Living in the Spirit

October 7, 2022

Scripture Reading: 2 Timothy 2:8-15

Remind them of this, and warn them before God that they are to avoid wrangling over words, which does no good but only ruins those who are listening. Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved by him, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly explaining the word of truth. –2 Timothy 2:14-15

I have spent much of my life as a policy analyst “wrangling over words.” I remember once discussing with a federal partner a plan for a program we were implementing. The federal rule stated that the state could do this activity or that activity. We submitted our plan to do both. The federal person notified us that we had to pick one. I counter that if that was the case they needed to have said states could do either this activity or that activity and referred her to the unabridged dictionary for the meaning of the word “or.” Truth be told we were already doing both activities and wanted to get as many federal dollars for the program as we could. I failed except they did add the word “either” in the regulation. This was a good-natured discourse, but all are not.

How do we avoid wrangling that is divisive? I think the most important thing we must do when communicating with others is to practice the art of not only listening but also hearing what the other is saying. We must try to determine the cause of the difference of opinion. That is particularly important regarding discussions among people with different worldviews. Getting to know someone outside the parameters of the subject being discussed is very helpful. Opening ourselves to others so they can see us as a person rather than an enemy helps.

The idea this scripture suggests is that God is a third presence in any dialogue we might have. We should recognize God as a source of better understanding of another person, and we should never say anything to anyone without realizing we are saying it also to God.  

Prayer: Lord, guide us in our communications with others as we strive to develop the beloved community. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.