Saturday December 27, 2014 Words are so very powerful. “The Word was made flesh,” affirms this. Contact is essential. To be in touch means so much. To have no word is sad, to ‘hear’ or read makes the difference. In the ancient world, words were sometimes likened to arrows—once launched they can become very helpful or dangerous. Helpful then, for example, in the game brought home for food, and hurtful in wounding or killing human opponents. “Give us a word,” said G. Ray Jordan, our old homiletics teacher at Emory used to say in calling us to think in terms of sermons. “Mr. Brown,” he might say, “Here’s a stop sign,” (Dr. Jordan holds up his hand) “give me your sermon—now!” Brown flushed slightly, and then spoke. “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, the Scriptures tell us, “We need to stop. To stop sinning.” “Good,” Jordan would say. “What else, Mr. Gatewood?” “We must all, ‘stop, look, and listen,’” Gatewood said, if we are to grow in spirit and in truth.” “Yes,” replies Jordan. There is a vast difference in ‘having a word,’ and in being ‘wordy.’ I once overheard some preachers talking, and one said go the other, “Well, son, if you don’t have anything to say, say it loudly!” And there is always the preacher who checks his watch and starts all over again! As we wrap up a year and prepare to open another, brother James has a word for us: “Tame the tongue!” he says “If any of you seem to be religious, and cannot control his tongue, he deceives his own heart, and his religion is in vain.” (1:26) “There is great power in words,” wrote Charles Rann Kennedy in a play called The Terrible Meek that we did years ago at the church. “all the things that ever get done—good or evil—are always somehow dependent on words.” Christmas is God’s Good Word to all who will hear and receive it. How wonderful that this Word which proceeds from the mouth and life of Jesus is “full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14) And words transcend culture too. The story about the Navajo chief who comes with a huge army to the camp of Army soldiers. “Why do you come here with warriors?” asks the commanding General of the Army. “Because you gave your word that our people would be safe to come to your villages to buy supplies, but when we came, our people were met with unkindness and even bullets. When a word is broken war becomes possible.” The general found this to be true, and days later rode unarmed alone to the camp of the Navajos. When the chief came forward, the general said, “I must surrender myself to you for judgment, for I have found that what you say is true. We have broken our word.” The chief lifted a hand to dismiss the men around him, and pointed to this tent. “Come,general, to my tent. Together we will smoke the pipe of peace. In you, I have found a man of his word and the good in that is better than judgment of any kind.” Don’t want to get too wordy here. As the New Year comes, let’s make a deal: Let’s listen, wait, choose then speak. And this ‘sermon,’ of course is not ‘at you!’ It’s at me! And all who practice the profession of ‘wording.’ As we get ready for the New Year, can we check out our use of words? Always love, always, Keith
Posted on: Sat, 27 Dec 2014 01:49:03 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015