The words…they don’t run out. Ever. Even if you’re mute. Even if you couldn’t ever speak from the time you were born. There still are “words.” There are infinite expressions to communicate through. In a sense, infinite ways in which we can make or break someone or something. Everytime we speak, we have the opportunity to be positive or negative. There is no “indifferent” aspect of communication. It’s interpreted in a way by whomever is recieving your attempted communication. And you’re left hoping they interpret it the way you meant it.
Now there are two places I’d like to go with this thread of discussion.
1.) For the Biblical writers like Paul, John, Mark, Luke, Moses, the prophets, David…they don’t actually have anymore words that we can hear right now. All they gave us (and it is sufficient) was what they wrote down thousands of years ago. They wrote it and God inspired it, and it was meant to be passed down through the ages, even to us, here in America and around the world in the 21st century. Now, seeing as to how they, as human being, probably had the same initial thought when they tried to communicate (“This is what I mean. I’m trying to write this in a way that folks can understand…I hope they don’t misinterpret…”) do you think that it is appropriate that we, as a post-modern, and sometimes generally selfish culture take what they wrote and turn it into something that fits our context only? Do you think it is wise to manipulate the Holy Script into a set of improperly interpreted applications to comfortably fit our generation? Further more, do you think Paul was thinking about YOU when he wrote to Corinth? Doubtful. Very doubtful. Does the Scripture apply to us at all? Why YES of course. But through what lens are you looking at it? If it is not through that of the writer and what circumstance he was writing for, we cannot possibly understand what action is meant to be taken after our reading of their words. The Scriptures are intense. While there are things to be simply grasped, it is important that we don’t go switching around the intent of authors to accomodate what we wish for the Bible to say.
2.) Isn’t it a wonderful concept that, over time, as we progress as human beings, our minds are set up in a way in order that they will continue to grow? Even when something tragic happens, say a car accident, where the brain is traumatically damaged, it still progresses after that moment. It always is learning. Vocabulary is a beautiful use of the brain. The expression of thought by way of a culturally infused set of words, syllables crunched together, to make phrases which make sentences, paragraphs, letters, books, songs, poems, eulogies, sermons, presidential election speeches…The base of it all are simple words.
But they can be so destructive…
Like gasoline, words cause wars. Selfish ambition. The human motivation. Greed. Power. Lies. Pride. Just as every good thing can be spoken of, so can every bad thing. So little a thing is a word, yet only a few could ruin friendships. James 3 talks about the tongue being like a rudder on a ship. Its size suggests that it hasn’t much pull, yet, the responsibility of the whole boat rests on it alone. It is difficult to think of what things I’ve damaged with my words…
Ah, but! We always have them! When we make a mistake and say something we wish we wouldn’t have, there are always more words. UNlike gasoline, words aren’t expensive. They don’t run out over time and they don’t demand you drilling a hole in the ground to get more of them. They’re costless. We can use them as much or as little as necessary. Words are something we always have freedom with. No one can ever control what you say…at least not yet. There is not a mechanism that constrains the vocal cords and prohibits speech. Children speak scream, and no one can stop them. Teenagers curse and we lecture, but if they really desire to, they continue with it. Adults talk endlessly of politics and world events, and they never quit. We were born with the ability to make noise, and we do so.
We build bridges with words. We make peace with words. We apologize. We sing. We clear up things that words have messed up. We turn the ship in a different direction. We suggest ideas. We take action. Words, in whatever way you speak, are the basis of communication. We shouldn’t take them so lightly. Every word has an effect of someone.
It’s difficult to think of how many times my words have been misinterpreted…how many times I’ve only made matterd worse with them…further more, how many times I didn’t reconstruct some sentences to try to make things better.
Thank God for endless words…a blessing and a curse.
And His Word…just a blessing.
