Speak from the Heart
When we as Christians speak to others personally about our faith, 2 Corinthians 4:13-18 encourages us to speak because we believe, to speak what we believe and most importantly to Speak from the Heart. May 4, 2008.
You receive a card in an envelope. For your birthday. For graduation. From the consultant you just hired. For a speaking engagement or as thanks for helping a friend move into a new apartment. You curiously open the envelope and slide the card out, glancing at the front cover, which says something nice like, “Congratulations, graduate!” or “Friends are like rainbows,” or “A Mother’s Day Prayer.” Then you open up the card and you see two different types of writing on the inside, one is pre-printed on the card and the other writing is scribbled by a friend or uncle or your boss or your 4-year-old granddaughter. Which do you tend to read first? Okay, maybe you’re on overly organized, orderly type of person and you’re attracted by the handwriting but you just have to read from the top to the bottom so you start with the pre-printed words and finish with the personal note. Even then, which writing is more meaningful? Even though a paid professional created the pre-printed message, and even though the font on the pre-printed message is symmetrically balanced and the letters are curved and spaced to perfection – the personal note is more meaningful. Some of you may actually have personal notes of encouragement, love or thanks from years ago filed in some place special because they’re still meaningful today. In one-on-one communication personal notes are more appreciated than professional poetry because they’re spoken from the heart.
Imagine this parallel scenario. Your friend is curious about God. You’ve talked religion together a little bit but not much, still she knows you’re a Christian. She e-mails you and asks how you can believe in a God who allows so many bad things to happen. Do you … A) forward her question to your pastor who, as the religious professional, can expertly craft a detailed response loaded with doctrine, or B) give it your best shot and tell her what you think, maybe including a time when you wondered the same thing? In one-on-one communication about faith personal witnessing is more meaningful than professional dissertation because it’s spoken from the heart.
Today’s portion of God’s Word from 2 Corinthians takes us into the section of the Bible that refers to Christians as “jars of clay.” Clay pots. That label implies that there’s nothing flashy about our communication of our faith We aren’t experts. We haven’t won any awards for Christian broadcasting. We haven’t been asked to appear on Oprah for an interview. We don’t preach like Paul. But we still get the job done – because of what’s in here. In the heart. Now, don’t get me wrong. There are times when a polished, professional Christian message is entirely appropriate, even necessary. The Sunday sermon is a good example. It should be crafted and delivered by an expert. It’s not a time for collaboration or debate sharing life experiences with each other but a time to hear the objective truths of God’s Word proclaimed authoritatively. However, when we speak to others personally about our faith, it’s more important to be personal than polished or professional. The ascension of Jesus and this section of Scripture cheer us on to Speak from the Heart.
Speak because you believe
Back in Jesus’ day ancient religions like Roman paganism believed that the activities of the gods in heaven above directly impacted the earth below. If thunderbolts were shooting out of the sky, Zeus must be angry. “As above, so below,” stated their creed. The ascension of Jesus inverts that for believers. So you speak about your faith to others because you believe this to be true, “As below, so above.” Anyone who listens to you is listening to Jesus. When you show love to your friends or your enemies you are showing them God. When Christian parenting succeeds Satan falls like lightning. When you pray for a friend to be closer to Jesus, heaven opens. When sinners repent angels rejoice. Through your Christian believing and living and speaking the raised ascension hands of Jesus are stretched out now wider than ever before. This is “the grace that is reaching more and more people … to the glory of God.”
However, that’s not exactly what Jesus’ disciples were thinking when he ascended and they just stood there “looking intently up into the sky” (Acts 1:10) as if they could wish him back to earth. The disciples were lost in their own little world of looking to see where Jesus had gone and wanting him back. Not wanting to face their fears. Not wanting to be witnesses. What keeps you from witnessing? Mesmerized like the disciples we’re paralyzed from doing God’s work when we let our fears control us. That’s why the angels showed up and focused the disciples on faith instead of fear – believing in the actions and promises of Jesus. When you Speak from the Heart you speak because you believe in what Jesus has done and will do. The Bible says “With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak, because we know …”
Speak because you believe that Jesus’ ascension doesn’t take him far away but brings him invisibly closer to us wherever we are. He left us visibly on the Mount of Olives that he might be with us invisibly in Milwaukee or Wauwatosa or Appleton or Florida. In our decisions, our fears, our job, our loneliness, our relationships, our witnessing. Jesus is here. Even our sins can’t scare him away. When the Grace Place coffee lounge first opened over 50 people volunteered to work behind the counter. When they learned that they’d need to be trained as baristas and should be able to serve a perfectly brewed espresso or latte or chai like Starbucks many of them backed away. Coffee lounge leaders came up with the idea that the new volunteers could shadow a barista for a day and that would begin their training. Most of them now work as fully trained baristas, because their initial fear was removed by the presence of an expert. Jesus is your expert and more – he’s your Savior and Lord. His death defeated your sins. His resurrection destroyed death for all believers. By his ascension he grabs the controls of a world apparently out of control and takes charge as God’s right hand man. People who intimidate or scare you may have power over you but they do not have power over Jesus. The risks of witnessing that seem so enormous they make you afraid might be bigger than you but they’re not bigger than Jesus. When he ascended Jesus visibly left this earth and replaced himself with millions of believers to be his witnesses. Like a dandelion propagates by spreading out its many seeds, Jesus plants the seeds of his love in others by sending us out. If you believe that then you’re in good shape to Speak from the Heart. But what do you say?
Speak what you believe
Speak what you believe. It’s that simple. Witnessing to others is not the same as designing a polished Powerpoint presentation you need to research like an expert and then piece together with high quality graphics you find online. You have all the material you need right here. In the heart. Here at Grace we instruct 7th and 8th graders in the teachings of God’s Word to prepare them for a maturing faith that includes receiving the Lord’s Supper. We realize that this instruction can fill up the head, easily ignoring the heart. So we designed our youth confirmation instruction to be less professional and more personal, led primarily by parents who are coached by the pastors. When we examine these confirmands at the conclusion of the instruction we encourage them not to cram the night before like studying for a big test, ready to regurgitate professionally printed answers, but to share what they’ve learned in their own words. From the heart. This year Matthew was the only 8th-grader examined at Grace. When he was asked how his faith is different after two years of confirmation instruction, here’s what he said: “My faith is different today because I have a better understanding and knowledge of the Bible. I know that I am ready to face the world and its temptations, but I will not face them alone. I have God on my side to protect me and to lead me away from harm. He knows the right path for me, and will help me to stay on the path forever.” The professional words for that statement are printed here in 2 Corinthians, “We do not lose heart … we are being renewed day by day.” In his own words, Matthew demonstrates he believes that, and is ready to Speak from the Heart in his Christian witness. You are too.
You believe that “our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” So you encourage a friend who is down in the dumps with the assurance that Jesus won’t let his troubles get out of control and will actually use the troubles to keep him on the path to heaven. Say it however you want. Your friend will appreciate it because you Speak from the Heart. You believe that “what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” So you include a little note at the end of your e-mail that says something like, “there’s more to life than today,” or “have you ever wondered if someone is working behind the scenes?” or even just, “praying for God to work this out for you.” Say it however you want. Your friend will appreciate it because you Speak from the Heart.
According to the Greeting Card Association website the average American receives at least 20 greeting cards per year. The website then states, “Although e-mail, text messaging, and phone calls are valued by Americans for helping them communicate with family and friends, the majority of Americans say they prefer the old-fashioned hand written card or letter to make someone feel truly special” (http://www.greetingcard.org/). Speak from the Heart. Speak because you believe. Speak what you believe. Say it in your own words in your own style. And you can help someone feel truly special to God. Amen.
Preached at Grace Lutheran Church, Milwaukee, WI (http://www.gracedowntown.org/) on May 4, 2008
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