James 4: Getting to the Heart of the Matter

Or what a demonic religion might really look like

(Hello everyone! I’m going to be reposting older posts that I believe are still pertinent on Mondays each week. This is in part for me to figure out what I need to go back and re-express and what I think is still good and timely. This was originally posted April 2023)

For better or worse many Evangelicals were affected by Frank E. Peretti’s This Present Darkness. The imagery of demons and angels battling it out on a parallel cosmic plane made for some captivating reading. This with other books like Pigs in the Parlor painted demon activity as an external sinister threat to the church. There are problems with both Peretti’s and the Hammond’s books that I won’t get into here but reading James I wonder if the “demonic” issue isn’t more about the “demons” out there, but those acting like “demons” inside the church.

A Reiteration of the Argument

James yet again restates what his running argument has been all along, “Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. (James 3:13-14)” This is a reiteration of the argument James made in chapter 1 but especially in Ch 2: 14-19. Only here the author is again going deeper than the previous argument. Before it was simply a matter of action not following a profession of faith, here James is highlighting the heart attitude behind that false religiosity: bitter zeal and contention.

This is where classical English readings may not help as much as the actual Greek, the phrase goes ζῆλον πικρὸν ἔχετε καὶ ἐριθείαν. The most literal translation is “You have bitter zeal (ζῆλος) and contention (strife) (ἐριθεία)”. If we take James to be continuing his contrast of false religiosity I believe “bitter zeal” and “contention” fit a false religiosity far better. What James is outlining is again the false fruit of an unspiritual, earthly, demonic heart (3:15). This is emphasized in verse 16 where he again says that “bitter zeal” and “contention” will bring about “confusion” (ἀκαταστασία) and “all foul pragmatic” (πᾶν φαῦλον πρᾶγμα). This directly ties back to chapter 1:6-8. The one “driven and tossed by the wind” who also “lacks wisdom” (1:5) ends up being “double-minded” and “confused” (ἀκαταστασία) in “all his ways” (1:6). What James is getting at is there is an unwise, bitterly zealous and contentious kind of religiosity. The fruits of this false religion are seen in instability, confusion, and foul pragmatism. Even worse James names where this comes from directly- not from God (earthly), not spiritual, and ultimately demonic. We have to remember what James considers demonic from 2:19, belief or “knowledge” about God that neither ends in a love for God or an emulation of Him in love.

A Dire Warning

Very often these verses are presented as a warning against “worldliness”. Often it is whatever is “out there” in the world that labeled as “demonic”. In my lifetime what has been called by some as “demonic” has run the gamut from Harry Potter, to Disney, to Black Lives Matter, and CRT. Yet I don’t wonder if James speaking to a “false religiosity” doesn’t hit much closer to our experiences within churches and denominations. It can be difficult to differentiate between a false “bitter zeal” and a healthy “zeal” but if we were to put James’ “mirror” up would we see demands for doctrinal purity that ended up being more confusing than helpful? What about having to respond to endless “crises” after “dire concern” after “serious issue”? Where unnecessary division was not just a feature but a stated goal? Even worse would we see a “foul pragmatism” that began to excuse practices and persons because they are a means to an end? But even more within that “foul pragmatism” would we see a particular failure regarding speech? The possibility of the “demonic” I think is even more striking, that there would be a knowledge of God without displaying a love for Him and others.

A Righteous Contrast

James paints quite a different picture when it comes to the “wisdom from above”, “But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.(3:17-18)” It is important for us to realize James isn’t referencing ideas or principles, he’s talking about his brother. When James is talking about the “wisdom from above” for him that was a person- Jesus. In reality James is answering a question many of us would love to ask, “You were his brother, what was Jesus like?” Pure, peaceable, gentle, reasonable… Just these four words, if they are what immediately comes to the mind of James when thinking about Jesus (and it only takes a cursory glance at the Gospels to confirm this) than how we measure a false religion begins with these fruits. Who we promote, what causes they champion, the urgency with which they make their appeal- do they sound like Jesus? Do they display his fruit (Gal. 5:22-23)? Or are do they claim that “gentle appeals” don’t work anymore? Are they reasonable or bitterly zealous? Peaceable or contentious? Meek or overbearing? Overly partisan? Do they routinely claim they “didn’t mean it”?

Righteousness, Justice, Peace and Shalom

James’ statement on a “harvest of righteousness” directly alludes to this passage in Isiah, “Then justice will dwell in the wilderness, and righteousness abide in the fruitful field. And the effect of righteousness will be peace, and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust forever. (Is. 32:16-17)” The peace that James is speaking of here isn’t merely the absence of conflict. In fact we need to acknowledge this is one of the claims of those pushing false contentions, that if people, institutions, and denominations would just agree with them there would be unity and peace. James is talking about a just, righteous peace, a “Shalom” (שָׁלוֹם) of rightly ordered priorities. Next week we’ll look at why that peace is so elusive and what God calls us to do to both “sow in peace” and begin to reflect God’s “wisdom from above”.

(Thanks for reading! I’m always grateful for those who lend me their time. If you want to get my latest please subscribe and consider supporting me in making this content. If you’d like to gift a one-time gift of coffee or dinner, that would also be appreciated https://venmo.com/u/Jason-Mallow-1)