a lot of opportunity to do that) and say something I regret and I try to correct it when I do. May I humbly challenge you to do the same. We are to be maturing! If I am maturing it will show in my mouth - if not it will too. Let me challenge you to examine yourself in this as I do and stop thinking that “perfect” there means you will never sin or is an excuse to let your immaturity slide. I know that even in this rather firm rebuke I run the risk of offending with my tongue - please know - I am in this struggle with you.
Ephesians 4:29 “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”
Grow Christian, grow.
**While I started writing this post sometime ago, my good friend Trent Wheeler has some A+ thoughts on the same subject he blogged this week that encouraged me: http://contextualministry.blogspot.com/2009/06/words.html.