January 2006 chaplain's corner
The Chaplain's Corner is a monthly message for chaplains.
Chaplain’s Corner – January 20, 2006
Rev. Rich Hines
What Kind of Wisdom Are Your Inmates Receiving and Showing?
This message is primarily for those who call on the name of Jesus Christ as
their own Lord and Savior from sin, and serve as a Chaplain in a jail, prison
or a follow-up ministry such as a rescue mission – in the
All Scripture quotes are taken from the New King James Version (NKJV) of the
Bible, copyright 1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson,
Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. When quoting a
text, any deviation from the NKJV text is placed within parenthesis signs ().
These usually occur as direct translations from the original languages,
or as notes from the original setting to help apply the text to today’s
culture. ALL CAPITAL LETTERS are sometimes used to emphasize a text, or to make
a comment about a biblical text.
To begin a new year of ministry to inmates is a good thing. The beginning of a
year is a good time to re-evaluate, to plan and to start or implement new
things. Not only is this true for you as ministry leaders, but it’s also true
for the inmates and residents you serve. They need to re-evaluate their lives
and see where they’re at, especially with the Lord.
Personally, I’ve been drawn again and again to the little letter from James. It
was first intended for relatively “new believers.” When I was a Jail Chaplain I
liked to use it with inmates soon after they professed faith in Christ. This
letter was truly breathed into and through James by the Holy Spirit, and as
such it’s a vital part of our New Testament and Bible.
The historical and cultural background is important. That’s so because it was
the earliest inspired word from God in the New Testament era. It was written
about 45 AD. That makes it the first Scripture that was given by God in over 400
years! In chronological sequence, the last message He gave for succeeding
generations, was through Malachi, over 400 years before. Since it’s timing was unique, it’s message then MUST BE IMPORTANT!
Furthermore, it was addressed to professing Jewish believers in Jesus Christ as
Lord. They said they believed Jesus was the Manifestation of the Presence of
God, which is to say they believed Jesus was God (see 2:1 where it literally
speaks of faith in Jesus as “The Glory”). As Jews they would have associated that
glory with the “Shekinah” Presence of God.
These Jewish believers were relatively new Christians. They didn’t have
heresies to deal with like other believers in the later years of the first
century. Their need was to live a practical Christian life. The Old Testament
prophesies about the coming Savior as the Suffering Servant of the LORD saving
His people from their sins through a substitutionary
sacrifice, had come to pass. In 45 AD they didn’t need a treatise on Christian
doctrine. Rather, they needed to live out the Christ-life and SO DO WE.
THIS SHOULD BE THE NUMBER ONE PRIORITY of all professing Christian inmates and
residents where you serve.
So, God the Holy Spirit through James, the Lord’s half-brother, was telling
those that claimed to be believers to prove their Christianity by living out of
their faith. Like the later letter we call 1 John, this section of God’s word
(the Book of James) is all about THE PROOF OF TRUE SALVATION.
In Chapter 1, how one responds to trials and temptation, to the word of God,
and to the poor - shows whether or not they’re truly begotten of God.
In Chapter 2, how one responds to all classes of mankind and the distinctions
the world makes, shows the reality or the deadness of their professed “faith.”
As we come to Chapter 3, how one speaks, or uses their tongue, shows the true
condition of their heart. This is to be applied to all, but it’s most critical
for those that would teach others about the faith of Christ.
Jesus taught: “Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks” (Matthew
12:34). By the time we get to the last part of Chapter 3 in verses 13-18, the
issue is: WHAT KIND OF WISDOM FROM THE HEART ARE YOUR WORDS SHOWING?
Note the text in James 3:13-18, where he asks:
13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that
his works are done in the meekness of WISDOM.
14 But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast
and lie against the truth.
15 This WISDOM does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic.
16 For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are
there.
17 But the WISDOM that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle,
willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without
hypocrisy.
18 Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in PEACE by those who MAKE PEACE.
The Book of (or letter from) James has been called the wisdom literature of the
New Testament. It’s a lot like Proverbs. In the Old Testament Proverbs,
ultimately the “fool” is the unsaved man, or the man that lives like he doesn’t
know the LORD. Conversely, the “wise man” and the way he lives as described in
the Proverbs, is the saved man. This man is the one who lives out a faith
relationship with the LORD. And that’s the gist of what James was stressing
throughout his little letter.
In verse 13, when he refers to being “wise and understanding,” he’s talking
about God’s presence manifested in the life. He’s talking about the wisdom GOD
ALONE GIVES. He doesn’t give this wisdom to the unsaved. In verse17, it’s
called "the wisdom that is from above."
In contrast to that new heart wisdom and understanding God gives true believers
in Christ, there is the wisdom that is earthly, sensual and even demonic
(verse15). This - not from God wisdom - is the rule rather than the norm in any
correctional facility. Which kind of wisdom are your inmates receiving or being
taught? As a result and more importantly, which kind of wisdom are they
demonstrating?
Book-ending this passage are two challenges. At the
front, in verse 13, showing God’s implanted wisdom by “good conduct” is the
challenge that’s put forth. At the other end of the passage in verse 18, the
challenge is to be a peacemaker.
The whole passage is addressed to a group of professing Christians. I believe
you should address it to those who profess to be believers in Christ there in
the facility. But also use it to evangelize those who think they’re saved, but
in reality have never been born from above. The issue for your institution is
bringing true peace into the confusion and moral darkness of the residents. To
do that, people must first be saved and then manifest God’s salvation wisdom
through their lives.
In verse 13, the phrase “WISE AND UNDERSTANDING,” is a reference to the true
wisdom from God that comes from a salvation relationship with Him. These two
words are somewhat synonymous. If there is a slight difference the first word
stresses right living, and the second focuses on the right application of truth
obtained from God. So they’re both about what a person does, because of their
relationship with God, especially in relation to other people.
“LET HIM SHOW” is a command. And how does that one show this true wisdom from
God? Not by clever arguments, but rather by good conduct that comes out of a
heart that’s truly been taught by God. These “WORKS” or deeds of good conduct,
demonstrate the presence of God’s Spirit given wisdom.
But note the good works are always done in MEEKNESS. The good conduct is never
from the motive of “look at me!” or from self-centered pride. Meekness always
gives up its rights. Meekness is done with self. What a contrast this makes to
verses 14-16 where the wisdom the world and general inmate society is on
display.
Look again at verse 14 –
14 But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in
your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth.
Ungodly wisdom has everything to do with “SELF-SEEKING.” This word used in
verse 14 and again in verse16, describes a self-seeking pursuit of political
office by unfair and unethical means. It’s that attitude of heart that will do
anything to get one-up on all rivals. It’s the root of bitter envy or jealousy.
According to verse 14, for professing Christians to display this - is in effect
to deny the Gospel. It’s LYING about the effects of THE TRUTH OF THE GOSPEL in
a life that’s claimed to have embraced it. It’s a denial of Christianity! Make
sure professing inmate believers understand this.
Verse 15 tells us the true source and behavior of ungodly wisdom –
15 This WISDOM does not descend from above, (in other words, it’s not from God)
but is earthly, sensual, demonic.
I want to deal with these three terms. First, EARTHLY is another way of saying
WORLDLY. It refers to that which springs from the majority of society in their
sinful rebellion to God.
SENSUAL literally means “soulish.” It’s translated as
the NATURAL man in 1 Corinthians 2:14. “Sensual” means it comes from the sinful
nature of the flesh. It’s the opposite of spiritual.
DEMONIC means to act like a demon, to exhibit the character of an evil fallen
angel. Demons are snakelike, hissing and biting at one another. Apparently, in
the demonic kingdom of darkness, all kinds of rivalry and backbiting goes on. This character was on display in the high religious
court of Israel in John 11:47-50 when the high priest Caiaphas, snapped at the
other council members, “You know nothing at all!”
So we’re told that the SOURCE of all ungodly wisdom and behavior is twofold.
It’s from what our evil, unsaved, man-centered SOCIETY (the world) TEACHES. But
it’s also from what OUR TEMPTABLE FLESH wants. Ultimately all sin is sponsored
by Satan because he’s the one behind the teachings that are popular in society,
and he’s also is the tempter of our flesh. So it’s no wonder ungodly wisdom
BEHAVES LIKE DEMONS who are Satan’s servants.
16 For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are
there.
Not only does this verse sum up the results of a place where ungodly wisdom is
running the show, it also accurately describes most jails and prisons. The
places of incarceration where God has called you to represent Him, are also
teaching this false, ungodly, demonic wisdom to inmates without even realizing
it.
Envy and self-seeking pretty fairly well describes inmate society, doesn’t it?
And so does “confusion and every evil thing (or, every vile deed).” The word
confusion is related to the idea of disorder or even anarchy, here it’s root is every kind of evil deed.
Of course correctional institutions have rules that guard against chaos, but
even when those rules are obeyed the seeming order and smooth functioning are
only on the surface. You don’t have to look too deep to see that the lives of
most inmates are in total disarray! BUT THAT’S WHERE PRACTICAL CHRISTIANITY CAN
MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE WITH A NEW WISDOM THAT COMES DOWN FROM GOD AND LEAKS
OUT THROUGH SERIOUSLY SAVED INMATES!
That’s why we have verses 17,18. Look at them again –
17 But the WISDOM that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle,
willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without
hypocrisy.
18 Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
The fruit that righteousness produces, namely the wisdom given by God to His
born ones described in verse 17, produces peace even where confusion had
reigned! But look at the salvation lived out in the meekness of wisdom that
walking with God produces described in verse 17.
Being right with God and having His righteousness become a part of any
individual, produces a seven-fold wisdom. Note the seven things listed here.
This wisdom is first, PURE. A PURE individual inmate shrinks away from moral
contamination and pollution. This may be hard to do in a jail or prison setting,
but it’s not impossible. This desire for and pursuit of moral purity is the
basis for the rest of the things in this list describing God’s wisdom.
Secondly, it’s PEACEABLE. An inmate displaying the true helpful wisdom from God
is ready for peace. He or she promotes peace between all the other inmates
around them and between those same fellow-inmates and God.
Next, this wisdom shows itself in GENTLENESS. It has a reasonable, forbearing
spirit that’s ready to forgive. This heart attitude has a real concern for the
feelings of others, so it’s willing to give up all harshness in dealing with
them.
Fourthly, it’s WILLING TO YEILD. This is a lot like meekness. It’s the opposite
of stubbornness. It’s an attitude that’s open to new ways, when those ways are
shown to be better. Wisdom is willing to be taught.
The fifth thing in this list has two parts. Wisdom is described as being “FULL
OF MERCY AND GOOD FRUITS.” Mercy is not just feeling pity for someone, it’s giving them real practical help with their
burden. The good fruits are good because they’re beneficial – they bring the
one helped in mercy to a better state.
Number six on the list says God’s wisdom is WITHOUT PARTIALITY (and without
prejudice – see the July 2005 Chaplain’s Corner). The word used here also means
an unwillingness to vacillate. Although true wisdom is ready to be taught it
doesn’t move back and forth with the shifting sands of human opinion. So God’s
wisdom lived out treats all equally and will not vary from situation to
situation, as it deals with real problems in the housing unit!
The seventh and last thing on the list, is that real
wisdom is WITHOUT HYPOCRISY. It’s always straightforward. What you see is what
you get. There is no pretense with God and those His salvation wisdom is working
through are like Him, they are not hypocritical. They don’t pretend to be
something they’re not and they don’t hide what they really are.
The greatest blessing of the wisdom from God lived out by true believers in
prison or jail is that they are the real peacemakers for the facility. They
bring God’s righteousness to bear on real situations every day and influence
others to be at peace among themselves and most importantly, with God. “The
fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.”
May you and those you minister to pursue God and His wisdom in 2006.
Rich Hines, Minister To Chaplains,
Hebrews 12:14