Listen First

Know this, my dear brothers: everyone should be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.
– James 1:19

In today’s fast paced life style, it’s even more important to think before we react. It seems like people are now wearing their emotions on their sleeve; getting offended from the slightest confrontation. We no longer live in a society where it takes days or even hours for news to travel from California to New York. We are surrounded by surveillance in the form of cell phones. Information has never been easier to access, or easier to abuse.

In early 2019 there was a story about a group of high schoolers from Covington Catholic. While on a field trip, some of the students were confronted by one man all because he didn’t like the MAGA hats some of them were wearing. This confrontation was recorded, uploaded and went viral in a matter of minutes. One student was in the spotlight as he stood his ground while smiling as the man screamed in his face. News anchors reported how the Covington high schoolers confronted the man. Many from different media outlets had already condemned these kids before the entire story had come forth. Once the full story and video emerged, it vindicated the students showing that the angry man was the one who instigated the entire episode.

Did all those who convicted the students apologize? No. Some did, but many still believed that the single student who faced the grown man seemed confrontational as he stood there. This young man did everything he was supposed to do. Even James would give him a nice pat on the back. Yet, he was (and still is by some) seen as the aggressor.

Jesus never said that following him would be easy and rewarding. In fact, he stated the exact opposite of that. People will despise us; doing everything in their power to bring shame and make us out to be the bad guy. Even so, being Christians, we ought to be the example. While it may be difficult or nearing the impossible to listen to another before we react, that is precisely what James is writing about.

Anger is often the result of rash reactions brought on from misunderstandings. If people took an extra few seconds to hear some one’s side, even if they don’t necessarily agree with each other, a discussion would occur, as oppose to a shouting match. There have been many recent examples of people shouting down others just because of different political beliefs. College campuses have become a place of censorship, rather than debate. Both Democrats and Republicans are guilty of such behavior.

As Americans we each have the right to freedom of speech and expression. In today’s hyper-political atmosphere, rarely do we see opposing party members engage with civility. Even in Congress, where elected leaders should be examples, we see more bickering and division than unity.

James tells us that we should express ourselves only after listening and understanding the other party. To be “quick to hear” implies to always be ready; that it should demand one’s full attention. Being slow gives us a sense of taking more time to complete a given task. Before acting hastily and regretting it later, remember to be “quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to wrath”.