Created for Community
By Dr. Samuel Kamaleson
We are created for community. Relationship constitutes the core of redemption. St. Paul writing to Timothy about his gifted role in transforming mission reminds him about the Holy Spirit’s ability to heal us from the fear of people: “For the Holy Spirit, God’s gift, does not want you to be afraid of people, but to be wise and strong, and to love them and enjoy being with them” (II Tim. 1:7). Fear is not to be the basis for the building of community. And wisdom is the foundation for the healing of such destructive fear.
In his general epistle, James, the brother of our Lord, speaks about the effect of wisdom from above upon community (Jas. 3:13). The valuable qualities of quickness and brightness – when they are celebrated in isolation from other balancing virtues become dangerous weapons. In our brilliance of mastering the areas of our responsibilities within the community, we may run away with the conclusion that we have the other members of the community literally hanging on our words. James knows the difference between cleverness and wisdom. It may be closer to the truth if we called much of what passes for wisdom in our human society by other names such as shrewdness, cunning and craftiness.
There is a cleverness that divides. It has fire and flash, it is quick and bright, but it does not help people to celebrate community. It divides community.
When the effort is to increase one’s own status within the community, there is little room to think about others. Jealousy and selfish-ambition leave little room to celebrate “love that knows no aggression” (Jas. 3:13,16). Then by our action we cancel out our claims (Jas. 3:14).
James traces the origin of such “wisdom.” It is earthly (Jas. 3:15). When cleverness is our center of admiration, then our perspective is limited to this world. It may lead to a reasoning of survival at any cost. In its environment of reductive naturalism it cannot celebrate God’s love nor is it warned by God’s judgment. It is also unspiritual (Jas. 3:15). It pits people against people. Resourced by human instinct and ingenuity, it is soul-less. It is blind to the Kingdom of God and cannot visualize the values of the Kingdom (John 3:3). What we cannot visualize we cannot conceptualize. What we cannot conceptualize we cannot realize. This false wisdom is also from the demonic, according to James 3:15. It pits people against people. Leaning on our own resources we use power to hurt others and to set people against one another. Our mind is taken off God.
This false wisdom results in isolation since an autonomous individualism results in every person living for himself/herself. Suspicion, fear, and intrigue disrupt the functioning of the community (Jas. 3:16).
But there is the wisdom that comes from heaven (Jas. 3:17). “Who is wise and understanding among you?” is the opening question in James (3:13). The life of the community for which we have been “created and re-created” (Eph. 2: 14-18), is dependent upon such who are its members. It is not an effort to prove oneself smart, but the evidence of living a life of steady goodness, so only good deeds will pour forth. And there is no bragging about them. The roots for a life of steady goodness are rooted in the soil of God’s marvelous love (Eph. 3:17). Since this resource is the inexhaustible Love of Jesus Christ, the meekness which expresses its underlying strength in gentleness, integrates heart and head, feelings and thoughts, and deeds and words. Here, brilliance is strengthened by gentleness in service and relationship with others, which is the central quality of meekness.
James describes this wisdom from heaven carefully (Jas. 3:17). It is pure, free from jealousy and ambition that seeks fulfillment by using others and even imagines that God could also be means to fulfill the self-centered ambition. It is peaceable – its mind and heart protected by the Shalom of God, it shows composure under hostile and provoking circumstances. In its quiet gentleness it is able to allow discussions and is able to yield to others’ point of view. There is flexibility to change ones mind when evidence indicates it. When King Solomon prayed for wisdom from God he prayed for a hearing and listening heart (I Ki. 2:9). Such wisdom is full of mercy and good fruits. It is love that reaches out to others in compassion; it is unwavering because of the loyalty toward God. Thus it celebrates freedom for hypocrisy.
How do I discover it? It is from above. Job asks the question: “Where can wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding?” (Job 28:12). Job finds the answer:
God understands its way. And He knows its place… And to man He said: “Behold the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to depart from evil is understanding.” (Job 28:23,28).
James gives us the first steps toward this wisdom from above (Jas. 1:5). Those who have lost their faith in human perfectibility – who ‘know’ but do not care to implement their knowledge – must remember that this wisdom from above is a gift from God. The sustainable energy that makes knowledge a personal realization through implementation is generated by God’s gift: the wisdom from above. Acknowledging the lack is an important first step. There are two obstacles that still block our way. First is the suspicion of God’s nature: “Perhaps only a few are blessed!” James says: “…He is always ready to give a bountiful supply of wisdom to all who ask Him.” The second obstacle is the ambivalence in our choice. Wisdom must be loved more than all other goods!
We must let the integrity of God’s character to provide the corresponding integrity in us that is necessary in asking and receiving since, “if we do not ask with faith, we cannot expect the Lord to give us any solid answer” (Jas. 1:8).
Jesus, who is our Teacher, in whom we see the face of God invites us to discover this wisdom. In Matthew 11:28-30 He invites us to change the yoke. We cannot escape the submission to one or the other wisdom. His invitation is to move from laboring under the impossible yoke of the wisdom that destroys community by its shrewdness, cunning and craftiness, to His yoke, which is light. The submission to the wisdom from above is what we are made for and hence it fits perfectly (Matt. 28:29). He promises to teach us! His teaching is unlike the teachers who desire to show their quickness and brightness at the expense of the student. He is gentle and humble. There is restfulness in the relationship with this Divine Teacher. (Matt. 28:29).
His Love has no aggression in it. His modeling of wisdom from above is in His willingness to be absent to Himself so that He may be present to us fully (Phil. 2:5-11). But this submission to the yoke of wisdom from above is easy and light because He is our yoke Fellow! Within this community with Him we discover the dynamic for the community for which we have been created and re-created.
Dr. Samuel T. Kamaleson, originaly from Trichy, South India, is a retired vice president of World Vision International. While with World Vision, Dr. Kamaleson traveled extensively conducting pastor training conferences and is widely recognized as the eprson who has spoken face-to-face with more church leaders than anyone in the history of Christianity. His discipleship and inspiration were some of the critical influences that helped to found WMF.