Four preachers were discussing their favorite translations of the Bible.
The first one said, “I like the King James Version because it’s the one I grew up with and I love its beautiful English.”
The second preacher said, “I like the New American Standard version because it is closer to the original Greek and Hebrew.”
The third one expressed preference for the New International Version because it is in the language of the modern day common man. “What good is truth if it is not understood by the reader? he asked.
The fourth preacher, however, said he preferred his mother’s version the best.
The other three men were surprised. They said, “I didn’t know your mother made a translation of the Bible.” “Yes,” he replied. “She translated it into everyday life. And it was the most beautiful and convincing translation I ever saw.”
This old, and no doubt apocryphal story, reminds me of the 19th century evangelist Gypsy Smith who once quipped, “There are five Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, and the Christian, but most people never read the first four.”
This concept is also enunciated in scripture. The apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthian brethren, “You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men” (2 Cor. 3:2).
Christians represent Christ. People read us like a book. And they draw conclusions about Christ, Christianity, and the church from what they see and hear. Does our practice match our profession?
- Do people see love or hate?
- Gracious speech or unkind words?
- Impartiality or Prejudice?
- Faith or fear?
- Conviction or doubt?
- Fairness or fanaticism?
- Kindness or meanness?
- Forgiveness or grudge-holding?
- Faithfulness or neglect?
- Joy or gloom?
- Goodness or wickedness?
- Spirituality or carnality?
Paul’s epistle metaphor reminds us of the hymn “The World’s Bible,” by Annie Johnson Flint Johnson.
We are the only Bibles The careless world will read,
We are the sinner’s gospel, We are the scoffer’s creed;
We are the Lord’s last message Given in deed and word,
What if the type is crooked? What if the print is blurred?”
Crooked and blurred type is not only distracting and difficult to read in a book, it’s worse when it reflects the book of your life. When the world reads such a book, they’re not seeing a clear picture of Christ and Christianity. Rather, they only read a distorted and perverted message.
Additionally, in this super-charged and volatile election year, what message is the world reading in your life? Your words? Your actions? Your attitudes? Your facebook posts? Are they seeing someone who is more excited about their favorite candidate than Christ? Someone who sees him or her as the answer to society’s problems instead of the soul-saving Gospel? Someone who elevates political partisanship over spiritual relationships?
By the way, we’re not required to debate every issue and answer every charge we hear or read. Sometimes, the better part of valor is to follow Jesus’ example at His kangaroo court of a trial, when “He answered them not a word”
Finally, reflect on the message of Arthur McPhee’s poem, “What is the Gospel according to You?”
The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John
Are read by more than a few,
But the one that is most read and commented on
Is the gospel according to you.You are writing a gospel, a chapter each day
By the things that you do and the words that you say,
Men read what you write, whether faithless or true,
Say, what is the gospel according to you’Do men read His truth and His love in your life,
Or has yours been too full of malice and strife’
Does your life speak of evil, or does it ring true’
Say, what is the gospel according to you’
–Ken Weliever, The Preacherman
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How we present ourselves to the world through living says a lot about ourselves and our relationship with the Triune God that the Woman Jesus called the Mother of God brought to life in the Greco-Roman world 2000 years ago.
In a male dominated world the Mother of God is often seen as subservient to the God Father and his male offspring.
In the movie My Big Fat Greek Wedding, the Mother of Gus wanders about and doesn’t speak English. The Mother of Gus’ children on the other hand recognizes the fact that Gus merely wants what is best for his children, but can be too protective and thinks his daughter Toula should get married to a Greek and doesn’t approve of Toula’s choice. So the Mother of Gus’ children tells Toula, don’s worry. Your Father is the head of the family, but I am the Neck. So the Mother uses her tact to change Gus’ mind, to turn his head. So she speaks with Gus in private and she plants ideas in his head and lets him think these ideas are his ideas.
In the Christian Story, Jesus asks the disciples to remember the Woman with the alabaster jar, every where the Gospel is preached.
What did the Woman Jesus called the Sinner do? She anointed Jesus the Teacher of Israel with the oil she spilled from her Alabaster Jar and the perfume filled the house.
Luke tells the story of how [the presence of] Simon the Father of the Oral Tradition and the Law invited Jesus the Teacher to the dinner where this happened. Simon was not impressed with how the Woman called attention to herself and her love and admiration of Jesus the Teacher, the Rabboni. The Man Jesus called Simon felt that Jesus the Prophetic Teacher should “know” [acknowledge] how [he knew] this Woman was a sinner, how this Woman’s reputation was sullied (Luke 7:35-50).
The Teacher and Simon talk. The Teacher tells Simon a parable and Simon catches the Teacher’s drift. The Woman Jesus called a sinner is the “worst” sinner. She has taken the blame for something he and the Teacher have caused by their egos, their need to be in control, and by not acknowledging the Love and admiration they both have for her and her wisdom.
The Woman’s tears and her obvious love for Jesus the Teacher and his presence at a dinner where Luke presents Simon as the host speaks volumes. The aloofness and the likely scowl on the face of the Man Jesus called Simon showed Jesus the Prophetic Teacher and all sitting at table with him…that Simon was jealous of the attention the Woman was giving the Prophetic Teacher.
So yes, how we live our Christian witness speaks volumes.
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