Being Godmatic

UV 2178/10000 Being Godmatic
But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.
Titus 3 v 9

This uni-verse directs us to avoid raising foolish questions for it will lead to arguments and needless strife. The Lord has given the manger leader or manager not a spirit of contention but a spirit of love, power and self control. We ought not therefore to get involved in controversies over trifles and matters of no importance. Such quarrels and arguments grieve the Holy Spirit and does not benefit anyone. These are tools and weapons for the enemy of our souls to keep us discouraged, to steal or rob our joy in the presence of the Lord and to block our blessings.

We should instead of arguing over inanities pray, meditate on the Word and seek the wise counsel of the Lord. Our focus should be to win people and not to win arguments. The book of Proverbs says that the best place to stop a quarrel or argument is at the very start just as the first breach in a dam should be plugged or it gets wider and wider. We should seek the grace of the Lord so that we maintain our poise even when others try to provoke us into getting into an argument with them. We are expected to be “godmatic” or wise like God and not dogmatic about our views. It is often pride, ego and bitterness that leads people to get dragged into such quarrels and dog fights where we are barking at each other without any understanding of what is said or intended. Being ‘godmatic’ implies that we are willing to learn and perform like God in the matter of our communications. God speaks to be heard effectively. His word penetrates to the point where bone meets marrow. Our communication including our body language, our tone and words should be effective, appealing and wholesome to the listeners. We should be persuasive and open minded to change our views if we are proved wrong, rather than taking a rigid stand on non-issues or minor matters.

The manger leader or manager’s model of communication is Jesus who is full of grace and truth. Being ‘godmatic’ would mean that our communication should be full of grace and truth. Among the gifts of the Holy Spirit, the gift of knowledge, the word of wisdom or counsel and discernment are the gifts we need to perfect our communication. Discernment will enable us to know when to speak, to whom to speak, how to speak and what to speak. The word of knowledge of scripture will bring to our instant attention the appropriate portion of scripture we should meditate in a given situation. The word of wisdom will teach us how to respond or react to different stimuli or provocations. We should not just learn not just how not to mince our words but to mint our words for words are the gold coins of human as well as divine communication. Jesus is described by John as the Word. Every word we speak like a coin which is issued from the mint cannot be withdrawn or unsaid once spoken. Like coins and currency, words get passed on from person to person. Once spoken it should help people, enrich them, not hurt or harm them or us. Words should be used not as a weapon to cut people up but as ‘life- giving and life-enhancing’ bullets that penetrate human hearts and give hope, wisdom, strength and meaning.

Prateep V Philip