Scripture appears to have recorded three occasions when Jesus wept. He wept at the tomb of Lazarus for a person deceased and the mourners in attendance; for the city of Jerusalem, something of a limited town by modern standards of perception; and, for the world in the Garden of Gethsemane in prayer, at a time period when the world was opening up for larger occupation by mankind. The experiences suggest to us Christ’s abiding interest in the individual, in communities and in the encompassing world. We must remember that Christianity is a world religion – for all peoples. Those of the church who do not absorb that belief in God’s world, do not understand Christianity fully enough. Their prayers are too limited. Their burdens are too light. I do not want to belong to a church that does not have a world vision, a church that is bereft of the application of Jesus’ last command, given after the resurrection that Christians should go into: all the world with the gospel, making disciples in all nations. (Note the closing verses of Matthew 28.) Until that mission is accomplished by Christians the immediate experience of the kingdom of God is withheld.
A goal of democratic societies is to practice and preach concepts of freedom and gifts of freedom for persons (self-authority respectful of law and grace). Earthly freedom is practically expressed in the belief that the governed should have a right to participate meaningfully in government. Israel understood the concept long ago. Even King David could not become king without invitation from the people. When he failed them he was confronted in audience of the people and had to make amends through forgiveness from God and the people. In America, citizen participation has been determined as turning on massive elections, with representative government. Anything else, like community mass meetings, would be impractical. Some problems are both created and forestalled by the British interpretation that turns on the control of parliament. In either instance, the education and understanding of the electorate becomes vital to effectiveness, objectivity and progression. Like any human effort, there are enemies lurking to scuttle the ship of state. These appear in politics, in party preferences, and in other influences including crimes like ballot box stuffing, but none greater than in the juggling of language and meaning – words, words, words. Words and tears do not provide the solutions or failures. Persons do that. Right words (necessary) need right consideration and actions (necessary) to solutions. Without the support of a sufficient number of persons, the solutions will not be made effective. One repair of the messy and clumsy ways in which we research, find and follow solutions, in government or as individuals, is to provide some repair for our uses of language. Preoccupation with electronics and sorrows to tears will not substitute.
History impresses us with language influence. Our revered personages were usually characterized by excellence in the use of language. Some of our gifted personages did not rise to prominence because they were not perceptive of speech or writing. For example, we are impressed, by the enormous influence of three conflicting colleagues in government, who, in 1850, had the ears of American citizens. Clay, Webster and Calhoun were excellent in expressing their views. Even when he was dying, and had a near constant cough from advancing tuberculosis, Henry Clay was so dominating in debate that persons traveled, in difficult days for travel, from Boston and elsewhere to Washington to hear him speak. A man with whom Clay fought a duel years earlier insisted on being helped to the senate gallery in his last days to hear Clay speak. They embraced after the event. For two days the aged Clay held forth in the opening of the Great Compromise speaking for no less than five hours or more on each of two days to an enthralled audience. Following history’s lessons one does well to master word and body language used effectively for daily life comfort, and eternal ministry. Jesus and Paul proved it long ago, in preaching and prayer language. A way to some solutions in our personal and public lives is to learn the value of language, and use it for the good, not just for ourselves but for others. Excellence in vocabulary makes a speaker entertaining even when entertainment is not a purpose for the occasion. We must communicate with those who are important to our lives, and the community or group. One wonders what might be accomplished if better thought were given to argument and better skill to communication – if persons might listen and act for human progress. Current immature patterns will not achieve the progress we desire. *Mark W. Lee, Sr. — 2016, 2020