An Uncommon Dialogue

    Could "speaking in tongues" as outlined in the Book of Acts be the incarnation of language and thought? Since all forms and modes of human communication are inadequate, is it possible that when The Holy Spirit was poured out on the Day of Pentecost that the new gift of language was a call to believers to a more perfect mode of communication? Was it a call to have a higher regard for language and communicating the Gospel? If so, then why do so many "Evangelicals" object to the practice of speaking in tongues- there are lots of world languages that are spoken and not understood. My dear Kenyan Friend, Mannaseh Mankuleiyo has said, "I have travelled the world over and am almost convinced that whatever is spoken may mean something to someone some where. "La la la la" is no no no no in swahili, "baba" of course means father, "haha haha" means here - in kikuyu "hoho" is a vegetable in mijikenda so what is language and what is not I ask?"  My personal view of those who define incarnational lanuage as "glossolalia" have used this dismissive term to limit the creativity of language.  Incarnational Language is a personal, intimate, and uncommon dialogue with God.  (See I Cor. 14:2)
     So if a person speaks "french" in Canada - should the English population insist on the "french" refraining it's public use because they don't understand it or they should be required to translate everything for them just because they don't understand what is being said? What if the French don't understand English - shouldn't they be required the same? Speaking in Tongues is a God-given gift for all believers. (See I Cor. 13) Shouldn't every believer have access to all forms of communication and "language?". Why do "evangelicals" forbid speaking in tongues, when the Bible says, ‘Forbid not to speak in tongues’ (1 Cor. 14:39)?” Maybe it's because most "evangelicals" are colonial in nature and have their own demand for Evangelical political correctness...  "Political correctness is loosely defined as “avoidance of expressions or actions that can be perceived to exclude or marginalize or insult people who are socially disadvantaged or discriminated against.”  Maybe that's why the people who gathered around the disciples as they spoke in languages they were unfamiliar with were amazed. They heard them speaking in ways that were inclusive of them. Incarnational language is always inclusive.  I often wonder if those who oppose incarnational expressions as outlined in the book of Acts have forgotten the age old question, "Have you received the Holy Spirit since  you believed?" (see Acts 19).  If not, then there should be evidence in your use and creativity of language.  There ought to be evidence in our everyday experiences with the Holy Spirit's incarnation in our lives - Speaking in new and fresh ways as the spirit gives utterance to us.
     "Language," is an outstanding rant on the absurdity of being a pedant about the English language, that most glorious, reeling drunken bastard of a tongue that has neither academy nor dictator to rule on "correctness" and so has blossomed into a million variegated subforms in every corner of the globe. When people insist on "correctness" in language, we should be urged to speak in ways that entertain and please us, rather than adhering to some rigid, notional code. Imagine  the limitations and restrictions "political correctness would make on the works of Shakespeare, Maya Angelou poems, or Helen Steiner Rice inspirational thoughts.  

     In fact, author John Hicks, has stated, " incarnational language expresses the hope that there will be a growing awareness of the mythological character of this language as the hyperbole of the heart, most naturally at home in hymns and anthems and oratorios and other artistic expressions of the poetry of devotion. Christianity will  -- we may hope -- outgrow its theological fundamentalism, its literal interpretation of the idea of incarnation, as it has largely outgrown its biblical fundamentalism." Use and meaning of words change all the time.  Prayer can be inhibited by limited vocabulary.  Language should be viewed like works of art.  Great artistic works are designed with great expression and wonder. So too should we master our use of language when communicating the wonders of our creator.  The Day of Pentecost was a great day of expression.  The Apostle Paul said he spoke in languages of men and angels.  In other words, his expressions in prayer and devotion to God were not limited to his known knowledge of the Greek or Hebrew languages.  Speaking in an unfamiliar incarnational language celebrates change, evolution, playfulness and the democratizing of the tongue. Every word of this is well-spoken, well-thought-out and absolutely liberating. What a treat!
     Praying in the spirit should be like an artist expressing themselves on canvas.  I have often found that when my english language limits my deepest feelings and communication in prayer, I need to have an uncommon, unfamiliar dialogue with God.  God understands each language of the world but is not limited to the "words" that we speak. His language is in the air that we breathe. Praying in languages that we have not learned or understand should be as easy as breathing air.  It's songs should move us beyond the sounds of music known on earth and captivate our expression of worship. 

     In a time when political correctness seeks to limit the use of language and expression; we should seek to find new creative ways to communicate our faith.  The protestant reformation removed art from places of worship as much as political correctness seeks to limit incarnational language.  Those who claim to be "Baptized in The Holy Spirit" should find no limitations in their intimacy with God because of their ability to exercise their incarnational languages. In fact, if you don't speak in tongues what makes you think you can artistically express the other giftings found in I Cor. 12.  The real truth is anyone who does not speak in tongues is as limited in their communication with God as someone who tries to play music but never took a lesson.  Unskilled musicians limit worship just as limited uses of language in prayer inhibits a dialogue with God.  I'm glad I speak in "Tongues" so that I can enjoy uncommon dialogues with God.  If you are "Filled with The Spirit," you also have the ability to have an incarnational conversation with God in ways, thoughts, and expressions you've never learned if you are open to Him.  Speaking in Tongues gives us an ability to communicate and have an uncommon dialogue with God.  But, maybe you want to excuse yourself by believing "it is not necessary to for you to exercise incarnational speaking (speaking in tongues)" because you just want your relationship with God to remain on Mute.  Just saying... :)

Blowing it!

     We've all had our moments where we've blown it.  We made bad choices, we choose wrong directions, we said things we wish we could take back, and hurt others in each process. Recently, I had one of these moments. I asked myself why I let myself get into this position. As I looked at my motivation I was trying to help a friend not realizing even my best intentions would bring confusion in another relationship and violate their trust.  I take full responsibility... and what's worse is Proverbs 18:19 remains true, "An offended friend is harder to win back than a fortified city."  I can't believe I let myself get into this position. I am especially bothered when others have used my mistakes as an opportunity to disqualify me totally from being a "trusted" person in projects, opportunities, and other relational networks because they've painted me as a person who continually makes mistakes. Yes, I am guilty but so are they and so are you.  Everyone blows it.  Everyone is guilty... and everyone does it all the time.  Romans 3:23 tells us "All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God." Romans 3:10 tells us "there is none righteous, no not one." So, how we forgive and rebuild trust all depends not on the guilty party but the injured party's choices to forgive, get up and trust again, allow mistakes to be made and let lessons be learned by those who made the mistake.

     I think sometimes people find themselves blowing it with others because the offended party has not explained the values they hold well enough, have not defined their personal boundaries to others, or explained what the expectations are in the relationship.  This is not excusing the offense - only explaining why it happens sometimes. So everything gets screwed up, relationship failures happen and then the violating party gets punished because they didn't know or understand the rules the injured party had. 
     Relationships are a complicated thing. Especially, when you have so many of them, so many different values, and so many different rules that you have to navigate through. My expectation is that people will fail.  People will blow it. People are people.  Mark 4:24 says "And he said to them, “Pay attention to what you hear: with the measure you use, it will be measured to you, and still more will be added to you." Too many people have unrealistic expectations of their friends... people are going to fail you.  You are going to fail others.  The scripture tells us "THERE ARE NONE RIGHTEOUS" - so everyone of us will fail in relationship with others.

     So when someone fails you what will do?  Will you follow Matthew 18:15 "If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over." Or will you just ignore the person who failed you and hold that resentment in your heart?  The goal according to scripture is to "win the relationship back."  Gal. 6:1 exhorts, " Brothers and sisters, if a person gets trapped by wrongdoing, those of you who are spiritual should help that person turn away from doing wrong. Do it in a gentle way. At the same time watch yourself so that you also are not tempted."  The thing that really bothers me these days is how few Christians integrate and practice what the scripture command us to do vs. following their own dysfunctional value systems.  God calls us to restore "relationship failures."  Micah 6:8 tells us that the Lord requires us "TO LOVE MERCY."  I need mercy and grace when I blow it.  I need to be forgiven and reaccepted by others. I need to be valued in the same manner I was valued before I failed others in relationship... and so do you.  But, unfortunately too many people love punishing me, punishing you for our transgressions, our failures, and mishandling our relationship.  Divorce is not acceptable, people talk behind our backs and tell others their offenses toward us, and cut us out of the loop and punish us for blowing it is not acceptable.  We are follows of Jesus I think... God help us!

      Hebrews 12:15 applies to all of us, "Make sure that everyone has kindness from God so that bitterness doesn't take root and grow up to cause trouble that corrupts many of you."  Looking diligently - This phrase implies close attention. It is implied that there are reasons why we should take special care. Lest any man fail of the grace of God; not the free favour and love of God in Christ, which is everlasting, unchangeable, and from whence there is no separation; nor the grace of God implanted in the heart in regeneration, which is incorruptible, never failing, but always remains, as do faith, hope, and love; but either the whole doctrine of the Gospel, which is a declaration of the grace of God; or particularly the doctrine of free justification by the righteousness of Christ, which men may receive in vain, and fall from, 2 Corinthians 6:1 to which these Hebrews might be prone: and such "fail" of it, who either come short of it, do not come up to it, receive and embrace it; or who having professed it, drop it and deny it: now such should be looked after, and such a case should be diligently looked into; because the glory of God, the honour of Christ, the good of souls, and the well being, and even the continuance of the church state are concerned: Lest any root of bitterness springing up - A root of bitterness signifies a poisonous plant. The Hebrews call every species of poison a bitter, and with considerable propriety, as most plants are poisonous in proportion to the quantum of the bitter principle they possess. The root of bitterness is here used metaphorically for a bad man, or a man holding unsound doctrines, and endeavoring to spread them in the Church.  Trouble you - This alludes to the effects of poison taken into the body: the whole animal system is disturbed, sometimes violent retchings, great disturbances through the whole alimentary canal, together with the most fatal changes in the whole sanguineous system, are the consequences of poison taken into the stomach. The blood itself (the principle, under God, of life) becomes putrescent; and probably to this the intelligent apostle alludes when he says, and thereby many be defiled, μιανθωσι, corrupted or contaminated.  Bad examples and false teaching have corrupted thousands, and are still making desolation in the world and in the Church. 

      So my only question I would like to ask of ourselves is: "When others fail us- and they will -  How are we going to handle it?  Will we give them the opportunity to be forgiven, loved and totally accepted as we were in the beginning or divorced, talk about them behind their back, turning others against them so they are not a part of our small world and ensured to be cut out of our little relational network because we are better than them?   Hmmm...  1 Corinthians 13:4-7  "Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. Love does not demand its own way. Love is not irritable, and it keeps no record of when it has been wronged. It is never glad about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance."   I'm sorry... I've made lots of mistakes. The only thing I can ask of you is to explain to me the rules of engagement when I come into relationship with you and teach me the proper protocol. That's all I can ask - and I will do my best to love and be a good friend to you.  But I am a realist I will blow it sometimes.  Please give me another chance to be a better friend...