a beautiful mess

“it’s not what you say, it’s how you say it.” – every mom and dad.

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i vehemently challenge that statement :]

words are symbols: symbols are the foundation of a language: language is the foundation of a culture: culture shapes our worldview: worldviews greatly influence and shape our future/choices.

what we say is just as important as how we say it. which has led me to think a little more carefully about the inclusion of some words/phrases in my vocabulary.

for example:

“the bible says.”

we can play the, “well it’s not what i meant” game until we’re blue in the face. but at the end of the night, we both just have blue sharpie all over our faces and it’s just going to mess up our pillow cases! the fact is: the bible doesn’t say anything: the bible doesn’t speak. there’s no special christianized ink sitting next to the testamints to be used in bibles which causes one to hear the voice of the invisible caps-lock GOD.

GOD speaks.

what we’re doing is becoming a church who is relying on what the bible says instead of what GOD says.

the difference is found in the valves (medical funny implied to subconsciously render within your mind the symbol-word-image: heart). people who know GOD and are found listening for his voice versus people who know what the bible says and are found quoting a book.

what a great reminder when we read that we are called to write the law “on our hearts.” it’s always been a heart issue connected to another heart: GOD’s heart.

when was the last time you wrote a paper and cited “the book” as a reference? never. because that is not APA- or MLA-friendly, folks. the author of the book gets the credit/criticism for what s/he committed to writing.

so it is with GOD. i’m not debasing our scriptures. they are holy. but not because of any ink or leather or translation. they’re holy because GOD chose and chooses to speak in and through those words and those stories even unto this day.

may we be a people known for knowing GOD and hearing his heart (which will often be revealed through his word(s)) instead of just a bunch of people who can quote a book – no matter how holy.

other phrases on this abbreviated hit list include,

“i don’t care.” as in, “what pizza joint do you want to order from? – i don’t care.”

because. words begin to bleed through different parts of our lives. just watch how many times a day you or your friends are using this phrase in any given day: it’s usually astounding! no wonder we can so easily become apathetic and lethargic: we don’t care.

oh, that we would be a people who care.

“i’m starving!”

this is old hat by now. but still, i catch myself saying it. and, honestly, we are clearly not starving: and other people around the world (or down the street) are, in fact, literally starving to death or are slaves of tyrannical systems that keep them on that inevitable path.

may we think twice about using this phrase in vanity: and forgive us, oh GOD, for invoking such a truth without acting upon it with mercy and justice.

Q/ what are some phrases/words that you have intentionally been removing/adding to your vocabulary?