Tried With Fire

It's my turn at Out of the Ordinary: I've been thinking about my words, both written and spoken. My pastor recently completed a sermon series on Job. Although I had read the book several times before, I winced when I listened to the advice from Job's would-be comforters. They probably meant well. They probably wanted to help him see the light. But boy were they insensitive and clueless. They also have the distinction of having their counsel preserved on the pages of the Bible as a glaring example of words un-fitly spoken. Since those sermons, I've had a harder time writing because there's a new awareness of the weight of my words no matter how little my sphere of influence.Have I inadvertently torn down rather than built up? Caused confusion rather than conveyed truth? Have my words been more about me, myself, and I or about Christ? And have they been about the Christ revealed in the Word of God or a "Christ" defined by my experience? Read more he...

If God's Word is alive and active and powerful, then, first, we should study it with respect for the words. Second, we should study it trusting in the sufficiency of the words - without itching for something else. Such a powerful Word is a sufficient Word. Peter tells us that God's "divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which, he has granted to us his precious and very great promises" (2. Peter 1:3-4). Everything ... all things we need for life and godliness are ours in Christ, who brings to completion every promise God has ever made, every word ever spoken.  The sufficiency of this Word, as it reveals the sufficiency of Christ, should keep us from being the kind of people with "itching ears", who "will not endure sound teaching" but who "will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn aw...

My friend, Becky, has written a thought-provoking post  regarding our phobias to certain words like religion , contemplate , and meditate , to name a few.  These words have been wrested from their original meaning, in some cases, and have become part of the vocabulary of questionable teaching. But rather than making a point to use them correctly, their usage or lack of can become a litmus test for a person's theology. This post hit a nerve, because l freely admit to strong gut reactions with certain words and phrases. Words have power and consequences, and my reception to them is anything but neutral. I  bring my own assumptions as to why the writer/speaker would use a certain word. I also bring a boatload of associations based on past experiences, even if I desire to respond based on what the Word says alone. So what to do?  How do I disarm the gut reaction? Here are few things that came to mind: - Make the point of digging a little deeper to fi...

From Through the Looking-Glass by Lewis Carroll Words seem to have lost their meaning nowadays, particularly the vocabulary of Christianity.  The meanings of  God and Jesus are up for grabs, and God's attributes and works are as malleable as a ball of play-dough to be shaped according to our whims.   There are those who would say, "Shouldn't we take people at their word?  We shouldn't be judging their hearts."  But I would respectfully reply that we are charged with more than  taking someone just at their word.  We've been charged to judge a tree by its fruit.  (Matthew 7: 15-20) So forgive me if I'm skeptical when a big name uses Christian vocabulary in a manner contradictory to the scriptures or if a celebrity casually invokes the G or J word.  And forgive me, when I press you to clearly define what you mean for the sake of my own understanding. These words are too important to be misused or misunderstood.

Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. James 1:19-21 We will be finishing the first chapter of James tomorrow in the ladies' study. One of the questions to be discussed is "How crucial is it that we bridle or control our tongues?" There were several passages in the New Testament for us to consider. Some other passages in the Old Testament came to mind as I was preparing for the study. Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind and said: "Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? Job 38:1-2 Whoever speaks the truth gives honest evidence, but a false witness utters deceit. There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. Truthful lips en...