Slow to wrath

So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God. – James 1v19-20 

The wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God. What a powerful statement. God’s word is so clear here – ‘be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to wrath.’ 

I am amazed that in the body of Christ there is so much of he opposite –‘Don’t listen to anything. You are right, make your point known. Get angry, make your point known. After all, it is godly anger and that will get people sorted!’ 

The problem is simple. The common viewpoint has no Bible basis. In fact, it is destructive. Remember, ‘The wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.’ We can’t produce righteousness with our wrath. It won’t work. It can’t happen. 

We may get people to conform. We may scare them into silent submission. We may keep them ‘in line.’ But we have not produced any true righteousness. 

Where does this wrath, which some excuse by calling it ‘righteous anger,’ come from?