Conference yukon::christian_v7

369.0. "Have We Forgotten HIS Humanness?" by MRKTNG::WEBER (Nancy Weber @MKO) Wed Jan 12 1994 10:55

[This is a spin off of the discussion between Steve M. and Garth and deals 
 with what has been identified as delivery of words.]

I sometimes wonder if we believers have really gotten screwed up along the 
way big time. There's fights, arguments, even wars started over our 
"beliefs". Believers and non-believers wonder about this relationship with 
God; if its really true and worth the time and effort to invest in it. 
Believers find it difficult to witness to non-believers because often the 
actions of other believers has hindered the "witness". Believers are 
embarrassed by the actions of other believers to the point of either 
"denying their faith" among some groups of people or shutting down their
ability to witness.


Why do I think we screwed up? Because I think we only looked at half the 
message Yeshua gave us in his life. We concentrate on the words he spoke 
and not the way he "delivered it". Several years ago I was really 
interested in understanding the human side of Yeshua. I looked around for 
books that talk about him as a man. You know what I found? Less than a 
handful of books where the titles at least talked about the man (can't say 
the content really dealt with his human side) and tons of books dealing 
with his deity and words. 

In courses on communication they always talk about it being a two fold 
message, the verbal and NON-VERBAL messages given by the "speaker". These 
non-verbal messages include our body language, tone of voice, level of 
speaking, method of speaking. Much of this we can't recapture in how Yeshua 
spoke, but God has given us insight into where his heart was, what the 
circumstances were. We need to go back and understand his humanness.  

We know that the deliver of words can cut a person in two. It can hurt and 
inflict wounds in people. Why are we as believers unable to use Yeshua as 
our model and learn to speak with gentleness, kindness, tolerance, 
forgiveness, understand, acceptance and peace? My experience is that that
type of deliver always carries the words of the message much farther than 
they way I see so often with "righteousness", rightness, anger, loud words, 
condescension, etc. 

Well that's my 2 cents. 
    

	Quite interesting, Nancy.

	Our words have the power to make life, or to destroy it.  Yet
	how often do we hear people (myself included) excusing their unkind 
	words with a simple, "I have a hard time expressing myself" or some other
	phrase that suggests that others will just have to work around
	our failure to TRULY consider our words.
	
	This is an area where I continue to need the Lord's help.  I was
	always one to speak without thinking.  I've come a long way, but
	have such a long way to go.  James 3 shows us just how important
	our words are.  I'd bet that far too many Christians even recognize
	the sins they commit with the tongue, never mind repent for said
	sins.

	Karen

    .0
    
    Hi Nancy!!!!  Thanks so much for starting this topic.  It's funny I
    myself have often wondered at the humanness of Christ as well... and as
    you indicated not much has been written.  However, I do believe that
    the *way* in which Christ handled conflict albeit perfection, is
    symbolic of how we should handle conflict.  
    
    Words are powerful, very powerful... this I know and oftimes I've used
    words as weapons rather then exhortations or edifications.  It's very
    timely that you put this in here based on what is happening in my life
    with my ex right now.  I need to be so very careful over the next few
    months and possibly years in how I use words with him.  May God
    continue to bind my tongue when it will tear down and destroy.
    
    In Him,
    Nancy