I discovered something On the subject of communication and interchange of thoughts and ideas and information In reframing and reapplying the lesson on the gift of tongues from Paul in the Book of 1Corinthians 14:6-11. Paul is speaking of Tongues and Interpretation of Tongues but the spiritual counsel he gives can be used in reframing how we think about communication and interaction among ourselves in the Body of Christ and life , in general.
He says, “ I would that you all spoke with tongues but even more, that you would prophesy so that the church may be edified and built up by your exhortation.” He explains further, “Now brothers and sisters, if I come to you speaking in another tongue or language how would that profit you as you have no idea what I am talking about; but rather I should speak to you clearly, with some knowledge and divine revelation or by the Word of God. Then you would understand what I am saying to you.”
And here’s where his counsel hits home. He says, “Even lifeless things, making a sound like a flute or a harp, unless they give their characteristic sound how would you know what the instrument was or the song played? FOR IF THE TRUMPET GIVES AN UNCERTAIN CALL TO WAR SOUND who would be ready to go to battle?” We could then also say, if we give uncertain words, or confusing logic in our statements, who can know what the message really means or what action we were supposed to take?
Paul says,” So, likewise, except that you speak words that are easy to be understood, who can tell what you are talking about?” Paul is saying to the effect that there is so much babble in the world , already, that when we are not clear in our communication it just adds to the confusion and the misunderstanding.
I would think that sometimes it is done purposely, to evade a commitment, to purposely hedge or equivocate. Other times it is out of lack of knowledge of how to speak with your fellow man and make sure that you are understood and continually redefining what you are saying until the message is properly received. That could be true of communicative writing as well as speaking.
Paul says, at the last, in verse 20, “ Brothers & sisters, Be not children in understanding. Be men!” In other words, “GROW UP!!!!”
Consider the lilies of the field… Matt 6:28
thedailylily.com 
“Male bullfrogs communicate with other bullfrogs through calls made up of a series of croaks, some of which contain stutters, according to a new Brown University study which describes a pattern not previously identified in scientific literature.”
Not sure I understand your blog at all MG. Are you saying you have reframed your beliefs on speaking in tongues? And, you intend to reapply your actions on this issue?
The first thought I had about this blog is, I don’t understand it? Secondly, it sounds like Sarah Palin’s comment on “The only difference between a pit bull and a hockey Mom is lipstick. Is SP’s comment against lipstick, Mom’s with children that play hockey, or dogs, namely pit bulls? Another thought I had about SP’s comment related to this is she is or has been a member of the “Assemblies of God” which I understand they believe that you have to speak in tongues to have the Holy Spirit working in your life? Therefore, if you don’t speak in tongues you don’t have the Holy Spirit and if you do speak in tongues and have the power of the Holy Spirit all communications should be real clear I would think.
What about lies? I think the lack of communication more often than not is people just plain lie and they mean to lie and they do lie. So is that grow up and get over it and know that people might just lie and they want to and they will continue.
MG, you mentioned in your blog “that could be true of communicative writing as well as speaking.” I am writing to say I don’t understand what this blog of words intended purpose is?
I do believe in Speaking in Tongues (and in Interpretation of Tongues). The comment I am making is; that when I read what Paul says about communication, it struck me that we could also apply his counsel to communication, in general, in exhorting the promotion of clearer communication. Not sure about lipstick & pigs, but as Dave said they may have their method also. I just saw wisdom in the Scriptures in how Paul
expressed it.
Pigs? I am sorry I did not see where you blogged or anyone commented on Pigs?
The only pig I know about is what I just might eat for breakfast!
I don’t quite understand your blog but it reminds me to Motivational Check Up blog. What is the motivation behind the conversation?
MG,
I had a chance to read your blog today. It seems like this “unclear communication”, may be what we have been experiencing, in our interpersonal relationships, with Dorothy, our friend. As we know, Paul was speaking to the church; like as unto today, where we still have so many misunderstandings. MG, is this misunderstanding that we are having with Dorothy what you are speaking about, in the above blog? If so, hopefully, we can have communication with one another and with Dorothy right here that will bring about peace and healing. By faith and with great hope with everyone’s cooperation, there will be clear precise communication among ourselves.
I want to see all of us mature (grow up) and produce much fruit and love one another and have unity among ourselves and with the Body of Christ.
Needles, you always impress me and I feel sure please God with your forthrightness. You being a sold out Christian,skilled nurse and a skilled communicator know the importance of truth. You feel the need and practice the skill of being precise with your words. Many of us including your wonderful sons know how honorable that is.
Truth is like anointing oil applied to the wound. Your words makes me pause and think on this scripture given for comfort.
John 15:15 “I do not call you servants (slaves) any longer, for the servant does not know what his master is doing (working out). But I have called you My friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from My Father. [I have revealed to you everything that I have learned from Him.]
I am standing with you Needles. I had the thought that MG was referring to our misunderstanding with Dorothy also. We all love Dorothy very much and we miss her. She told us all good-bye and had to leave all of us now because of her friction with you MG and with Debi. We all, just weeks before, had a beautiful retreat and enjoyed one another’s company. We even traveled together for hours to Charlotte, NC to visit the Billy Graham Library and I had no idea there was any friction. The love of a friend is something to be cherished. Romans 13:10 “Love does no wrong to others, so love fulfills the requirements of God’s law.” We should carry out God’s law even when there is a misunderstanding. That is, we should handle a misunderstanding with love, because love does no wrong. Godly love does no wrong.
MG, Needles has asked you and I am asking you if you are referring to this situation with Dorothy? Seemly, some of us feel we do not fully understand why Dorothy has left all of us because of friction she is having with two of her friends.
As Needles has suggested above this is a great forum to bring healing and restoration in these misunderstood interpersonal relationships that involves some of our friends.
I would like to ask all of us, including Dorothy, by using Needles’ words what clear ‘precise’ steps can we take to bring clarity to our misunderstandings with Dorothy, MG and Debi.
MG, you said ” IF THE TRUMPET GIVES AN UNCERTAIN CALL TO WAR SOUND who would be ready to go to battle? I would like to give a trumpet call now that hopefully we all will understand and go to battle.
”Sometimes as flawed human beings, we love with our flesh. “Flesh love” is flawed and will lead to a sinful outcome. As flawed humans we sometimes communicate in a “fleshly” way which will also lead to a sinful outcome full of misunderstandings. We are all flawed humans beings who have a hard time with clear communications. Sometimes in our Christian walk we are distracted by worldly forces. How could this happen? For an Example: It may be as what seems so innocent as talking with some colleagues while complaining about the boss. Maybe one of the colleagues is a handsome man or beautiful woman who is very charming, or could be one of the same sex that we are attracted to. Because of the attraction to this man, or woman, we may find ourselves complaining about our boss to them. This complaining may turn into long conversations. Maybe we even begin complaining about our husband or wife to them. We may keep every word this person says close to our hearts. We may even fall in love with this man/woman and do everything they tell us. Even leave our spouse, our family and our friends. This is an example of worldly forces distracting our focus. We are now walking in the flesh. We have a spirit of confusion, a spirit of lust, a spirit of betrayal. We are so blinded that we avoid our spouse, our families, and our friends. We avoid marriage counseling. We just want to run away and be with this beautiful man/woman that has been there when we thought we needed them. We are cold and distant to all who really care and we really don’t care who we hurt. This is a road of deceitful lies that will lead us straight to hell if we don’t break away and repent. We need to fall on our faces and cry out to the Lord asking for forgiveness. We may even blame our friends and family for their flawed areas. We may say, that they are the reason for our bizarre behavior and we are unhappy because of them. This is just an excuse, so we can go on our merry way living our happy life of sin. We may think we are fooling everyone around and maybe we are but we cannot and will not fool God. We must be careful. This is a prime example of loving in the flesh, being distracted by worldly forces, and a road full of misunderstanding and lack of communication for all involved. This road of sin will lead to destruction. We will wake up one morning and wonder how our life got messed up. Now many of us may say this won’t happen to me. But I’m here to say, if we are following God, Satan is going to attack. He will keep attacking until he gets us. He will get some of us but not all of us. We are in constant battle. If we let our guard down then we better watch out. We have to be ready daily. This is no game. When we begin thinking of that charming good looking guy/gal that can do no wrong, we need to get on our faces and pray the Lord will protect us from lust and protect our marriage and most importantly our souls. This is no game. This is eternity. So whatever misunderstanding we have with our family and friends, we need to try to clear these up. The only way we can is through Jesus. We need to Grow Up and stop avoiding our problems. The problems will continue to be there even if we avoid them. Avoiding just makes things worse because it brings more confusion. So if we have a misunderstanding with a family member or friend, ask the Lord to help us clear this up. If we are running down the reckless path as mentioned above, we better stop. We are playing with fire and we will get burnt. Hopefully not burnt for all eternity.
I know this path because I have walked some like unto it, all being in the flesh. I also know who holds the answers, Jesus Christ, our helper, our Rock.
Chickenfarmer, you are an amazing lady. You have worked all day, long extended hours in a hospital, ICU, as an RN with very sick patients, and still working as you do everyday to help all of us grow up by your counsel.
I am impressed with your decision to continue to pursue your studies at Liberty University in their masters program and obtain your degree of honor in pastoral counseling. Teach a Wednesday Night Bible Study in your church while working long hours as well as working on this degree is amazing like you amazing,
I know you are a wife and a Mother of two outstanding little boys. You are also very involved in their life with schooling and outside activities. Thanks for taking the time with so much love and giving us a big vitamin to swallow to check our growth chart. Blessings to you!
equivocate
verb
you have equivocated too often in the past prevaricate, be evasive, be noncommittal, be vague, be ambiguous, dodge the question, beat around the bush, hedge; vacillate, shilly-shally, waver; temporize, hesitate, stall, hem and haw; informal pussyfoot around, sit on the fence; rare tergiversate. See note at lie 1 .
MG, up in this blog where you are talking about unclear communication, is this about your relationship with Dorothy?
“The prophet Amos lived at a time not unlike our own. It was a time of control freaks, self-sufficiency and affluence, yet a time when the poor were too often oppressed and injustice was an accepted practice. Religious performance was common but spiritual integrity and real obedience to God was uncommon. Here in his own words Amos said “The Lord was standing beside a wall built with a plumb line, checking it with a plumb line to see if it was straight.
And the Lord said to me, “Amos, what do you see?”
I answered, “A plumb line.”
And He replied, “I will test my people with a plumb line…” (Amos 7:7-8a)”
Bill and Gloria Gaither
I am in agreement with Bill and Gloria, the plumb line has been placed before us and the plumb line is accurate.
As I listened to the Scriptures in Corinthians it struck me that the principles behind what Paul was saying could be applied to clear communication, in general. Sara has been talking to us , giving examples of missed and miscommunication, frequently. Those passages of Scripture hit me as very relevant to communication. Interestingly enough, a few days after I submitted the blog I read a similar, not exactly, but a similar premise in Steve Brown’s book about how Paul’s counsel could be applied to our own communication within the church and also the outside world.
NOW, If this can be useful in trying to clear up OUR relationship (Debi’s and mine) with Dorothy then by all means we should apply it to that situation.
There has been repentence for real or imaginary offenses. We have apologized and asked for forgiveness. We have taken steps to check and get help to overcome those character flaws, frustrations that occur in life. If there is another step I am willing..
MG, Please forgive me. I should not have assumed this blog was about Dorothy and miscommunication with you and Debi. I have missed seeing Dorothy on The Daily Lily lately and she is very much on my heart. I don’t think we need to worry about the next step since this was not even about her. Each of you are very special to me and I bless each writer and our readers.
MG, I am sorry for thinking or assuming that this blog was about interpersonal relationships, with our friend Dorothy. I didn’t fully understand what you were trying to communicate. I believe your most recent answer told me that you were not thinking of the issues I had on my mind and heart.
But,this is what blogging is all about, I think.
“Hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His Love into our HEARTS by the Holy Spirit.” Romans 5:5 NIV
MG said, “Sara has been talking to us, giving examples of missed and miscommunication, frequently.” MG, you are right, I love intercommunication. I believe with all my heart that God communicates with us through our hearts since it was and is He that has poured out His love into our Hearts by the Holy Spirit. So when we speak from heart to heart we have involved God. The Apostle Paul also gave us these life changing words from 1 Corinthians 13:13 (New Living Translation) ” Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.”
Faith, Hope and Love, and the greatest of these is Love. Love with faith and hope will never fail us in intercommunication. Thank you MG, Debi, Chickenfamrer and Needles for showing love with much hope and faith to our friend, Dorothy, and to one another. Dorothy walks in love and she surely will feel the love, hope and faith and we will all walk in His love together on a continuous day by day trust and hope because of the One we all know and love and trust.
I do pray for all of us in the Body of Christ and as Paul exhorts us in Ephesians..”He (Christ) is our PEACE. He is our bond of unity and harmony. He breaks down the walls of hostility and partition among us. In Him is our fellowship with one another…and so we are being built up into one dwelling place of God.”
There is forgiveness in the Body of Christ for one another just as we have been forgiven our transgression when we confess and repent. Paul tells us to put off the old stuff (that’s part of the repentence) and “become useful and helpful and kind to one another, tenderhearted, compassionate, understanding, loving-hearted…forgiving one another readily and freely as God forgave us through Christ Jesus.” I believe that is what Sara is talking about in the above comment. I know that this pleases the Lord and that is my desire as I know all of the LILIES want to please the Lord God. I will keep on working toward that prize of the high calling of pleasing God. One small step at a time. Like” Hinds Feet In High Places”. When we stumble we must pick ourselves up and keep striving for the goal.