15 November 2007
Just want to “clarify” a few things
Have you ever heard this one?
This little phrase is sort of like the Christian catch all for every conceivable sin of the tongue. I mean, lets think about this one for a moment…
Example One: A lot of times when someone is jealous of someone else and they are “caught” red handed in their sin (yes, jealousy is a sin), they will take the immediate opportunity to, “Clarify” a few things about what the “misinformed” person is categorizing as jealousy. The “Clarification” often goes something like this…
“Who me, jealous? No, I’m not jealous, I’m just ‘concerned.’ I’m ‘concerned’ that this (‘this’ meaning, again, whatever they’re jealous of) might be happening for the wrong reasons (insert here, ‘any reason other than our own’). The jealous (oops, I mean, “concerned”) party then uses the listing of concerns as a chance to spread rumors and even slander about the person they are jealous, oops, I mean, ‘concerned’ about.
Example Two: Or maybe you had high hopes that things at work, with friends, in the neighborhood, at church, etc. would go differently (read here, “your way”) then they have actually gone and so you decide to leave.
BUT…
You’re worried that people might take your leaving the “wrong way” (read here, that your divisiveness was wearing thin and you had to seek out greener pastures more open to your agenda, oops, I meant, “God’s will.”) so you attempt to “clarify.”
Example Three: “That’s not what I meant by that! Let me clarify!” <– Truth? The first thing you said is exactly what you meant. It’s what comes next that ends up being the lie, but you’ve been found out, so now you need to “clarify.”
It’s funny, Jesus never seemed that interested in “clarifying” things in order to “set the record straight.” In fact, He left the record crooked, with holes in it, or a complete mystery His entire earthly ministry. And that same record’s been attacked, bent, twisted, distorted, rewritten, misinterpreted and manipulated ever since. Yet even still…
He never defended.
Seldom explained.
And NEVER EVER practiced spin control.
Perhaps the most striking example of this can be found in the final hours of His life on this earth when Pilate stood before Him and asked Jesus to, essentially, defend Himself against the many accusations that were being leveled against Him. Pilate was giving Jesus one last chance to “clarify” His position. But Jesus refused to defend Himself. Jesus wasn’t into “clarification control.” And people aren’t used to that. It frustrated Pilate to no end. Read the following:
4So again Pilate asked him, “Aren’t you going to answer? See how many things they are accusing you of.” Mark 15:4
But Jesus said nothing.
He was living His life for an audience of one.
His heavenly Father.
And God the Father knew exactly what was going down.
So did Jesus.
Are we clear?
Good.
7 Comments currently posted.
Edrei says:
Kati says:
This made me think of a Dr. Suess book… Becuase there is one line that over and over again, “I said what i meant and i meant what what i said…”
mommajoy3 says:
Whew! Pastor, thanks for keeping it real, telling the truth and reminding us whose example we are suppose to be following.
Amanda says:
Amen Rob
Matt Langley says:
Linda Richmond and I Would Say, “It’s Like Butta”
Great post Rob. To see why I say “it’s like butta” check out http://famulusdeus.blogspot.com/ to find out more.
Kate says:
Our small group was just finishing up our study in James, and talked about James 5:12b “Just a simple yes or no, so that you will not sin and be condemned for it.”
Why is it so hard to just say what we mean? Well, it’s not, I mean, let me clarify- just kidding.
We were also saying how we don’t tend to believe other people. Example- when someone offers something, we usually ask, “are you sure?” “really?”- why can’t/don’t we just say thank you?! And of course, all this is true with our relationships with God. He offers what he means to offer (Grace, forgiveness, life!). And I am so thankful that He doesn’t ‘clarify’ His promises to me!
Rob says:
To Lunaticfringe,
I did not post your (essentially anonymous) comment for obvious reasons but did want to respond one final time to you with the following,
Dear lunaticfringe@yahoo.com,
I’m sorry your intuition has lead you to such an inaccurate conclusion. I’m also reluctant to take seriously those who post anonymously. I had absolutely no one in mind when I wrote this series. That is simply how I feel about those two words (contemporary and relevance) being used as though they are the same. They are not. As far as the “clarify” deal, my exec. pastor was talking about how people use “clarification” as a means to gossip and I thought what he said was very insightful. The next day I wrote my thoughts on what he said. Nothing more, nothing less. And now, as Paul Harvey would say, “you know the rest of the story.”
Looking back on some of your comments, however, I do see a lot of “theorizing” (mostly inaccurate) and a tendency to fill in the blanks in areas you have not checked out. It’s an unhealthy and dangerous tendency and I would encourage you to know before you go (as an old time Baptist friend used to say).
If you would like to talk, you are welcome to e-mail me back.
In Him,
Rob Singleton
Awesome blog Pastor. Just commenting back. Hehe… Yeah, I wonder why is it such a human nature to always defend oneself? Why is it so important that we “appear” right to everyone. Such nature broken by Christ… thanks for the reminder.