We learn language by being surrounded by language, completely and totally. Eugene Peterson reminds us that, in our Christian practice, everything we say is a response to God speaking to us first. Every prayer, every testimony, every Amen is in response to the "previousness of God's speech." Think about it. Even when we are sitting quietly by ourselves, we think with words. Words wash over us every minute of every day.
And yet...
We were sitting together this weekend in a stewardship workshop and the inevitable comment came up. No, we probably shouldn't recognize generous givers because we don't want to "talk" about it. We just want to give what we want to give, but we cannot talk about growing in our giving. People don't want to talk about it...keep it private. (We weren't even discussing sharing actual amounts...just percentages.) Money, how we handle it, how we give it, what God calls us to do with it...no words allowed.
Imagine trying to teach your child to talk with no words. Ride a bike...no words. Do math...no words. Make their bed...hit a baseball...tackle a running back...deal with a bully...no words. Possible? In a word...no.
Faith and practice...including the handling of money...is no different. Use your words. Here's what I choose. Here's why. Here are my problems. Where are yours? How can we solve them? Why do those problems exist? What about your promise? What about mine?
Where did we get this idea that we don't talk about our faith? that is is only between "me and God"? that using words to communicate with either negate our faith, make it "less than," or embarrasses us or another person. I think--as real human beings--we either talk about it, or it ceases to exist.
Speak up...
No comments:
Post a Comment