“For fun, let’s explore some options…. Vocatio a Deo (from the Latin words vocatio for “calling” and a Deo for ‘from God,’ for ‘calling from God’)….Oikonomology … Praxiology…. Ergology (from ergon – Greek for ‘work’ or ‘deed’).” - IFWE
Read the series.
We’ve surveyed how God speaks. Should we seek to speak in similar ways? And if so, specifically how?
Let me start with the “should we?” question.
Back to the beginning.
Read the series.
And now, in the New Testament, God speaks in a way he never has before.
He speaks in person, visibly, incarnately, powerfully.
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not (Jn 1.1-5).
Read the series.
We’re looking at God’s speech as a model for our own. The previous post ended with God speaking of delivering his people Israel from their Egyptian taskmasters, and of his keeping that promise through the plagues.
After crossing the Red Sea—miraculously—Israel travels to Mount Sinai, where they will meet God and receive the Law of Moses.
And God spake all these words, saying, 2 I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage (Ex 20.1-2).
“We will answer that by introducing basic paradigms in Christian ethics, considering the use of the Bible in ethics, and connecting the theology of Christ and his church to a Christian ethical framework.” - Word by Word
Read the series.
Do you have trouble with your mouth?
I do. And I always have. Since birth.
Really.
There are few things worse than saying something that you regret, whether immediately or eventually.
How should we then speak?
I’d like to take a few posts to meditate on that.
And I’d like to begin by considering someone who speaks, and who speaks well.
The Bible begins with a speech act:
“As we celebrate Jesus’ resurrection this month, we should consider why His resurrection happened. According to the New Testament there is nothing in Scripture more relevant to the issues, temptations, problems, and sins believers are facing right now than the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” - Cripplegate
“Resurrection Sunday… is just a few weeks away. What Easter really means to us is not determined by what we do that weekend, though; it’s determined by how we live every day.” - Chuck Lawless
As humans, we have a strong bias toward the practical. It makes sense. Even before the Fall, Adam was given responsibilities that required problem-solving, outcome-oriented, cause-and-effect thinking.
Naming the animals was a puzzle to solve (Gen 2:19-20). How do you name them all without using names twice? How do you name them in a way that is orderly? You don’t have to be Linnaeus to notice that the characteristics of animals follow patterns. Adam would have had some interest in categorizing animals as he named them, and that would have required problem-solving thought.
“The Lord calls believers to love, forgive, and accept one another—precisely because He has loved, forgiven, and accepted us in Christ.” - Ligonier
