Ridding or Kidding

“My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.” —James 1:19-21

If we don’t think that our culture around us affects who we are, we are only kidding ourselves. Culture molds our minds and affects our actions. Sadly, often we don’t even realize that it is happening.

When we read this Scripture, we often look only at the first verse and talk about our need to listen. There is a lot of wisdom in being listeners. The way in which we listen shows others a great deal about the way that we love. However, there is a difference between listening and being molded by our culture. That’s why James tells us that we are to ‘get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.’

What role does Scripture play in your life? Does it have a second, third, or fourth voice to materialism, media, and music, or does it have the first voice? In order for Scripture to play the primary voice, we have to rid ourselves of moral filth. It doesn’t mean that we need to separate ourselves completely from culture, like the Amish, but the simple truth is it will require separating from certain areas that have a stronghold on our lives. I can’t tell you what they are for you. That is where wisdom comes in.

Ridding ourselves of moral filth requires us to make personal sacrifices. It requires us to be willing to take a deep look in the mirror and see our personal struggles. We have to then be willing to extract those areas from our lives and humbly accept the Word of God. However, God’s Word does not leave us empty in the end. Rather it brings about God’s righteousness, and ultimately, it brings us salvation in Jesus Christ.

Are you ridding yourself from the negative affects of our culture and replacing them with the Word of God, or are you just kidding yourself?