My Thoughts on Communication
For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another. But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. Gal. 5:13-16
This verse strikes a very raw nerve in me this morning.
I wonder if one of those desires of the flesh might be a human feeling of being understood? Do we bicker, argue, and gossip because we feel like no one understands us?
I hear it and I say it. "They don't even know me. They couldn't possibly understand my pain. They would understand my reaction if they only knew what I've been through."
EXCUSES.
I think we all have them. We excuse our own behaviors. We know how our own heart aches. We excuse our own words to others. We know what we were trying to say that they took so personal.
Then...the offense has taken place.
Feelings are hurt. Then, words. Words.
New Living Translation (©2007)
The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences.
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary
18:19. Great care must be taken to prevent quarrels among relations and those under obligations to each other. Wisdom and grace make it easy to forgive; but corruption makes it difficult.
Communication is important, but is such a buzzword of today. It can't be used out of a desire of the flesh to just make our feelings be known. Yes, that is part of communication, but not the entire sense of the word.
I guess that the definition of communication is pretty clear. It usually involves words transmitted in some form, verbal or written. Information in conveyed.
It seems to me that we are all pretty misinformed when we think the correct thing to do in a misunderstanding is to make sure our thoughts are conveyed. We can say what we want, or type, or facebook, tweet, etc.
But, what I think is that we use the word communication as a noun much too often, just to make ourselves feel better.
Look at the definition of communicate when used as a verb.
COMMUNICATE...
with each other>
Yes. We should "communicate" in more of the sense of the word "communion", or so that it is satisfactorily received or understood.
There is a time and place for talking. I'm not saying we shouldn't communicate. I'm just thinking that the communion should take place after much prayer and consideration. We should weigh our words with the Word of God. Our hearts should be prepared ahead of time if at all possible to not only transmit information but also satisfactorily receive or understand the other person. COMMUNICATE. As a verb...
If our "communication" is just a means to justify our wrong actions, or throw accusations around, then just maybe we are using the term as the world interprets it. If we want to use it in a way to bring healing to a hurt relationship we should definitely look at communication in more of a sense of communion.
>
As the commentary above states...
Wisdom and grace make it easy to forgive.
Are we ready to communicate? Have we prayed for wisdom and grace to forgive? Have we done battle against the corruption within ourselves that make our own feelings so important and hinder forgiveness?
Just as we are to examine our own hearts before taking Communion with our body of believers, shouldn't we examine our hearts before communicating a disagreement with others?
A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. 1 Corinthians 11:28 (NIV)
Contrary to popular belief, there is also a time to just be quiet.
Ecclesiastes 9:17 The quiet words of the wise are more effective than the ranting of a king of fools.
Lord, give me wisdom and grace. I would rather get to a place of true communion than to just merely communicate.
This verse strikes a very raw nerve in me this morning.
I wonder if one of those desires of the flesh might be a human feeling of being understood? Do we bicker, argue, and gossip because we feel like no one understands us?
I hear it and I say it. "They don't even know me. They couldn't possibly understand my pain. They would understand my reaction if they only knew what I've been through."
EXCUSES.
I think we all have them. We excuse our own behaviors. We know how our own heart aches. We excuse our own words to others. We know what we were trying to say that they took so personal.
Then...the offense has taken place.
Feelings are hurt. Then, words. Words.
New Living Translation (©2007)
The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences.
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary
18:19. Great care must be taken to prevent quarrels among relations and those under obligations to each other. Wisdom and grace make it easy to forgive; but corruption makes it difficult.
Communication is important, but is such a buzzword of today. It can't be used out of a desire of the flesh to just make our feelings be known. Yes, that is part of communication, but not the entire sense of the word.
Definition of COMMUNICATION
1
: an act or instance of transmitting
2
I guess that the definition of communication is pretty clear. It usually involves words transmitted in some form, verbal or written. Information in conveyed.
It seems to me that we are all pretty misinformed when we think the correct thing to do in a misunderstanding is to make sure our thoughts are conveyed. We can say what we want, or type, or facebook, tweet, etc.
But, what I think is that we use the word communication as a noun much too often, just to make ourselves feel better.
Look at the definition of communicate when used as a verb.
COMMUNICATE...
intransitive verb
1
: to receive Communion
2
: to transmit information, thought, or feeling so that it is satisfactorily received or understood communicate
Yes. We should "communicate" in more of the sense of the word "communion", or so that it is satisfactorily received or understood.
There is a time and place for talking. I'm not saying we shouldn't communicate. I'm just thinking that the communion should take place after much prayer and consideration. We should weigh our words with the Word of God. Our hearts should be prepared ahead of time if at all possible to not only transmit information but also satisfactorily receive or understand the other person. COMMUNICATE. As a verb...
If our "communication" is just a means to justify our wrong actions, or throw accusations around, then just maybe we are using the term as the world interprets it. If we want to use it in a way to bring healing to a hurt relationship we should definitely look at communication in more of a sense of communion.
Definition of COMMUNION
1
: an act or instance of sharing
2
a capitalized : a Christian sacrament in which consecrated bread and wine are consumed as memorials of Christ's death or as symbols for the realization of a spiritual union between Christ and communicant or as the body and blood of Christ
b : the act of receiving Communion
c capitalized : the part of a Communion service in which the sacrament is received
3
: intimate fellowship or rapport : communication
4
: a body of Christians having a common faith and discipline communion
As the commentary above states...
Wisdom and grace make it easy to forgive.
Are we ready to communicate? Have we prayed for wisdom and grace to forgive? Have we done battle against the corruption within ourselves that make our own feelings so important and hinder forgiveness?
Just as we are to examine our own hearts before taking Communion with our body of believers, shouldn't we examine our hearts before communicating a disagreement with others?
A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. 1 Corinthians 11:28 (NIV)
Contrary to popular belief, there is also a time to just be quiet.
Ecclesiastes 9:17 The quiet words of the wise are more effective than the ranting of a king of fools.
Lord, give me wisdom and grace. I would rather get to a place of true communion than to just merely communicate.
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