October 21, 2023

James 1: 21 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. (NIV)

Many today believe that a majority consensus establishes morality.*

“Very few of us would debate over what is filthy, evil, and wrong, but we do debate over what is good.” This is a quote from Oswald Chambers’s daily devotional book, My Utmost for His Highest.* I hesitate to differ with such a wise man but it seems that times have changed drastically since he wrote those words. Could Mr. Chambers have predicted that homosexuality would someday be considered normal and natural? Did he ever imagine that women would march in protest for the right to kill their babies? Even among Christians there are those who waffle over issues that used to be unquestionably evil. How shall we get rid of moral filth and evil as James exhorts us if we don’t recognize it when we see it?

In an episode of a sit-com, the characters were debating whether or not there was such a thing as a moral absolute. One woman contributed some irony to the discussion by pointing out that the projectionist down at the XXX theater never got confused and showed Bambi instead of his usual movies. It seems that those who practice immorality are better at defining it than we are.

I think you know what I’m going to say next – that the best way to recognize evil is to be intimately familiar with what is good. The way we accomplish this, says James, is through receiving the word of God. As Paul wrote to Timothy, scripture is God-breathed and useful – for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness (II Timothy 3: 16). Humble acceptance is “the door through which God’s grace enters to us.”* If we don’t want the filth to get on us and in us, the word of God is where we start. And, as James adds (verse 22), don’t just listen to the word – do what it says.

Evil men cannot accept that the way to truth is through the Word of God.*