October 2018 - LPNI

There is a lot of arguing and fighting in our world.  It’s everywhere – politics, communities, neighborhoods, work, marriages, families, churches!  We are not good at solving the problem of arguing and fighting.  There is one who is good – God.  He understands arguing and fighting, and he has the solution!

In his New Testament letter, James addresses arguing and fighting (3:13-4:10).  He talks about wisdom and understanding.  Wisdom involves skill, experience, and being learned (adjective, not verb!).  Understanding means expertise.  St. Paul compares the world’s wisdom with God’s wisdom (1 Corinthians 1:18-25).  The world’s wisdom is “folly”, St. Paul says.  God’s wisdom is divine.  The world’s wisdom comes from within the world.  God’s wisdom comes from God. The world’s wisdom is not skilled, experienced, and learned in solving the problem of arguing and fighting.  It certainly is not an expert at it.  Want proof?  Just look at the world!  God is skilled, experienced, and learned when it comes to solving the problem.  In fact, he is an expert! He is an expert because he understands the problem.

“What causes quarrels and … fights among you?” James asks.  “Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you?”  St. Paul reminds us that “we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers … the authorities … the cosmic powers over this present darkness … the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12).  The world does not have the answer to arguing and fighting because it does not deal with spiritual matters.  It deals with worldly matters.  God deals with spiritual (soul) matters.

The cause of quarrels and fights is when our passions are at war within (among) us.  Lust is one of the meanings of passion.  I am not talking about sexual lust, though that also can be part of it. Lust is an excessive desire for something.  There are godly desires.  God desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:4).  Lust, however, is an excessive desire that goes too far.  It goes over the boundary.  It does not stay behind God’s “red line”.  It breaks God’s Law.  It is a sin that results in quarrels and fighting.

Our passions are at war within us.  We are at war; therefore, we are under the command and authority of something that has power over us.  Quarrels and fights are the result of something that is stronger than us.  St. Paul says, “I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh.  For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out.  For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing” (Romans 7:18-19).  I do not want to have excessive desire for something.  But I do.  I do not want to quarrel and fight due to my excessive desire.  But I do.  “Wretched man that I am!  Who will deliver me from this body of death?  Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (Romans 7:24-25)  The solution to quarreling and fighting is Jesus!

A little girl proudly wore a shiny cross on a chain around her neck.  It was pretty and had found a special place over her heart.  One day she was approached by a crabby man.  The man said, “Young lady, I imagine you think Jesus died on a cross for you.  If he did, and I’m not saying he did, I don’t think that cross was pretty like the one you’re wearing.  It was an ugly wooden thing.  I don’t think you should wear it as a piece of jewelry.  After all, you wouldn’t wear a hangman’s noose or an electric chair around your neck, would you?”  

That little girl responded with respect: “Yes, sir, I do believe Jesus died for me on a cross.  And I know that his cross would not have been as pretty as mine.  But I also know, sir, what they told me in Sunday school.”

“And what was that?” the man asked.  “In Sunday school, my teacher told me that whatever Jesus touches, he changes,” she answered.  “I think that is true for this cross.  I know that it’s true for me.”

“Whatever Jesus touches, he changes.”  That’s the solution to quarreling and fighting!  Jesus touches us in the word of God.  In fact, he is the Word of God (John 1:1).  He takes us in his arms and blesses us, laying his hands on us in our Baptism (Mark 10:16). His body given into death for us, and his blood shed for us for the forgiveness of sins, touch us in Holy Communion.

Whatever Jesus touches, he changes.  He is the solution to arguing and fighting.

Rev. Lawrence Boye

Pastor Emeritus, The Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod

Manhattan, Kansas  USA

larryboye@hotmail.com