Growth

Saying the Same Thing

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There’s an old schoolyard game called “jinx.” To play the game, you and another person must say the exact same thing at the exact same time. The first one to say “jinx” after this occurs gets some sort of control over the other person. Depending on the version of the game you play either the “loser” has to buy the winner a Coke or they can’t speak until the winner says their name, or some other “punishment” is inflicted on them as a result of not saying “jinx” first. Presumably this game developed because kids realized the unlikelihood of two people uttering the same words simultaneously. It was a rare enough occurrence that when it did happen someone decided that it was worthy of further elaboration and amusement.

As adults, we recognize that whether we are saying the same thing as someone else or not, our tongue has a habit of getting us in trouble. In fact, James warns us of this very thing. The tongue can cause great destruction both to ourselves and to others. Controlling it is difficult, but necessary in order to live a life that pleases Christ.

One of the ways that we can make sure that we accomplish this is to make sure that our words are the same as Christ’s. In John 15:20 Jesus is preparing His disciples for His imminent departure. He is telling them that they will be persecuted and that they will suffer for His sake. He also says “If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.” Christ is telling His disciples that if they are careful to preach the same things that He did, then they can be sure that their words will penetrate the hearts of those who are His. Conversely, those who are not His will respond with hatred and contempt.

This should give us great encouragement and direction. If my words align with Christ’s then I need not worry about how others respond. Those who love Christ will respond with that same love to my words that mirror His message. When the world disagrees with what I say, when they revile me because of stance with the truth of His Word, I need not fear. I can take comfort in the fact that I’m saying the same things as my Savior.

Knowing the right thing to say is not easy. It is made even that much more difficult by the fact that we can never be sure how our words will be interpreted or received. However, if like the old game of jinx we can examine our words and know that our words are the same as those of Christ’s we can have confidence that our words will bring Him glory – regardless of how others respond or what they say.

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Growth

Calling It Like He Sees It

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Go to a baseball game – any baseball game – and some time during the course of the play you will likely here someone say “Good eye.” It doesn’t matter if you are at a professional baseball park, or at a little league outing, the same refrain is used. It denotes the ability to discern which pitches are going to wind up in the strike zone and which aren’t. If you resist a pitch that looks good, but that the umpire ends up calling as a “ball,” someone – either a coach or a fan – is likely to commend you for having a good eye.

This ability to discern between a ball and strike is important because it means the player has an acute recognition of what things are and what they aren’t. They aren’t persuaded by close approximations. They are waiting for the pitch that they can hit – a pitch within their strike zone.

In the Christian life we are called to have a similar level of discernment. We must be able to distinguish between the things of God and the things that aren’t. We must be willing to call things what they are. Just like a baseball player must resist the pitch that may look good, but in fact isn’t, we must be able to resist the things that others say are good, but we know aren’t godly. We have to be mindful of close approximations – accepting only the things that God’s Word indicates are in accordance with what pleases Him.

Francis Schaeffer put it this way:

Sin is sin, and we must not call it less than sin. It is not an act of love to explain sin away as a psychological determinism or sociological conditioning, for it is real and must be dealt with. Men need a Savior. Therefore, Christians in our generation must resist relativistic and deterministic thinking. If men are going to find a real solution to the problem of who they are, they must come to terms with the fact that they need a Savior because they are sinners in the presence of a holy God. Sin is serious business.

If something conflicts with God’s standards, we must call it what it is – we must say it is sin. As Shaeffer indicates, if we do not, not only are we not in agreement with our Savior, but also the message of the Gospel is compromised.

It can be difficult for a baseball player to discern between a good pitch and a poor one. However, the more familiar they are with the strike zone, the more they are able to determine if the pitch meets the criteria for being in it. Similarly, the more we saturate ourselves with the things of God, the more likely we are able to distinguish anything that departs from Him. And then to call it as He sees it. To call it sin.

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