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".......... the word that God speaks is alive
and active, it cuts more cleanly than any two-edged
sword; it strikes through to the place where soul and
spirit meet, to the innermost intimacies of a man's
being; it exposes the very thoughts and motives of a
man's heart." Hebrews 4:12,13.
Words are essential for communication - information, explanation,
education - person to person, and in family, community, church
and country. In a world full of audio-visual marvels, words
still matter.
Church! Religion for most people is very much a matter of
words, spoken and sung. In Christian worship they are from
specific sources - the Bible, prayer books, psalters and hymnals;
preachers and singers; and in the vocal contributions and
responses of the congregation.
Words make you think! Those used in the services of the church
are thought provoking as they speak of God and to God, and
with their concentration on the person and presence of Jesus
Christ in the plan of God for the world. The words have many
uses, serve several purposes, with the singular intention
of bringing people to God, and to one another to mutual advantage,
in selfless service together. Words to be well-used must ensure
that their meaning is clear to the hearer. It must be of constant
concern that the words be not just words used to express beliefs
that need the content of faith in them, for them to be meaningful.
To say the words is one thing, to mean them is something else.
The reality is that words may stop short from meaning what
they say for those who use them.
To say "I believe" is not necessarily a statement
of belief. It could be a meaningless recitation of a creed,
in company with others, who do believe in what they are saying.
Words are used to express emotions that may not be those of
the user. It is easy to say and sing words in a service and
to remain detached from them. There is always the danger that
familiarity will prevent people seeing through the words to
what they mean.
Rudyard Kipling thought that "words are the most powerful
drug used by mankind." The Christian faith, with its
focus on words, is continuously emphasising its practical
outworking, for words are never enough to do that. The faith
must show itself in actions which prove the veracity, honesty
and sincerity of the words. "Actions speak louder than
words." It is a truism that what is best may not be expressed
in words; how we act is what matters. Christian history reminds
us that the first Christians "influenced thousands to
embrace the Christian faith because they out-thought, out-lived
and out-loved their neighbours." they had an unlikeness
to others. Their likeness was to Christ.
Dr. Billy Graham, complaining of the imbalance, words and
deeds, among Christians said: "We need fewer words and
more charitable works, less palaver and more pity, less repitition
of creed and more compassion."
The Christian must avoid the use of pious phrases meaningless
to others, in order to make what they say meaningful through
what they do for them. James said: "Religion that is
pure in the sight of God the Father will show itself by such
things as visiting orphans and widows in their distress and
keeping oneself uncontaminated by the world." (1:27)
It was he who said, "Don't I beg you merely hear the
message: put it into practice." (1:22)
It is the case that the more people talk the less likely
it is that they will do anything. I recall a committee set
to organise a social evening. It had several meetings in which
every detail of what was intended was discussed. After all
this a vote was taken and it was decided not to have a social
evening that year.
The thing that has hindered the progress of the church is
not so much our talk and our creeds, but it has been our walk,
our conduct, our daily living. The church is at its weakest
when what it has to say is not heard, for people are not in
church to hear and to listen. It is strong when it speaks
to people by its actions; when it is serving people regardless
of all but their need of help. The serving church is the living
and growing church.
This is the reality! How the church responds to it will have
meaning for its future in a world increasingly secular and
irreligious.
Canon Dr. S.E. Long
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