Recent revelations about the behaviour of people working at the heart of Government and in leadership have caused a stir. We have been shocked, we say, by the parties in a certain famous street in London. Am I alone in being far more shocked by the way we have overlooked more serious issues?
Early on in the Covid days we were subjected to fearmongering, finger wagging and strict discipline from leaders, not only in the UK but all over the world. After that, would be ‘covid thought police’ have sprung up, and still their influence is felt by us all. For some, the message of fear has exacerbated long standing and hitherto managed problems with mental health and contributed to an increase in agoraphobia. In some countries, violent clashes have been sparked off.
There is no doubt that early on it was vital to keep one another safe from a disease for which there was no treatment, against which there was no effective vaccine and which made many people seriously or critically ill. However, was it right to be as officious towards one another as was the case?
Today’s reading is from the pen of one of God’s greatest human interpreters and most powerful orators. Saint Paul could be direct but he was also aware of one critical ingredient in the recipe for powerful preaching and effective teaching. The ingredient is the Spirit’s power, the way God uses people to speak clearly and effectively for him.
Saint Paul writes: ‘And so it was with me, brothers and sisters. When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. 2 For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 3 I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling. 4 My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, 5 so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power.’
(1 Corinthians 2:1-5 – NIV UK)
Messaging is very important but the content of the message is only part of the package; the style of delivery is significant too. Bluntness is effective and fear changes behaviour but is it right to cause harm at the same time?
A Prayer
Loving God, I often wonder how to be more effective in speaking and witnessing for you. My trouble is that I work so hard at doing my best that I close my mind to the strange influence of your subtle changes to how I say what I say. Calm my human thoughts and improve them with those that are Spirit fuelled, for Jesus’ sake. Amen.