Part of the reason why we fail as Christians to communicate the message of Christ is that most people (this includes Christians) have a distorted view of Christianity due to how brothers and sisters in our faith have distorted it in the past, and continue to do so in the present. An inaccurate view of Jesus, and his words have done a lot to hurt those around us and it’s from those wounds they speak.
How did Jesus speak with the Pharisees when they were questioning His Father’s purposes, or his? He simply said here is who I am, here is why, and no matter what you say, I am going to continue doing what I’m doing. Jesus didn’t play nice at times, yet he was always truthful. If that truth, regardless of the methodology that it arrived in burned like boiling oil on the flesh of humanity, he didn’t sooth the burn with the aloe of pleasantries before the sting had time to reach their hearts. If he had, then what would be the point of saying anything at all? All to often for the sake of softening the blow we are too cautious with our words; not going through our convictions, but avoiding them all together to maintain pleasantries.
At times it feels that fear: fear of being overpowered, fear of not having the last word, fear of being hurt, fear of being persecuted, and the fear of being alienated; keeps us from responding in healthy ways…ways that benefit ourselves, our agendas, opinions, causes, beliefs, or religion we profess, instead of the God we serve.
It’s easy for us, as Christians to get defensive first, while neglecting to ever speak the truth that gets at the heart of issue. Sometimes we say a lot without really saying anything at all. All of humanity, especially those who profess Christ have to learn how to use there words strategically, lovingly, courageously, and wisely or our efforts at diplomacy of any kind will fail. If only we learned how to speak more from our heart…from God’s heart, we’d all be better off. The words we use, and the way in which we use them are weighty.
“Occasionally in life there are those moments of unutterable fulfillment which cannot be completely explained by those symbols called words. Their meanings can only be articulated by the inaudible language of the heart.” Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.