Speaking My Language
I thank God that I speak in tongues more than any of you. But in a church meeting I would rather speak five understandable words to help others than ten thousand words in an unknown language. 1 Corinthians 14:18-19
“What are you saying, honey,” I asked my wife. “Why don’t you clean out your ear,” she responded enthusiastically. Yes, we have a fun household, and Loretta and I have a number of fun filled exchanges just like this one (the grocery aisle is always a show that leaves one or two patrons laughing at us). Sometimes, she’s right to admonish me because I am not focused on what she is saying. However, there are times I just do not know what point she is trying to make. Thus, I have to ask for clarity because it does not make sense. There are times we have serious conversations, and we make certain to ensure the other understands the points we are trying to make.
This brings me to the point of speaking in tongues. When I was younger, I once went to a church where this was encouraged. I had no idea what was going on. Based on further reading of Corinthians, I wonder if that church itself had a full understanding of it. But as I extrapolated what point they were trying to make; it became pretty simple. If you love God and want true connection, you should be willing to ignore all that is around you and talk freely to Him. Yes, that could mean be willing to shout out expressions deep within you that you yourself would not understand. But the goal is not to understand. The goal is to feel free expressing toward God even if it might you uncomfortable. Does this have value in your Christian faith? I would argue yes if done so earnestly and from the Holy Spirit within you. Does it have value to others? If they cannot understand you, no. As a pastor taught me years ago, sometimes, the message is not for you. This brings me to the point of sharing the Good News with others.
Sharing the Gospel of Christ is about others. Not us. As I read this chapter in 1 Corinthians, I thought I would skip this chapter entirely because I struggled to make sense of it. But then, things seemed to clear a bit as I stopped focusing on making it fit to what I wanted and focused on what God wanted me to understand. Paul’s message here focuses on speaking in tongues versus common language, but digging deeper, it applies to our relationship between God and others. We often want to conform God’s message to what makes sense to us. We fall into the trap of our own interpretation of God’s word is the right way. For example, we speak of the words of Jesus saying, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:39b) How we interpret it depends on our definition of love for a neighbor and ourselves. That gets a little dicey because we all love each other a little bit differently. So, if we are trying to reach our neighbor, what matters most: what makes us feel good or them feel good? If you shower love on them as you would yourself, that’s about your relationship with God, and that is a good thing. If you shower love on them as they would best receive it, they feel better, and I suspect you might too. If you can speak in tongues, it solidifies your relationship with God. If you can share God’s word where others can understand, it makes them feel good. Now, this is not to say you should not share God’s word in a way that does not work for you just to appease someone else. What it does say is to consider your audience and of course, pray to God what is best.
Our relationship with God is a constant. It does not change based on God. It does based on our greater understanding of Him. In deepening that understanding, we are better able to reach others who both know Him as well as those who may not. We need to discern when our relationship with God requires us to focus on Him or to share with others. Let us focus on building relationships with others in a way that connects with both God and them. In the process, we ourselves might build a greater connection with both as well. How do you best share the Good News with others? What might you change to better reach someone who needs to know about a loving and all-powerful God? My prayer is that we submit to God when reaching out to others where they might say, “Now, you’re speaking my language.” Amen.