What's Your Set of Words?

There is someone in my life (who will remain unnamed) who thinks I am foolish for embracing Christianity becuase, "We are never supposed to let anything or anyone tell us what to believe!" This statement has always been interesting to me. And it is extremely popular in our culture today. I hear it all the time at UH (University of Houston). Is this statement accurate, or do we need to deconstruct* it?

Philosophically, this statement is self-refuting

A self-refuting statement is a statement that contradicts itself. For example, if I were to tell someone that I did not speak a word of German in German, that would be a self-refuting statement.

On one level, anyone who commuicates the belief that no one/no thing should ever influence our beliefs- is in that very statement trying to influence our beliefs. Practically, I have found this to be the case. Most people that I talk to that believe nothing should influence our beliefs are very passionate and determined to persuade as many people as possible to accept that their reasoning is true. Ironic isn't it?

Everybody is shaped by some set of words

On another level, this view fails to recognize that everyone is shaped by some set of words. The question is not "are you shaped by a set of words" but "which set of words shape you"? The very assumption that we are autonomous human beings able to come to our "own conclusions"- apart from any external influence- is extremely influenced by the philosophical ideas of Rene Descarte.

Many Americans are shaped by the words of materialism. If only I had a nicer car or a bigger house I would be happier. Some are shaped by the words of New Age Spirituality. The world will become a better place when we begin to tap into the "divine" resources within ourselves. Others are shaped by the words of religious pluralism. No one religion can be true- this would be inherently unfair and oppresive.

As Christians, we are primarily shaped by the Word of God

When we think about the "Word of God" we usually think about the Bible. And this is true. The Bible is God's authoratative word. But there is also a sense in which we can think about preaching as the Word of God. The protestant reformes knew this very well. The Second Helvetic confession explains:

"Wherefore when this Word of God is now preached in the church by preachers lawfully called, we believe the the very Word of God is proclaimed, and received by the faithful; and that neither any other Word of God is to be invented nor is to be expected from heaven: and that now the Word itself which is preached is to be regarded, not the minister that preaches; for even if he be evil and a sinner, nevertheless the Word of God remains still true and good".

The implications for evangelism and discipleship are massive. We don't want new converts to think that the Christian life is merely about listening to the Christian radio station and becoming a "better" person (a view that I held when I first became a Christian).

No, things are larger and richer than that. Christ invades our minds and our hearts. By his Holy Spirit, he uses the dagger of preaching to penetrate all the "words" that shape our lives- opening up a space for us to be transformed by his Word. Through preaching, he begins to develop a world and life-view in his people. The grand narrative of the Bible- creation, fall, redemption, new-creation- becomes the framework within which the disciple "interprets" their life. A Christian shaped by good preaching will never think about science, politics, art, literature, etc. the same. Intimate issues like suffering, depression and marital struggles are placed in fresh perspective when the disciple is transformed by preaching. Good preaching, as the early church knew so well, is throuroughly Christ-centered. The pastor does not preach himself, he preaches the cross and ressurection of the Lord Jesus Christ. From Genesis-Revelation, the pastor expounds the Scriptures and feeds his people the plump fruit of the gospel.

We are human beings who listen to others. We are usually impacted (in some way or another) by our conversations with people. The Christian life is about hearing the Word of God- by faith- and letting that Word become our word so that we begin to reflect the beauty and glory of the eternal Word- Jesus Christ.

* Deconstruction is a methodoloigcal tool used by postmodern philosophers to challenge and dismantle commonly accepted beliefs.