Christians misunderstood?
Misunderstanding each other
Do you ever feel like people are constantly misunderstanding your meaning or what you are trying to say? I sure do. Especially in this day of texting, messaging, Facebook, and Twitter. Sometimes I think I must be a very confusing person when those I am talking too just don't get the point I am trying to make.
Of course with Social Media you can't see a person's facial expressions or hear their tone of voice so that makes it doubly hard. You can't put LOL at the end of every sentence.
I've had people, even friends who know me well, think I am serious when I am joking and joking when I'm not. It can get very frustrating. I've even lost a job because the supervisor totally misunderstood what I meant and would not listen to an explanation.
Often, if you say something that is misunderstood, you won't get a chance to make it right. Many times the hearer is not really listening to you after they have judged what you said, they are thinking about what they will say next and it may never really be cleared up.
So what does this have to do with being a Christian you ask?
Communication in all aspects of life is very important but even more so when sharing the good news. We have such an important message that we definitely do not want to be misunderstood. We do not want to be perceived as judgmental, harsh, or unloving. And, of course, each person we talk to or even just spend time with is judging us as Christians on our attitude, behavior and what we say.
Do we make promises we don't keep? Do we yell at traffic? Are we easily angered and do we misunderstand what they are saying? Do we really listen?
I'm sure you have heard the saying that 'we may be the only Bible some people ever read' and yet we are human and communicating is hard for us too.
What to do, what to do.... This is really something that each of us has to work on individually with the help of the Holy Spirit. I suggest a lot of prayer about this subject. The following scriptures may help.
Questions:
When were you the most misunderstood on any subject?
How are you at listening to others?
What negative characteristic do you think others may see in you?
How can you change it?
What the Bible has to say:
Do you ever feel like people are constantly misunderstanding your meaning or what you are trying to say? I sure do. Especially in this day of texting, messaging, Facebook, and Twitter. Sometimes I think I must be a very confusing person when those I am talking too just don't get the point I am trying to make.
Of course with Social Media you can't see a person's facial expressions or hear their tone of voice so that makes it doubly hard. You can't put LOL at the end of every sentence.
I've had people, even friends who know me well, think I am serious when I am joking and joking when I'm not. It can get very frustrating. I've even lost a job because the supervisor totally misunderstood what I meant and would not listen to an explanation.
Often, if you say something that is misunderstood, you won't get a chance to make it right. Many times the hearer is not really listening to you after they have judged what you said, they are thinking about what they will say next and it may never really be cleared up.
So what does this have to do with being a Christian you ask?
Communication in all aspects of life is very important but even more so when sharing the good news. We have such an important message that we definitely do not want to be misunderstood. We do not want to be perceived as judgmental, harsh, or unloving. And, of course, each person we talk to or even just spend time with is judging us as Christians on our attitude, behavior and what we say.
Do we make promises we don't keep? Do we yell at traffic? Are we easily angered and do we misunderstand what they are saying? Do we really listen?
I'm sure you have heard the saying that 'we may be the only Bible some people ever read' and yet we are human and communicating is hard for us too.
What to do, what to do.... This is really something that each of us has to work on individually with the help of the Holy Spirit. I suggest a lot of prayer about this subject. The following scriptures may help.
Questions:
When were you the most misunderstood on any subject?
How are you at listening to others?
What negative characteristic do you think others may see in you?
How can you change it?
What the Bible has to say:
James 1:19 ESV
Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;
Psalm 34:13 ESV
Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit.
James 1:26 ESV
If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but
deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless.
James 3:10 ESV
From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.
Titus 3:2 ESV
To speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people.
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