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 “For
if the trumpet give an uncertain voice, who shall prepare himself
for war? So also ye, unless ye utter by the tongue speech easy to be
understood, how shall it be known what is spoken?” (1 Cor. 14:8,
9)
It
has been observed that some preaching is worse than no preaching at
all. So is some writing and other forms of expression— especially
the kind that is deliberately slanted toward vagueness and
uncertainty; the kind that is designed to be indistinct or intended
to be received with different interpretations. Such forms of “expressiveness”
are well-typified in the language of a popular placard which reads:
“I KNOW THAT YOU BELIEVE YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU THINK I SAID, BUT
I AM NOT SURE YOU REALIZE THAT WHAT YOU HEARD IS NOT WHAT I MEANT”.
Regrettably,
this sort of idle and confusing talk is not limited to the public
proclamations of placards and politicians.
Take,
for instance, the men-pleasing “Christian” who is reluctantly
drawn into a religious discussion with non-Christian friends. His
comments, instead of reflecting t h e plainness of Bible teaching,
are apt to be flavored with the kind of vagueness and generalities
that are easily misconstrued; the kind that offend no one— and
that profit no one. Carefully avoiding specifics, he may even boldly
affirm something like, “We need to hear more gospel preaching”,
meaning it one way and knowing it will be taken in another. The
world will not profit by such uncertain voices. “Let your speech
be always with grace, seasoned with salt..
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But
even worse is the Christian with the louder “trumpet”—the
influential preacher or writer who expresses himself in an uncertain
voice with reference to vital issues confronting God’s people.
This, coupled with the natural inclination of most to interpret
ambiguous language to suit themselves, only compounds the problem by
giving comfort to sinners and allowing the uninformed to be
misinformed by drawing wrong conclusions. Any language that obscures
Divine truth is worse than useless— it is dangerous.
Consequently,
at a time when God’s people so desperately need to hear the simple
truths that will take them back to the ‘old paths” and unity,
many are hearing uncertain voices urging support of man-made schemes
and innovations that have divided brethren. Instead of hearing about
the oneness of the church and about the distinctiveness and “sanctified”
nature of its members, some are being subjected to uncertain voices
that subtly question such. Even now, as worldliness and
permissiveness threaten to engulf the church, many saints, instead
of being admonished to keep themselves pure and unspotted from the
world, are being lulled into complacency by uncertain voices dealing
in vague generalities, poetry, and current events. Our urgent
need is plain, pointed and sound gospel teaching! The conflict
is here. The Captain’s commands must be relayed with clarity and
conviction. As a small band of Christians once prayed, “Lord…
grant unto thy servants to speak thy word with all boldness”---and,
we might add, the desire to hear it so spoken!
Dan S. Shipley
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