Bluntly put it leads to fighting. What causes fighting? This depicts armed conflict as in Hebrews 11:34. This verse in James 3:16 is carrying the image of violence. What causes quarrels? This is referring to angry disputes. James uses both words in this question to make it inclusive and pointed.
Fighting among Christians is an outrageous evil! We should not accept conflict among brethren complacently. It is a tragedy that cripples the church's internal ministries and the external testimony and witness of a ministry before measurable healing and purification is evident. Why not avoid conflicts while you have opportunity! NOW!
James is not talking about disagreements and differences of opinion or healthy conflicts that should be expected in a church whose ministries are expanding. He is talking of fighting that is earthly, unscriptural and of the devil in origin - James 3:15. He calls the perpetrators adulterous people!
Such a serious crime calls for a serious response. When a Christian finds themselves embroiled in fights with each other, they (we) should examine what we are doing in the light of James 4:1. We will look at what we should do in the next post.
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