I have been thinking about the power of beliefs and James seems to put it down so nicely and poetically.
There are all kinds of beliefs and some are more meaningful and powerful than others. For instance our belief on 'free-will', 'human nature' or 'the future 'salvation, purification, healing' of the human race' would account for very powerful beliefs that come from and idea, sustained by thoughts. This is incredible!
How can a belief coming from such fast thoughts can have such great consequences, from changing who we are, what we do and even our immediate mental states? Obviously our brain activity changes simply by thinking about different things, like if we think of a time when we where upset or joyful, but 'important beliefs' are very powerful motivators of human behavior.
So, it would be nice to be able to control and tame our prideful and wild minds by just changing our thoughts and beliefs? right?
Now, if, the horses bits, into their mouths, we thrust, to the end they may be yielding to us, their whole body also, do we turn about.
One little thought, merging into an idea, evolving into a belief could definitely tame you. That which comes out of our hearts, that's what defileth us.
But, the tongue, none of mankind can, tame,—A restless mischief! [our minds never rests!] Full of deadly poison
None one BUT God
Jesus says that out of the heart (that place deep in our minds where our deepest intentions and motivations come from) come out evil thoughts. I don't think that by saying tongue James meant only words, but all means of our COMMUNICATION (otherwise mute people would be out of the equation and it's obvious that we can talk even launder to others by the way we behave, even the way we dress is communication). An what we communicate obviously comes out of a powerful belief, as powerful as a helm.
Lo! the ships also, large as they are, and, by rough winds, driven along, are turned about by a very small helm, whithersoever the impulse of the steersman inclineth.
One little doctrine, one little set of important ideas about the world and who you are can change our life curse, it can make us go against the current into places we never thought were possible to us [talking from experience]. What we COMMUNICATE which comes out of a little belief, is as powerful as FIRE.
Lo! how small a fire, kindleth, how great a forest;
And, the tongue, is a fire,— as , the world of unrighteousness [I wonder How much chaos is storage in our unconscious minds?], the tongue, becometh fixed among our members, that which defileth the whole body and setteth on fire the wheel of our natural life, and is set on fire, by gehenna!
What we think about all day long can setteth on fire the wheel of our natural life, what we think about in instances when negative impulses come our way-can even change our present emotional state of worrying into a totally different mental state of peace, joy or contentment!
Not that which entereth into the mouth, defileth the man, but, that which proceedeth out of the mouth, the same, defileth the man (Mat 15:11)
Sometimes what people say to believe in and what their actual behavior is are two whole different animals. Other times people just don't have the skills or the words to communicate their actual set of beliefs, so it's up to their lifestyle, intentions and motivations to talk on their behalf
Out of the same mouth, come forth blessing and cursing!
It's called being an hypocrite. It happens a lot in churches.
Doth, the fountain, out of the same opening, teem forth the sweet and the bitter?
The trick in here is to be able to discern when people is actually acting out of their true intentions or it might just be a misunderstanding in communication. Eventually the more you meet somebody the easier you realize that his fountain has all the time been flushing with bitter water. First impression many times can mislead us.
A heart with good thoughts, habits, motivations, God's character and personality CAN'T be able to continuously COMMUNICATE and act in a hateful spiteful way just as
a heart full of poison, jealousy, rivalry, bad habits and continuous evil thoughts CAN'T be able to continuously COMMUNICATE the opposite.
Well, sometimes in the outside it seems like it can,
Therewith, are we blessing our Lord and Father, and, therewith, we are cursing the men
But God knows well who is a religious hypocrite and who is not.
James point to make. A belief is a VERY powerful thing.
But luckily we don't have to worry about what we want to belief since it's the information we have consumed, past experiences, the way our bodies work, the influence of all the people we have had contact with and the very same environments where we have been that set us up for what we are meant to belief. AND of course I wouldn't forget to mention God, who carefully designed and personalized every factor for each of us.
Of course, On this chapter James is also saying that not many should want to be teachers since they are going to be judged more severely, plus there is not that may people who can be able to verbally communicate in a clear way all his belief systems. Trying to make sense what we believe to be right with the way we act is truly a lot of work, and to add the responsibility to communicate your beliefs in a way that make justice to the message can be truly overwhelming.
Then, the great teacher James asks
Who is wise and well-instructed-among you? Let him show, out of his comely [ideal, honorable, worthy] behaviour, his works, in meekness [humbleness, gentleness]of wisdom (James 3:2-13)
me still working on the meekness thing...
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Topic: THE POWER OF IDEAS/THOUGHTS (Read 3118 times)