Oral traditions handed down. Visions, dreams, hearings (is that okay, to use that as a noun?) The birth of Jesus - God communicated to Mary via the angel, to the wise men via a star. Jesus told his followers and those who weren't why he was there. We must hear about the miracle of Jesus and those he performed prior to having the faith and believing. Then we are on our knees, praying to God, as little children and as adults. Though we don't have to be on our knees, nor do we have to speak at all for God to hear us. We go to church, hear the Word, read the Word, all the time communication is transmitted. Through this communication we understand.
But, is there too much communication? or not enough? With the media and technology, there are dangers of errors in communication, what is right and what is wrong, or not quite right? Which TV station is better, which web-site is better? So many sources available, the onslaught of information - what should we listen to in order to know the truth? This comes back to communication with God, open and honest communication with God, I mean if the psalmists could yell at Him, why can't we? We may not always like the answer, but we must keep communicating in order to learn and grow and spread the Word. Communication with/from God is part of a life-long journey.
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You go good and faithful servant. The time we spend trying to know about God should never overrun our desire to dive into God's Word for us. The Bible is a beautiful gift as Hipp wrote: "We must remember that the Bible is not merely - or even primarily - a collection of objective propositions. It is a grand story told through hundreds of different perspectives and diverse social settings. The message is multilayered, textured, expansive, and complex."
ReplyDeleteI would simply add given by God for God's people as manual for living a wonderfully God inspired life.
Christianity is fundamentally a communication event because following Christ is about our relationship with him and with one another. Relationships need communication in order to thrive. It's about encouragement and speaking the truth in love. As we spoke about in class earlier, I am concerned about how using emails, texting, etc. somehow enables people to say mean-spirited things to each other that tear down relationships - knee jerk reaction things - instead of learning from Jesus who describes himself as "gentle and humble in heart."
ReplyDeleteOh so very true. Religion and worship in and of itself are communication events. We are trying to communicate with a being that is beyond ourselves and our realm of understanding. Furthermore, I like the fact that you pointed out that we may not always like the answer that is given to us. Especially because often times we believe that God will give exactly what we want, rather than what we need.
ReplyDelete"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." "The Word" is God-in-action. Communication may be God-in-action, or it might be just words. Surely we can seek God in words ~ and especially in actions of others. (Don't you wish you had known the author of the Gospel of John?! I do!)
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