James 4:1-2

The devil goes to church too. My mother gave that answer to me when as a child I asked why there were so many fights and disagreements in the church. In some churches, she is right, there are ungodly people causing trouble and stirring up disagreement. That is not always the case. James asks, “What causes fights and quarrels among you?” He is writing to Christians, people who have been reconciled to God by their faith in Jesus. They are not people who hate God, hate each other, or hate the church. They are children Christians with all the characteristics that go with being children.

Children are by nature selfish. They want what they want and they want it right now. James has already, in chapter one, addressed their lack of patience. Now he points out that their lack of patience is causing them to quarrel and fight. We have all seen children throw temper tantrums in stores when they do not get what they desired. Christians should not be throwing tantrums.

Surely, James is using hyperbole when he accuses them of killing when they do not get their own way. They are not killing each other physically, but childish Christians do kill. They kill the reputation of other Christians. By claiming to be Christian and yet acting so poorly they kill the reputation of Christ himself. They kill their own witness, and they kill relationships with others. If childish Christians refuse to grow up, and carry their fussing and fighting to the extremes they can kill a church.

When we become a Christian, Christ accepts us where he finds us. He accepts us as we are. That does not mean that he is content to leave us where he finds us, nor is he content to leave us as we are. If we did not need Christ to help us be more than what we are, then why would we need Christ? When we come to Christ we may be childish, but we do not have to stay that way. The cure for childishness is to grow in grace. Christ will help us grow-up.