As Americans, there is a hierarchy of people. Usually it comes out as an “I am better than you are” attitude that often leads to other actions. An attractive woman thinks that she should be waited on at the store before anyone else. The big man thinks he can kick sand on the skinny man. Fit people make fun of larger people. I think you get the point.

Even more common today is the attitude that if I can’t get my way, I will make a scene. With all apologies to those with the name but… we call these people Karens and Chads. If you look at any social media you can see it. They throw fits when sales people tell them no. They throw things they don’t like. They are everywhere.

But James says we should be slow to anger. We have to remember that we are representatives of God. When we behave badly and angrily, we turn people away from the church and from God. Many of my friends who have left the church have told me it was because of the behavior of people. Every time we show off in anger or prejudice, we may be turning someone off to the very one who has given us every perfect gift. Think before you act and do not act out of anger. People are watching.