The Challenge of His Sayings
Lesson 6
May 10, 2008
Scripture: Matthew
5:48; 18:21, 22; 19:3-12; Luke 12:32-34; John 19:25-27.
Dr. Deborah Tannen’s book titles You Just Don’t Understand and That’s Not What I Meant could have been used to write about human discourse this week. As a social scientist Dr. Tannen analyzes conversation and can explain why two individuals hearing the same conversation come away with completely different impressions of what was said.
Take for example what President Bush said this week regarding funding for food and international aid. Bush proposed that the United States could add an additional $770 million U.S. dollars in international food and development aid to what he had already proposed to Congress. “We’re sending a clear message to the world: that America will lead the fight against hunger for years to come.” 1
What does that mean when food prices in America are at an all time high?
Sam’s Club and Costco began limiting bulk rice purchases by customers in their stores across the United States because of the recent supply and demand trends. Associated Press Business Writer Marcus Kabel reported that USA Rice Federation spokesman David Coia said there is no rice shortage in the United States. 2
What are we to believe?
Other discourse in the spotlight this past week was that of Pastor Jeremiah Wright, retired pastor of the church that presidential candidate Barack Obama has attended for the past two decades. Wright’s rhetoric created outrage over his need to condemn America and raise the issue of race in speeches at a time an African American could become the next President of the United States. At the same time much of what Pastor Wright told the audience at the National Press Club would be hard to challenge. The question remains, what is Jeremiah Wright really saying? 3
Sunday on Meet the Press with Tim Russert, Senator Obama again emphasized that many of Wright’s statements are contrary to Obama’s personal beliefs. In the televised interview Senator Obama told Russert he was loyal to his church and Christ not his former pastor.
Five weeks ago Obama denounced Wright’s words but not the person who had been like family to him. This week Obama suggested that maybe he didn’t know Jeremiah Wright as much as he thought he did and that Wright must not know him well either. If elected to the office of president Obama told Russert that he would not consult Pastor Wright as a spiritual advisor.
The teachings of Jesus make wonderful sense to many of us because we have read them many times or have grown up with them. To a new believer, however, knowing how to be born again or to be perfect or to forgive seventy-times seventy can be challenging concepts to apply today.
As we study this week let’s try to uncover the underlying principles in the challenge of Jesus’ words. Just be aware, as Dr. Tannen has found in her research, two individuals experiencing the same conversation may come away with completely different impressions of what Jesus’ sayings mean.
~ck
1. USA Today, Cover Story, May 2-4, 2008
Creative Ministry Center. www.creativeministry.org
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