Go Tell It On The Mountain

Have you ever contemplated how you were made not only to want to, but to be able to communicate? Even without verbal skills, babies, the deaf, stroke or accident victims all find ways to ensure others understand them. In fact, some studies say that only 7% of our communication is verbal with 93% non verbal.

If you are on Facebook, it will not take long for you to be amazed at the variety of fan pages that form and are followed.

 Fan pages, such as—

• Coughing when you walk by smokers and hope they get the message
• I like watching raindrops race across my window and silently cheer for them
• Having a 100% sarcastic conversation with someone who thinks you're serious
• Kicking Snow/Sludge off cars

And this does not cover groups, atheletes, actors, musicians, companies, and countries that create their own followings. Not only can you join one of these pages, you can also show that you "like" when a friend has joined a group or page.

What is it that makes us want others to know what we like, from the quirky to the fanatic? Even with the most shy, introverted person, there is someone that he or she would like to have know what is exciting or of interest.

Communication is one of our easiest snares. It leads to gossip, slander, bursts of anger. Yet, it can be the most powerful way to encourage the struggling, nudge a child towards godly character, warn against danger. It has equally strong potential in good as in bad.

My father said it this way: "The real power to build up or destroy lies caged behind our teeth."

The Bible warns—

The tongue is that kind of flame. It is a world of evil among the parts of our bodies, and it completely contaminates our bodies. The tongue sets our lives on fire, and is itself set on fire from hell. (James 3:6)

and exhorts us to be cautious with our power—

And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. (1 Thessalonians 5:14)

Interestingly, the last words of Jesus on earth instructed the disciples to communicate—

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations....Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you...(Matthew 28:19-20a)

We reveal what we worship by what we talk about and by the attitude in which we pursue it. If we truly love Jesus, it is going to come out of our mouths (directly and indirectly), our actions, and our attitudes.

As I tell actors, do not worry as much about how you say a line. The most important thing is how you relate to it. If the situation and dialogue is real for you, the audience will feel and picture it too. You can say it as flowery as you want, but if it is superficial to you, it will be felt superficially.

So too, it is our focus on Jesus, not just at Christmas and Easter but every day, that will cause those around us to hear the message (verbally or non verbally).

"We guard our tongue in company by guarding our thoughts in solitude." ~Dr. Tim Trumper

What you feed your mind and heart on is what will come out in words and in life. Make sure what your life shouts from your place of influence is something the whole world should hear.