Are You A Code Talker?

Recently I was talking with my daughter-in-law.  She was explaining some of her course work for her doctoral studies in statistical analysis.  I was completely lost after the third word.  It was as if she was speaking a completely different language – so I glazed over and phased out.  My son looked at me with a smile and said, “Welcome to my world.”  As I was thinking about our conversation, if you could call it that, I wondered how many times, when sharing my faith, I used that same kind of non-understandable language.  

In World War Two the Japanese began to listen in on allied radio communications.  The American army began to look for a way to use the radio without the enemy being able to understand.  They recruited a number of Navajo Indians and trained them to use their very obscure native language for military radio dispatches.  When the Japanese listened they couldn’t understand a single word.  This detachment of Navajo radiomen became known as the Code-Talkers and in the entire war not one of their transmissions was ever “de-coded.”  

So, I’ve been thinking, am I a Code-Talker when it comes to communicating with non-Christians in my life?  Do I use a language that has no meaning for them, so they just glaze over and phase out?   

Imagine something like this…an acquaintance asks, “How ya doing?” and I answer, “I’m blessed, because my salvation is assured, I’m covered in the blood, sanctified, glorified, and praisin’ the Lord for His propitiation and intercession.” I would have sounded very spiritual but, just like a Navajo Code-Talker, I’d have lost my friend after the second or third word.  

In 1 Corinthians 14:9-11 the Apostle Paul said, “So also you, unless you utter by the tongue speech that is clear, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be speaking into the air. There are, perhaps, a great many kinds of languages in the world, and no kind is without meaning. If then I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be to the one who speaks a barbarian [Code-Talker], and the one who speaks will be a barbarian [Code-Talker] to me…  

Paul is talking about communicating not just babbling some unknowable words which are totally meaningless to the hearer.  Later in verse 19 he says he’d rather speak five words that he understood and that were understandable by others than ten thousand that were not.  I feel challenged as a Christian to think through the real meaning of “Christian Buzz Words” so that I can more simply communicate what God is doing in my life.  In the church we get so used to Code-Talking that often we don’t even communicate with other believers.  We can hear words so often we just smile and nod but never learn their meaning. 

I meet with a number of people every week to discuss what the Bible says to them.  When we read verses I find myself regularly asking, “What does that word mean?” and more often than not, I get blank stares.  It becomes obvious we’re using words that sound good but that have no real meaning in our lives.  If that’s the case, are we teaching anything? – or learning anything? 

I can remember one of my early spiritual mentors asking me to explain the meaning of a Bible text as if my audience was from a completely different planet, with none of the usual cultural or social references.  It was very difficult to do.  Yet, non-believers are actually from a completely different worldly realm.  They speak a different language and, unless we take great care in our conversations, they will have no idea what we’re talking about.  No wonder our efforts to tell people about Christ can be so weak. 

In a recent article by “Money Talks News” it listed a number of things for which kids born in 2011 would have no experiential understanding.  If a teacher referred to things like video or cassette tapes, movie rental stores, paper maps, wired telephones, long distance calling, dial-up internet, encyclopedias, film cameras, fax machines, or handwritten letters – the student would have no idea what they were talking about.   

Every year, Beloit College in Beloit, Wis., releases its Mindset List to give a snapshot of how the incoming freshmen class views the world. The list for the Class of 2016 includes the comment, “The Biblical sources of terms such as "forbidden fruit," ''the writing on the wall," ''good Samaritan," and "the promised land" are unknown to most of them.” If a young person doesn’t know where the Good Samaritan comes from he certainly won’t know what “saving grace” is all about. 

Can you communicate the good news about Jesus without using code words?  Ask yourself if you understand them.  If you don’t the non-believers in your life certainly won’t.  

The Barna Research Group has reported that one third of Americans have never been to a church of any kind.  Do you think these neighbors and friends understand spiritual jargon?  No!  

The Bible clearly commands Christians to “Go and Tell” the people around us the good news Jesus offers.  But are we clearly going and telling – with no code-talking? 

Think about it….

 

 

I Can Ride In On My Own Abilities - Can't I?

This story is absolutely true…  My father’s older brother – my uncle – wanted to be a great architect and, although he was from a small town in South Dakota, he left home to study at a fancy school “out East.”

Discovering that most of his fellow students were from the upper-classes, he quickly began to feel very much on the outs as the country bumpkin.  He couldn’t play tennis; he didn’t know how to golf or play bridge, so when it came to the finer social activities, he was left out.

He desperately wanted to “belong” so one day, at a fancy country club, he knew he had his big opportunity.  As my uncle was following a group of his school mates, a screaming young girl on a runaway horse rushed away from the stables.  He thought, “Finally, something I know how to do… I’ve been riding since I was a kid.  I’ll show these snobs what riding is all about and save the girl to boot.” 

 

Looking around, he saw a horse grazing quietly next to the riding club and took off at a dead run yelling, “I’ll save you.”  He confidently sprinted up to the horse, placed both his hands on its rump and vaulted up onto the horse’s back grabbing its mane in a single movement.  Thinking this looked like it was right out of a movie scene, my uncle was confident he’d be seen as a real hero by his classmates and finally be accepted into their social circle.

It turns out that the horse was a very old, very gentle child’s riding horse that had been put out to pasture a long time back and as this big man ran up, slapped its rump, landed full on its back, and screamed “HEYAH!” it was too much.  In shock, the old horse passed gas and died where it stood – leaving my uncle sitting on a stinking, dead horse with its mane still clutched in his hand.  So much for playing the hero! 

I’ve been thinking that every time I perceive a circumstance that I believe I can handle in my own strength and with my own abilities, I end up sitting on a stinkin’, dead horse.  

This happened to Israel.  God had been showing them His wonderous power by defeating the enemies of His people… against huge odds God had provided victory over Jericho.  Obviously it was totally God – but Israel got cocky.  One day Joshua sends some spies to look at a little town called Ai.  The story is recorded in Joshua 7:2,3.     

Now Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is near Beth-aven, east of Bethel, and said to them, “Go up and spy out the land.” So the men went up and spied out Ai. They returned to Joshua and said to him, “Do not let all the people go up; only about two or three thousand men need go up to Ai; do not make all the people toil up there, for they are few.” 

In other words, the spies said, “Ai is just a little town.  We can handle this battle.  Let’s just send a few guys up there and we’ll defeat ‘em.”  So, trusting in their own military ability they attack and end up sitting on a dead, stinkin’ horse of defeat. 

Look at Joshua 7:4,5.  So about three thousand men from the people went up there, but they fled from the men of Ai. The men of Ai struck down about thirty-six of their men, and pursued them from the gate as far as Shebarim and struck them down on the descent, so the hearts of the people melted and became as water.  

When it comes to being used of God for anything, even the smallest service or ministry, I must always remember NOT to rely on my own talents and abilities, because without Christ I’m nothing and able to accomplish nothing.   

Jeremiah 9:23 sums it up for me,  Thus says the Lord, “Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches…

It’s not what I know (wisdom) – it’s not what I can do in my strength (might) – it’s not what I have (riches).   

They only thing you and I have for successfully living the Christian life is summed up in the next verse Jeremiah 9:24… but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things,” declares the Lord.  

Do you notice who does the “exercising” in that verse?  That’s right – God does it all.  I can only rejoice and glory that I know God personally through His son, Jesus. 

If you ask me how I’m going to accomplish something in my life, my answer will be Philippians 4:13 and ONLY Philippians 4:13… 

I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.  

NO DEAD STINKIN’ HORSES FOR ME!  How about you?

 

Think about it….

Why Does God Allow Flat Tires?

We’ve all been there.  The scenario is familiar.  We’ve got an incredibly busy day planned.  It’s a brutal schedule but if everything goes just right, it will be a real day of accomplishment.  You’re looking forward to that great feeling of satisfaction at getting so much done – and then – a flat tire!  Oh man! You look at that thing and feel like it looks… deflated. 

You pray, perhaps with a little exasperation, God! Didn’t you know that this was going to be a really productive day?  Didn’t you want me to be successful?  Are you really going to be that mean – to let this stupid flat interrupt my entire plan? 

In reality the disruption may not be a flat.  It could be bad weather, traffic jams, illness, mechanical failures, family emergencies, or a thousand other things that keep us from functioning through the appointments and chores of the day.  Also in reality, we too often get very angry at the Lord for these kinds of interruptions.  Many of us can “lose our religion” in the middle of traffic, or having a long wait in a doctor’s office. 

But the next time something like this happens to you – AND IT IS GOING TO HAPPEN – stop and think about God’s love and His plan for your life.  It might even be a good time to pray and thank the Lord for being in control of the circumstances that seem to move our lives in unseen ways along unseen paths. 

We shouldn’t allow our plans to interfere with God’s direction for our lives.  He knows what He’s doing.  Proverbs 16:9 says, “The mind of man plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps.”  So, when our precious plans are interrupted, we can stop and thank God for the three gracious words in the middle of this verse, “But the Lord.”  At that moment in time, God has a better idea of what you should be doing.  And, after all, He is God. 

Today is September 11^th – you may have read of the scores of examples where God interfered with people’s plans and ultimately saved their lives.  The woman who forgot her lunch and went back for it, the man who stopped at a drug store because his new shoes gave him a blister, the flat tire, the broken down car – all were late to work and missed the tragedy.  There’s a great chance that many of these folks were upset that their plans were messed up by seemingly trivial events.  “But the Lord” had other plans for them.   

These miracles of interruption in no way diminish the pain of the families and friends of those who did not survive the terror of that day.  If anything they drive home the need for each of us to be ready to submit to God’s direction – no matter where it takes us.  We know of some believers in Christ who had divine appointments in the stairwells and offices… appointments which God had scheduled to over-ride whatever plans they might have made for that day.

 

When I was new in my faith in Jesus, I was riding to a ministry appointment with a pastor friend and we had to pull off the road because of a flat tire.  I clearly remember starting to get upset that we were going to be late.  But, I observed that my friend was calm, cool, and relaxed as he started to cheerfully change that tire.  I asked him why he wasn’t mad about the delay.  His answer set my mind on a completely new train of thought.  He said, “God is in control of my life and, as far as I know, by delaying us here with this tire He has saved our lives by keeping us from some terrible accident that could have happened up ahead.”  Then my friend quoted a verse I’ve since memorized and often consider when “irritating stuff” happens to my plans… And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28  

From that day on – even on September 11^th, I realize that my job is to love God, study His purposes in my life, and listen for His call.  His job is to cause everything to work together for good.  

So the next time you’re interrupted in your plan for the day, don’t get angry and sit fuming at the circumstance.  Think of God’s love, God’s mercy, and God’s grace.  Rejoice that He’s in control, knows what He’s doing, and works everything out for good.   

Obviously on this day of remembrance, not everything that happens is good.  Families can have sad, sad circumstances of loss and pain – in and of itself not good.  But from the sorrow lives are focused, changed, and in some cases enhanced with purpose – all of which can work out for the ultimate good.  And can, in the hearts of Christians, give glory to a loving, merciful, sovereign, and mighty God. 

“I know that You can do all things, And that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted.”                       Job 42:2  

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ.                                2 Corinthians 1:3–5  

Think about it….