Can We Talk?

Christians and good communication should go hand-in-hand, or so it would seem.  We spent some time yesterday evening in church discussing quenching the Spirit.  We are warned not to do so, in 1 Thess 5:19, so it would seem that we CAN do this.  Any honest Christian knows that we do this regularly, any time we sin.

The past month or so has brought numerous opportunities to communicate what could be unpleasant topics, opinions, or much-needed discussions.  Personally, I seem to be more and more frustrated with Christians who appear to duck a conversation as opposed to simply saying what needs to be said, speaking the truth in love, and moving on for the cause of Christ.  I'd love to say I have handled every conversation perfectly, and since I have already alluded to "honest Christians", I cannot claim that I have done so.  Yet I need to strive to do so, knowing that the Lord will cover and govern those conversations, if I will allow His Spirit to work in and through me.

OK, rather than rip on poor communicators, I studied through some good communicators, so that I might learn some valuable lessons from God's perfectly inspired Word.

Barnabas - besides being the encourager he was, he had to be a good communicator.  It was Barnabas who got the newly-converted Saul (Paul) introduced to the Jerusalem Christians.  Undoubtedly he said what needed to be said to both Paul and the churches involved.

Paul - you can't read through his epistles and not notice how he spoke truth wherever he went, offering his opinions, standing firm where he needed to.  He may have turned some off by his unwavering consistency, but that problem was theirs, not his.

Thomas - OK, I have to defend "the doubter" here.  He needed proof of Jesus' resurrection, and if you read the account again, notice how the other 10 disciples had already seen the same proof when Thomas was absent.  I give him great credit for speaking up and getting clarification when he needed it.  It was Thomas in John 14 who told Jesus they did not know where He was going, and for that matter, how to get there.  It was Thomas who made the exclamatory "My Lord and my God!" upon seeing the risen Christ.  He said what needed to be said, and spoke when others sat by silent, as I see Thomas.

Priscilla and Acquila - They took a great speaker in Apollos, and helped him become a great theologian to go with his speaking, so that he could be a usable tool for the Lord.  I credit both them and him for speaking, listening, and being will to communicate and grow.

John the Baptist - he lost his head for speaking the truth.  And, just prior to that, he was bold and courageous to send followers to Christ, asking if He indeed was the waited-upon Messiah.  Jesus could have been offended by the question, John could have cowered and kept silent.  Neither happened; this is how believers speak to one another.

Peter - Brash?  Sure.  Bold?  No doubt.  Afraid to speak his mind?  Never.   All you need to know about Peter is to read his sermons in Acts, which came on the heels of his denial of Christ.  He learned his lesson, and took every opportunity to speak when someone needed to stand up.  He was wrong when he would not eat with Gentiles, and he took correction well from Paul.  They communicated well, what needed to be said and heard.

Brothers and sisters, we could all do so much better communicating if we would simply let the Spirit work.  This person won't get together with that person, either at church, over a bible study, in a small group or some other church setting, and we need to get over our own reasons and speak to one another truthfully, to help each other grow, sharpen one another. 

Or perhaps we will put on the air of communicating by talking to others about the situations and struggles we face, while never including the parties that truly need to be involved.  We go to church having these communication issues unresolved, and I cannot believe it pleases the Lord to come to His house to worship when "we have ought against a brother." 

My prayer today is that we can ever more please the Lord by how we deal with one another, Christians to Christians.  We must speak truth, and do so IN LOVE.  If we can take love here, understanding it means selfless giving, then we WILL speak to each other properly, as we seek to put the interest of others before our own. 

If we can't do it right, then who can?