COMMENTARY

Don Atkin

THE CHALLENGE OF COMMUNICATION

Speaking the truth in love, (we) may grow up . . .

Yesterday my daughter asked, "How was church today?" ~ an innocent and simple enough question. But, I found myself hemming and hawing, and unable to come up with a simple answer. Whatever I choked out was totally inadequate, and must have left her and her husband confused and concerned.

I struggled within myself, totally distracted and troubled, for about two hours. How can I possibly explain myself, address her question, be totally truthful, and yet not sound too critical of them and the vast majority of what we call "church" here in the west? I know that they are walking in what has been revealed to them. How do you explain things that have not been revealed?

Now, that sounds arrogant, even as I write it. But ~ really ~ Jesus dealt with this all of the time in His earth walk. He has the same challenge of communication now that He is walking around in us, His body on the earth.

Believe me, I was not being arrogant! I was troubled at the core of my being, the matrix of my soul. I needed to do better. They deserved a straight answer. I owed them the truth. So, after two hours of internal strife, wrestling through all of my logic, I opened my mouth in faith that the Holy Spirit would give me what to say in that hour.

I cannot begin to remember or repeat all that I shared with them. I do know that, through the Helper, it was loaded with love and grace ~ for them, and for the body of Christ at large. It was not judgmental. Rather, it was conciliatory and envisioning. (Thank You, God!) I did explain the principle of seed time and harvest:

Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.

That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

I carefully wove this principle into an explanation of how we view "church" as who we are, not somewhere to go, a program to attend. We supported them in their pursuit of God and His purpose for their lives. We agreed that their church attendance and fellowship were important parts of that pursuit, and assured them that we also need and enjoy fellowship and accountability in the body of Christ.

We found that they see and believe much the same as we do. They understand where we are coming from. It was a great time. And, I felt much better, having taken the risk to speak the truth in love. God did give me the words in that hour!