The internet is on its worst behavior again with the apparent revelation of Dr. Steve Lawson being a speaker at a conference for pastors. My friend Justin Peters correctly “called out” this planned and publicly advertised appearance by Lawson. I have previously written about Lawson’s sin problem here. In that article, I surmise that his actions were more serious than a simple “inappropriate relationship.” As it turned out, the conference jumped the gun in advertising that Lawson would be a speaker. Brother Peters made an appropriate and correct retraction immediately.
But the internet trolls are aghast at their assumption that Peters did not call Lawson first to confirm the “facts.” There are two things that bother me about this quite negative reaction by so many. One is the very insinuation that a call should have been made prior to commenting on what was ostensibly public notice of fact regarding the conference speaker list. There was, in my opinion, no reason to doubt the conference information. While it turned out to be incorrect, this was not something that needed further confirmation at the time.
Anyone who knows Peters well knows that he does his homework. He isn’t free and loose with speculative accusations. But my major issue with those who are calling Peters out for not phoning Lawson first is the fact that not even one of them called Peters first. I did call my friend first to verify that he had not received a single call asking him to clarify or verify his position. The negative trolls just took to the internet and condemned his actions; actions they then turned around and copied. That amounts to blatant and bold-faced hypocrisy.
Second, most of the “nay-sayers” based their unfounded accusations on a verse of Scripture that they have taken absurdly out of context. They have been quick to quote James 1:19, “So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.” This is great advice to every believer, but it has nothing to do with common social graces. It’s not an admonition to listen first and be careful of what you say. While that might fall under the category of polite behavior, it is not what James is talking about.
They would have been better to quote Ephesians 4:29, “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers” (cf. Rom. 14:19; 2 Cor. 12:19). While this does speak directly to the point some are incorrectly trying to make, there was nothing “corrupt” in Peter’s comments, and they were certainly “good for necessary edification.”
What Does James 1:19 Refer To?
This verse is one of the most misquoted in the Bible. Again, I say, it’s not referring to social graces. If we are going to correctly understand Scripture, then we must keep it in the proper context. James is clearly referring to the Word of God. In verse 18, he says, “Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.” In other words, your salvation was by the truth which came to you through the agency of the Word. As “beloved brethren” we must be “swift to hear” the Word. We must be careful, “slow,” to “speak” about the Word. When we quote the Bible, we need to do so accurately and forthrightly.
The last thing you should do is have any “wrath” toward the Word. The context is further explained in the following verses, 21-22, “Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”
Peters has correctly and appropriately retracted his initial statements about Lawson speaking at a conference. It is now known that Lawson is not speaking at that conference (which begs a whole different question as to why he would even consider speaking at that conference knowing its unbiblical foundations, but that is a question for another day). Questioning Lawson’s viability for a return to public ministry is certainly within the purview of other discerning and godly men. The key word there is public! The question of Lawson’s repentance is not fully answered. We should be prayerfully hopeful that true repentance will be forthcoming and easily discernible. At this point, the evidence of repentance, as best I can discern, is all talk. And publicly, there is little if any evidence to support any reconciliation within Lawson’s family. But repentant or not, he is disqualified from ministry.
Understanding Supreme Surrender to the Word, Looking more in depth at James 1:19
Regardless of your thoughts on the Lawson situation, we should all accept the fact that we are to be supremely surrendered to the Word. James 1 teaches us to be grateful and godly. For that to happen, we will have to have a right reaction to the Word, not only recognizing that we are sovereignly saved, but that we are to be supremely surrendered.
When we consider the book of James seriously, we will discover there are some who suggest that Paul and James had a different perspective on works. This is simply not true as both would insist that we are not saved by doing good works, but that we are saved to do good works! Paul makes this clear in Ephesians 2:8-10 and 2 Corinthians 5:17. James says so in our text when he says that we are to be doers of the Word, and not hearers only. It is a question of perspective. Both men would clearly affirm that doing good works is the evidence that true saving faith has been exhibited, not that good works of any kind were the causation of saving faith.
Another area of confusion with this passage has to do with how we understand verse 19, “So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.” James is not saying that you should be a good listener, that you should talk less, and control your anger. While there is some truth to that, it has nothing to do with what James is talking about here.
Every verse of Scripture has a context, and the context of this verse is being born again through the agency of the Word of God on the one hand (v. 18), and then on the other hand, to receive the implanted word (v. 21). He goes on in verse 22 to admonish us to be doers of the Word. The bottom line regarding the Word is that it can rescue your soul. James is not speaking of salvation here but of the everyday events and trials of your life, as the context indicates (1:2-12). Victory is related directly to your having the Word implanted or engrafted into your mind and life. This is what Paul says he did for the Corinthians, “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase” (1 Cor. 3:6). The idea is having the Word of God firmly rooted in your life through instruction. This is the context of the following statements:
“Swift to Hear”
James is instructing us to be very careful to avail ourselves of every opportunity to hear the Word of God. Obviously, we are not to be hearers only, but you cannot “do” until you hear. The order of these events is of paramount importance. Plainly, we cannot be expected to do that which we have not heard, “Faith comes by hearing” (Rom. 10:17). James’ point is to remind us not to stop at only hearing. There are two aspects to this: private prayer and public preaching. If you want victory in your suffering and trials, you had better saturate your mind with the Word of God.
Listen to what Jesus said in this regard. He admonishes us to listen carefully, to pay attention, through learning and study. Notice Mark 4:24, “Then He said to them, ‘Take heed what you hear.’” Are you careful about whom you listen to? Be swift to hear your God-appointed pastors and teachers. Don’t waste your time listening to preachers who are not committed to the doctrines of the Bible. False teachers err in their doctrine because they have often been quick to speak and slow to hear! Not everyone who carries a Bible really believes in it, and even for those who do, many do not know how to read or apply it because they take it out of context to suit their own desires and needs.
“Slow to Speak”
This is a natural follow-on to being swift in hearing the Word. If you are more interested in hearing and learning, you will be less likely to give your opinion on the Bible so quickly. The warning is a significant one – be careful what you say about the Word of God.
Not only does Jesus tell us to be careful about “what” we hear, but He also says, “Therefore take heed how you hear” (Luke 8:18). Have you ever heard one of those preachers on television shooting from the hip, and he says, “Well, I never thought of that, well, glory to God.” Then he goes off on some tangent that has nothing to do with the Word of God, talking about something God has supposedly just given to him in that moment. He never thought about it, he never prayed over it, he never studied it, he never compared Scripture with Scripture! And he may very well change his mind over it after a time. But he preaches it as if it were gospel truth. That is a dangerous thing to do because James says, “My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment” (3:1).
When I preach, as best I can, with the help of the Holy Spirit, I come to the pulpit prepared to preach. I’ve studied, I’ve prayed, and I have thought about the text. If I am not certain that what I am saying is a word from God, in line with the whole of Scripture, then I dare not say it.
Avail yourself of every opportunity to hear the Word of God, be faithful to the preaching services and your Sunday School or Bible study class. Then during the week study what you have learned on Sunday. Listen to the messages again where available from online sources or other media. Prepare for next week’s sermon or lesson. When your church holds revivals or Bible conferences, do all you can to be present to hear the Word of God. If you don’t, then when the trial comes in like a lion you will not be ready to face it.
“Slow to Wrath”
Again, this is in relation to the Word of God. Do not get angry with God about His Word. If you are of the opinion that people don’t do that, then you need to think it through. Have you ever read a Scripture that rebuked your behavior and you shut your Bible or muttered under your breath? Did you not ever get mad at something you heard preached? You knew the preacher was right, but you got mad because the sermon rebuked your lifestyle. The warning is, don’t get mad at God or His messenger. If the message preached is right and it rebukes you, then you had better deal with God and repent.
Why is it so important not to get angry or wrathful? The Greek word is orge and means “the movement or agitation of the soul, impulse, desire, any violent emotion, but especially anger.” When you get angry with what God has said, you will never be able to produce the righteousness of God. You simply cannot do right and at the same time be angry with God or His Word. You will be working strictly in the energy of the flesh.
Once you properly react to the Word by accepting it, you must receive the Word by submitting to its authority over your life.
This piece was originally published at Tread Ministries.
