The word “Jerusalem” means “a dwelling in peace,” and each assembly should be a kind of little Jerusalem. Some will say, “The wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable” (James 3:1717But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. (James 3:17)). But the one who allows the flesh in correcting evil is allowing the very thing he is contending against, and he seeks the cleansing of another with soiled hands. To use the “water of separation,” you must be “a clean person” (Num. 19). Moreover, it does not say, “Wisdom that is from above is only pure,” but “first pure,” clearly implying it has other qualities. It is “peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy.” It is sad that the traits of gentleness and mercy are far too often wanting in those who contend for purity. God has joined these together; shall we divorce them? Truth has its companion virtue, for “by mercy and truth iniquity is purged” (Prov. 16:66By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the Lord men depart from evil. (Proverbs 16:6)).
Full of Mercy
Do not miss, “full of mercy.” We would never contend for the toleration of evil, for holiness becomes the house of the Lord forever. But is holiness secured and His glory maintained at the sacrifice of the graces He enjoins — meekness, gentleness and mercy? The thing we are considering is not a cold, abstract proposition; it involves consciences and hearts, and our behavior before God. Is not His honor as much connected with my conduct in setting things right as with the conduct of the one who is already gone wrong? Beloved brethren, in many who are most zealous for the truth in this connection, there is room for self-judgment; indeed the dust becomes us every one. If Satan can spoil an action by carrying us beyond the truth in dealing with sin (and it is difficult not to do this), he has triumphed.
You cannot wash a brother’s feet with a club, nor is it a long-distance action, as by a mop. You must be at his feet to cleanse them properly. And do not forget the action of the towel. The thing should be done so thoroughly that nothing is left even to suggest that the brother ever needed cleansing; otherwise you are indulging lack of confidence, and the breach remains. Upon hearing another say, “I have no confidence in that brother,” the one spoken to replied, “Have you any in yourself?” The truth has a reflex action, so when you direct it at another, you may, and should, feel the edge of it yourself.
The Spirit of Meekness
“If a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted” (Gal. 6:11Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. (Galatians 6:1)). If there is one place more than another where we betray our lack of spirituality, it is in our inability to restore those who are overtaken. I solemnly believe the Lord has a controversy with us, not only for what we allow in others, but for what we allow in ourselves in the spirit and temper of our action towards those failing. We might ponder with profit Psalm 103:8-148The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. 9He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever. 10He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. 11For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. 12As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. 13Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him. 14For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust. (Psalm 103:8‑14). We must “stand fast” as to truth, but stand where His searching light shines on us as on our brother; we must hold the truth, “as the truth is in Jesus,” who was “meek and lowly in heart.” He was the great peacemaker, and it cost Him most dearly. It may cost us something to make peace, but in it we are blessed.
The Peace of Christ
“The peace of Christ” must preside in our own hearts (Col. 3:1515And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. (Colossians 3:15) JND) if it is to spread to others. “The fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace” (James 3:1818And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace. (James 3:18)). It should be written before our souls in letters bold and bright, “GOD IS RICH IN MERCY,” although it should never degenerate so as to tolerate evil in ourselves or in others. For those who have been dealt with in faithful discipline, may we cultivate the spirit of: “Since I spake against him, I do earnestly remember him still” (Jer. 31:2020Is Ephraim my dear son? is he a pleasant child? for since I spake against him, I do earnestly remember him still: therefore my bowels are troubled for him; I will surely have mercy upon him, saith the Lord. (Jeremiah 31:20)).
The Lord’s Glory
We are gathered around the Lord of glory. What a leveller this title carries! I have no doubt the Spirit of God adopts this as suited to the line of things before Him in James 2. Whatever my rank, what am I in such a presence? We are saved alike through the merit of another; our standing in Christ is the same — “neither bond nor free.” How sweetly it is added, “But Christ is all, and in all” (Col. 3:1111Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all. (Colossians 3:11)). That man is most cultured who is most with God. This shatters our rude human standards, but what is so refining as the holiest of all? Is it not to be deplored that personal feeling is sometimes covered with the screen of concern for His glory? “Your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for My name’s sake, said, Let the Lord be glorified.” To which is added, “But He shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed” (Isa. 66:55Hear the word of the Lord, ye that tremble at his word; Your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my name's sake, said, Let the Lord be glorified: but he shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed. (Isaiah 66:5)).
In this, I would not furnish relief for those reaping the fruit of their sin, but I would lay bare that subtle evil that too often passes undetected and that has not only failed to secure His name from reproach, but has plunged the assembly into confusion, breaking the free flow of love and fellowship until it is anything but a dwelling in peace.
The Lord pity us in our feebleness and failure. May we walk with bowed head and chastened spirit, alive to His interests, while cultivating that love which covers a multitude of sins, instead of exposing them to others. To indulge in ourselves what we decry in others spells disaster.
True Love
True love, and not mere sentiment, will take shape according to the state of the object of it. It will not always be an affable thing. It will seek the blessing, and not merely the gratification, of its object. But laxity is not to be met with legality. When Timothy has lost his courage, Demas has gone to the world, and all have turned away, Paul writes, “Be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus” (2 Tim. 2:11Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. (2 Timothy 2:1)). He “loved the church, and gave Himself for it.” But, in the midst of its failure, He is “girt about the paps with a golden girdle”; His love is restrained, righteously held in. Commenting on the expression, “righteously restrained,” someone recently wrote to me, “I should be sure that is what I mean when I say it. We need to guard against a phrase as being used from habit. I have seen it used, unconsciously no doubt, as a cloak for impatience and personal feeling.”
A good test might be, Does it gratify or grieve me? Do I feel it in love? Do I carry it as a sorrow? Do I tell it to others or to Him?
F. C. Blount (adapted)