ME, A MORON?

„Don't allow love to turn into lust, setting off a downhill slide into sexual promiscuity, filthy practices, or bullying greed. Though some tongues just love the taste of gossip, those who follow Jesus have better uses for language than that. Don't talk dirty or silly. That kind of talk doesn't fit our style. Thanksgiving is our dialect” .

(Ephesians 5,3-4 / The Message Bible)

Addicted to talking, we tend to be careless of what we actually communicate. Talk-shows on the left and on the right, garrulous politicians popping up on our TV screens scoring points with voters of their ilk, ministers blabbing on the pulpits, while phones ring and beep and buzz with the latest gossips ready to be released in voice or in text messages to the same audiences – our society is addicted to talking.

We are called to live in a way that reflects Jesus Christ, teaches the apostle in Ephesians 4-5. Jesus was a Rabbi, a teacher par excellence. In the Gospels we see Him talking with all kinds of people. He loved to do that. I imagine Him as one who would really enjoy a good conversation about the interests of men and women of today. As the title of Dr. Peterson’s excellent Bible-translation suggests, He has a Message for us, contained in the Holy Scriptures. In these verses He talks to us about talking itself.

Since you, my readers, avoid dirty subjects, let me share with you what the Bible means by silly talk. The phrase literally means “moron words”. It describes a person with a very poor vocabulary. We bring to surface words and present our “messages” from the pool of our experiences. Being one with Christ, we had been baptized (immersed) into the world where He operates. Since I am a preacher, I have a natural inclination to talk about the Bible, and history, and theology, Bible, history, and theology, and that’s it. If that is all, what I do, than I am a moron.

The world outside of my interest and calling belongs to God also, who sends out His Spirit to renew, and re-work everything marred by sin. Before opening my big mouth, I should open my eyes to His marvelous works everywhere and in everything. Only while immersed in the wonders of God’s world do we have meaningful things to say. Looking for and acknowledging His presence we become worshippers, and so learn a new dialect: the dialect of thanksgiving.

Lord Jesus, break my barriers so that I will see more of you. Forgive me for being dull in my conversations. May I taste the joys of worshipping you, so that my tongue will detect anything stupid before letting it out. Amen.