To Catch a Fisherman
It’s a funny phenomenon to watch the social media banter between trout fishermen. There is often animosity between those who fly fish and those who use bait (corn, worms, powerbaits); those who catch and release their quarry, and those who keep their catch. If a person were to post a picture of nine trout on a stringer, well, get ready. The limit (in Georgia) is eight and judgments begin flying like a million dusk bats from Carlsbad before the judges have heard testimony. That stringer could actually be a day’s hard-earned catch of nine different people but the accused will most likely not have a fair trial from their peers.
Judgmental trout fishermen are just a tiny microcosm of our human dilemma. We are all fast to speak and slow to listen. We assume quick ill of others because we have a ravenous appetite to feel superior. James, a disciple of Jesus, addresses our hearts on this issue:
“Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.” - James 1:19-21
James is writing to Christians; those whose hearts have been changed to reflect the heart of Christ himself. Yet James knows that those who know Christ often live out of line with their changed hearts. A changed heart means that the righteousness of God can really and actually come forth from the Christian. The anger of man (that which is quick to bring wrong judgment) ought not hold place with the Christian. But it does . . . often. What are we to do? James says to put it away and receive something altogether different.
Every Christian has access to the “power of God unto salvation” which is the gospel . . . the good news that our old sin nature that ruled us no longer rules us. We don’t have to live by its sway any longer. We don’t have to allow anger, leading to a judgmental heart, be the dominant force in our lives. When we do allow a judgmental heart, our hearts experience soul-death.
Think on this story of two fishermen:
Déagol and Sméagol were cousins and best friends. To celebrate Sméagol’s birthday they hiked together to a favorite fishing hole in the Gladden Fields. It was there that Sméagol found the ring. It was a ring of power that seduced the wearer and corrupted the wearer’s heart. Under the ring’s corruption Sméagol became the grotesque and well known Lord of the Rings character, Gollum. Gollum felt a deep need to protect his precious ring and saw everyone else as a threat. Sméagol killed Déagol.
That’s what a corrupt heart does. It becomes paranoid, angry, self-protecting, and feeds on the neglect and demise of others. For the Christian, it strikes at their own vitals while bringing harm to others. Exercising the corrupt heart is soul-killing. The reverse is also true; receiving the grace-given and implanted Word - that word which tells us we have no need for boasting, rightness, self-preservation, etc. - brings soul-life.
By accessing that constant and ever-present grace given to us through His Word and in Jesus Christ, our soul can experience the salvation we were meant to find and exercise. I need His word of grace daily to combat my angry, judgmental, heart and to lead me by the hand to a response to others that brings true life.