The Spoken Word

[Grace-Like-Rain]

Our sermon today (which was excellent) touched a bit on the power of the spoken word in the Hebrew mind. Patriarchal blessings, once spoken, could not be undone. Creation was taught to have been spoken into existence. Jesus was described as The Word. Words meant something important and sacred to these people.

It makes me think a lot about our present culture - a culture of "get it in writing" where words mean so little - and wonder what it would look like if we took our words and promises seriously. What do you think? Have we lost something precious here, or is it still present in another form?

 

[1still_waters]

It's easy to close your eyes, harder to close your ears.

 

[Grace-Like-Rain]

I wonder if seeing more makes us listen less.

 

[Lynx]

In a way, it does. Our news media are very effective these days in bringing us bad news. The more we see of what people can do, the less we trust anyone, even people we have known all our lives.

 

[Jullianna]

For we live by faith, not by sight. 2 Cor 5:7 ------------> Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ. Romans 10:7

Romans 10: 9If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.


Rev 2:7 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.

Proverbs 10:
[SUP]6 [/SUP]The lips of fools bring them strife,
and their mouths invite a beating.

[SUP]7 [/SUP]The mouths of fools are their undoing,
and their lips are a snare to their very lives.

[SUP]8 [/SUP]The words of a gossip are like choice morsels;
they go down to the inmost parts.


[SUP]13 [/SUP]To answer before listening—


that is folly and shame.


[SUP]20 [/SUP]From the fruit of their mouth a person’s stomach is filled;
with the harvest of their lips they are satisfied.

[SUP]21[/SUP]The tongue has the power of life and death,
and those who love it will eat its fruit.



Powerful indeed

 

[Descyple]

This is one reason why I love to "hear" the Bible being read out loud. I spend most of my study time reading through the Bible, but I also from time to time will sit quietly and just listen to the Bible being read by professional narrator Max McLean. He has done three complete narrations of the Bible (the NIV, KJV, ESV). It really adds an extra meaningful touch to the Bible to take it in "by hearing".

I will post a video below of Max McLean reading the Book of Joel.


[video=youtube_share;BrUOd9I3fFM]http://youtu.be/BrUOd9I3fFM[/video]

 

[Grace-Like-Rain]

This is one reason why I love to "hear" the Bible being read out loud. I spend most of my study time reading through the Bible, but I also from time to time will sit quietly and just listen to the Bible being read by professional narrator Max McLean. He has done three complete narrations of the Bible (the NIV, KJV, ESV). It really adds an extra meaningful touch to the Bible to take it in "by hearing".

I will post a video below of Max McLean reading the Book of Joel.


[video=youtube_share;BrUOd9I3fFM]http://youtu.be/BrUOd9I3fFM[/video]

I've been looking for a good audio Bible. This one sounds perfect. Thanks Descyple.

 

[Theygaveutheirworst]

How can the lost think that God can keep His promises, if His children can't show the world by keeping their promises?lol It's both exciting and sad to know that someone can come to know God through actions, or choose not to believe there's a God because of our inactions.

 

[Oncefallen]

It makes me think a lot about our present culture - a culture of "get it in writing" where words mean so little - and wonder what it would look like if we took our words and promises seriously. What do you think? Have we lost something precious here, or is it still present in another form?

I really think that for most of society the days of a man's word being his bond are long gone. It wasn't too long ago in history that large percentages of business were transacted with a promise and a handshake. Today people go out and hire attorneys to try and find loopholes in contracts that they've signed so they can get out of them. Something very precious has been lost when a society's ethics and morals have slipped to the point where a person's word is meaningless and their signature is worthless.

 

[Raine]

I think people say that but they really don't mean it. Words have power. You can tear down or build up people with your words. Words can inspire or discourage. Words can leave scars and hurt so much that you feel physical pain.

I really admire people who are true to their word. For me, it reflects where their heart really is... I really dislike it when people toss words around like trash. If you tell me you are my friend and you mean it, then you better mean it. If you tell me you love me, don't say it if you don't mean it. If you make me a promise, my level of respect for you will be based upon that promise.

Now, throwing some sense into that... I understand situations change and people forget and etc... So I say all of these things but I say it all within reason. And then of course, we are humans and all make mistakes and need forgiveness from time to time... I think people just need to think more before they say something.

Now I'm starting to go off on a tangent here...

 

[BananaPie]

Well, the meaning of words are only meaningful to the extent a culture values such meaning. For example, in my lifetime, there was a time when "Good Friday" was a day which was actually respected in California. I remember the City of San Francisco would shut down in respect of the Lord's Crucifixion; that's where "Spring Break" came from.

Similarly, the word "Christian" actually meant a person of high "moral conduct" who was trustworthy. But what is "moral conduct" nowadays? What is the meaning of "education," "land of the free," "justice," "hate crime," etc.?

Do you see how these concept are meaningless in today's culture because societies have shifted to a secular-atheist-egotistic mentality. People are absorbed with imaginary friends on FB. ...huh? "Friends?"

Okay, I'm out.

 

[Roh_Chris]

I think we have lost something precious. The first reason is what everybody has pointed out. The days have become evil and we can not trust people to honour their words. Verbal agreements are not admissible in court unless it can be reproduced in recording (audio/video). Also, 'corporate culture' now requires all approvals and decisions to be documented. Even the proceedings of meetings are documented by the junior-most member present in the meeting and then circulated to all the concerned people.

Secondly, people tend to forget things that they have said. And it is not possible to always have 2 or 3 witnesses when verbal agreements are made. Documenting things in writing is not only safe but it will also remind both the parties of what had been agreed upon.

I don't think we can do anything about it. Personally, I document every agreement that I make with somebody. Even if it is a believer, I prefer to document. I've been burnt too many times for me to trust verbal commitments anymore.

 

[Roh_Chris]

I've been looking for a good audio Bible. This one sounds perfect. Thanks Descyple.

Grace, check out the audio Bible narrated by Alexander Scourby.

 

[arwen-undomiel]

This is one reason why I love to "hear" the Bible being read out loud. I spend most of my study time reading through the Bible, but I also from time to time will sit quietly and just listen to the Bible being read by professional narrator Max McLean. He has done three complete narrations of the Bible (the NIV, KJV, ESV). It really adds an extra meaningful touch to the Bible to take it in "by hearing".

I will post a video below of Max McLean reading the Book of Joel.


[video=youtube_share;BrUOd9I3fFM]http://youtu.be/BrUOd9I3fFM[/video]

Oh his voice is too soothing, I would definitely pass out listening to that.

_______________________________

My mind has to be active when listening, like in a theology or biblical studies class, I am learning, thinking and analyzing, relating it to my present knowledge, as well as listening. I am more engaged.

 

[kenthomas27]

I think this is quite true! What's even worse is your "friends" becomes something faceless or symbolic. I mean, you're a banana, Bananapie. A banana. I'm having conversations with a piece of banana pie. This is what's in my head....



Not sure that's all that healthy and I'm feeling pretty sure you've got a dentist and are better looking than that. You want to know the truth, I think I'm living off pure perception. I really do. I mean, I can divide it all out - reality is very apparent when the bills are due, but when I take a step back, I realize my social life is filled with what's akin to imaginary friends! Honestly! I truly know more internet people than walking around face to face one's. Work people are all very nice and I get along well with them, but beyond that - I've grown fairly alienated!

That's really pretty sad! I'm going to have to think about that. This really can't be that healthy. On the other hand, I'm a duck to you people, so really - don't throw stones.

 

[kenthomas27]

And another thing - I don't mean to derail, but ...it's kinda my niche. I know this family who are Baptist and belong to this mega church kind of thing. It's a huge church and absolutely nothing wrong with that whatsoever. Their 14 year old daughter had some kind of big church event that she attended with her boyfriend and there were some pictures shared. I'm not going to share the pictures here, but it was a picture of a 14 year old girl (whom I think of more like 8 or 9 year old) in this $450.00 dress (yes, her parents announced how much) that was one of the most provocative dresses I've seen. She wore heavy make up, this very short dress with lots of see through material, very high heels and her hair was all done up with ....they were like sparklers or something in it. Hard to explain except that it added even more to an already enticing and suggestive look. She was 14 going on 22 and she was behind her boyfriend in this picture, pressed up against him. His look was....almost comical. His first 4 or 5 mother of pearl buttons on his shirt were undone and jeans with sequins making sure his belt buckle was somehow noticeable (it was the size of inner tube) with this justin beiber -facing south in a southerly cyclone- hair do. Oh - and the boys name was - Colt. Do you believe that? Colt.

Now I'm not saying this megachurch had anything to do with this, but I AM saying there had to be a lot of social pressure that encouraged these... children really - to dress the way they do and to pretend to be who they think they are. This Hollywood kind of Taylor Swift ...thing that pushes them into this lifestyle that was clearly emboldened by their parents. I KNOW this little girl didn't save her money from bake sales and the kiss carnival so she could buy a $450 dress.

There's some language for you that spoke loud and clear to me in paragraphs.

 

[Ho11y]

And another thing - I don't mean to derail, but ...it's kinda my niche. I know this family who are Baptist and belong to this mega church kind of thing. It's a huge church and absolutely nothing wrong with that whatsoever. Their 14 year old daughter had some kind of big church event that she attended with her boyfriend and there were some pictures shared. I'm not going to share the pictures here, but it was a picture of a 14 year old girl (whom I think of more like 8 or 9 year old) in this $450.00 dress (yes, her parents announced how much) that was one of the most provocative dresses I've seen. She wore heavy make up, this very short dress with lots of see through material, very high heels and her hair was all done up with ....they were like sparklers or something in it. Hard to explain except that it added even more to an already enticing and suggestive look. She was 14 going on 22 and she was behind her boyfriend in this picture, pressed up against him. His look was....almost comical. His first 4 or 5 mother of pearl buttons on his shirt were undone and jeans with sequins making sure his belt buckle was somehow noticeable (it was the size of inner tube) with this justin beiber -facing south in a southerly cyclone- hair do. Oh - and the boys name was - Colt. Do you believe that? Colt.

Now I'm not saying this megachurch had anything to do with this, but I AM saying there had to be a lot of social pressure that encouraged these... children really - to dress the way they do and to pretend to be who they think they are. This Hollywood kind of Taylor Swift ...thing that pushes them into this lifestyle that was clearly emboldened by their parents. I KNOW this little girl didn't save her money from bake sales and the kiss carnival so she could buy a $450 dress.

There's some language for you that spoke loud and clear to me in paragraphs.

When i see young girls who dress like that.. it truly makes me so sad.

 

[Grace-Like-Rain]

I really think that for most of society the days of a man's word being his bond are long gone. It wasn't too long ago in history that large percentages of business were transacted with a promise and a handshake. Today people go out and hire attorneys to try and find loopholes in contracts that they've signed so they can get out of them. Something very precious has been lost when a society's ethics and morals have slipped to the point where a person's word is meaningless and their signature is worthless.

This is so true. Although, on the flip side, apparently there was some deceit and loophole exploiting going on even in Biblical times. (Jacob stealing Esau's blessing is one example.) I suppose mankind's nature never really changes, even though our methods do.

 

[Jullianna]

This is so true. Although, on the flip side, apparently there was some deceit and loophole exploiting going on even in Biblical times. (Jacob stealing Esau's blessing is one example.) I suppose mankind's nature never really changes, even though our methods do.

What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun. Ecc 1:9

We simply learn new ways to do the same ole wrong things.

 

[Roh_Chris]

This is so true. Although, on the flip side, apparently there was some deceit and loophole exploiting going on even in Biblical times. (Jacob stealing Esau's blessing is one example.) I suppose mankind's nature never really changes, even though our methods do.

I have a story to share. I am working on a project that requires the involvement of some consultants. Since we would have to pay them some fees for their services, I decided to draft a simple contract which would serve as a formal agreement between them and my company. The initial contract was simple and it was 9 pages long. Then I sent it to a Law Firm for vetting. Voila! It turned into a 13 page document filled with all bizarre clauses. Figure this. There was a specific clause to say that even though the contract was drafted assuming the Consultant to be a male, the same contract applied to a female Consultant too. How insecure have we become that we need to insert a clause like that for fear that it would be exploited by somebody?