Day 19. James 4.

Chapter 3 ended praising those who cultivate peace. Chapter 4 begins with a sharp scold for those who don't.

James rips off the band-aid, pulling no punches, while identifying the root of war and strife among us believers; it's the passions within our own hearts, not the evil or injustice in teh world around us. He proclaims over and over again, "It's you ... it's you ... it's you!!"

But be of good cheer, there's a remedy for our struggles! God may resist the proud (frankly the root of almost every kind of sin imaginable) but the very same God gives abundant grace to those who will humble themselves before Him.

Humility is, a tricky deal, though. Right now our American Christian culture is awash with twisted concepts of what it means to be a "good" Christian, "biblically masculine", and "biblically feminine". It seems the loudest most controversial voices are the ones exalted above the rest as the "preservers of our faith" and "pillars of strength".

Just today I saw two different posts saying something like "If Merry Christmas offends you, well, then MERRY CHRISTMAS!!" As if intentionally offending people to whom we are called to love and minister is somehow a flagship move for Jesus.

But, thankfully, James reminds us the truly strong in the Lord are not those who lift themselves up, or howl the loudest at the cultural moon, but those who bring themselves low with subjugated posture; those who mourn and weep over their own sin, you know, those passions he mentioned earlier that wage war in the depths of our souls and do battle with our neighbors.

If you follow my writing and teaching, you know I'm no fan of formulas, but James lays a simple one out for us; a pathway to deeper relationship with our Creator.

He calls to reverent intimacy, not shame. We aren't self-pitying navel gazers, but we are submitted servants.

It is in this humility He is finally able to exalt us to the place He intended. When we return to Him, He gladly receives us, tucks us in tight as any loving Father would do.

Our world, and sadly our churches, thrive on outrage, conflict, false accusation, and destructive pride. James shouts from the hills ...