Conclusion
The church’s business is not to establish peace between the nations, but to bear witness to the love of God, to live in his peace and righteousness. Concerned for pure speech in Jas. 4:11-12, he commands not to speak evil of another, but to show love. This is a moral and ethical teaching of nonretaliation. Slander against a community member is forbidden for one reason: it makes a judge of the law and usurps God’s role. Thus, 4:11-12 finishes with an oppositional chain of thought that began in 3:17.
James writes that justice pursued in peace by those who make peace marks true wisdom and stands in opposition to the human craving and desire that generates envy which leads to quarrels, fighting (violence), and murder, oppression of the poor and wars, and idolatrous pride and slander. The author denies war and class struggle. Love is the most durable power in the world beautifully portrayed and exemplified in the life of Jesus Christ; it is the most potent instrument available in man’s quest for peace. The connection between peace/peacemaking is formatted in the Trinity, the “God of peace” in Phil. 4:7-9, “Christ of peace” in Col. 3:12-15, and “the Spirit of peace” in Gal. 5:22. Ever since the beginning, shalom has been presented in all of God. James knew the connection of intrinsic formation in Jesus, “Christ being formed in you” (Gal.4:19) means that the gospel-peace reigns in each believer’s heart.
Unless the church is ready to die developing new nonviolent attempts to reduce conflict, they should confess that they never meant that the cross was an alternative to the sword. Most Christians in the United States are finding it difficult to promote peace and love because of government policies and actions. The world sees clothed in battered garments of catastrophic wars, which leave men and nations morally and physically bankrupt. The tension and struggle between good and evil dramatically reveals a war inside of man. James knows the forces that wage in the heart and soul. Thus, he says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.”
