Double-Think

When we use figures of speech we must understand the cultural context in which they are used to gain the meaning.  It is especially important in a passage like the above.  The sentence appears in the Sermon on the Mount, the detailed outline of the only lengthy sermon of Jesus.  Portions of the sermon are reported for other occasions in his communications, suggesting that he may have repeated portions of the sermon first given and reported here in three chapters from Matthew’s Gospel. The sentence is a paragraph sandwiched between two other sub-themes in Matthew’s report.  We remember that Jesus would talk to the people for hours at a time, breaking for a meal – or the setting of the Sun.  Further, the reputation of swine among the Jews was, with serpents, to lower regard in interpreting concepts.  Dogs were used as servants with ferocity to confront threats to interlopers, in caring for sheep, and in warning of danger. 

Even so, the parable of Jesus was not a put-down of the animals, or of persons who did not agree with the believing persons in front of him, but the forceful picture of how persons ought to conduct themselves in adapting in the contexts of their lives.  One would not toss valuable gems to these animals, as the animals would treat them as gravel to be walked over, not used as something of value, but shorn of any value.  The person would not treat the dog in such a way that the animal might even turn upon the owner and benefactor of the dog.  Jesus was accenting a way of thinking and arriving at mature judgment related to faith and communication.  We might teach the principle a bit differently by using the analogy of a parent and child.  The parent would use a different tone of voice, choice of words, and demeanor in talking to his or her small child than to an adult.  What is warming and constructive for the child would be taken as talking-down-to and diminishing to an adult.  We are guided, through simple wisdom, to adapt to this or that person or audience.  Jesus would serve persons by getting as close to their competencies and expectations as he could so as not to lose respect for truth.  He was sure about offering understandable relevance to listeners because of the listeners’ context – even if withheld messages relate to larger perceptions and truth.  

This matter becomes a prevailing concern for the person wishing to share the gospel – or any context the listener is unprepared or unwilling to consider.  The ways persons think about the course of life present innumerable situations that assist or resist us in our relationships including conversations, private or public.

An item appeared in our newspaper: Several theaters in Denmark reported . . . that they had begun adding subtitles to Danish language films because . . . the dialogue was incomprehensible . . . it is widely known that spoken Danish is harder to understand than the written, but Copenhagen’s website . . . reported that actors had rebelled at improving their diction, claiming that their ‘mumbling’ adds ‘realism’ to the films.

It is a major matter that we address not only within the limitations of our listeners, but the quality of skill from which messages are sent.  As once the student did not graduate from college without writing and speaking skills reviewed and evaluated by faculty in any field, we are now experiencing graduates with excellent knowledge of their chosen fields, who may fail their objectives because they have not gained communication skills, which also cultivate personality and competency for purpose – their own and that of others.  We now hear interviews with college graduates that make us wonder if they have really attended an educational institution.  Many are coached on the matter of how to communicate themselves for the hoped-for appointment to a lucrative job.  Gaining it they fall back to feel that only personal interests and casual culture counts – to be cool.  To interact with each other on a mutual level is vital for us to share life, convictions, meaning, especially to the issues of faith.  That faith includes themes so exotic to many persons that the communication must be excellent for understanding, consideration, and action.  At the time of this writing younger generations may miss skills for truth.  A personal question we need to always ask ourselves: Am I careful to search for knowledge and understanding to wisdom?