Words of life or death

DAILY BYTE

The terrible, tragic story of Osama bin Laden highlights how dangerous it is when religious teaching is twisted, and words are used death-dealing ways. Make no mistake, his murderous ideology was a gross distortion of the teachings of Islam. But equally, the sickening jubilation of many who have hailed his death as a victory for the gospel is a gross distortion of the teachings of Christianity.

Last week one of the leaders of the religious right in America said that “God took out Osama bin Laden” and that God delights in the death of the wicked.

In contrast to this kind of twisted teaching are these helpful words that have been attributed to Martin Luther King, Jnr:

“I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy. Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.”

Having just celebrated Mothers’ Day this past weekend, we do well to remember that with Osama bin Laden’s death there is a mother who grieves the death of a son. She has a name, it’s Hamida al-Attas. And let’s also not forget the many mothers who grieve the deaths of sons and daughters killed in the horrific attacks of 9/11, and in so many other theatres of war all around the world, simply because religious teaching has been twisted, and words have been used in deadly ways.

It matters, the teachings we hold to. The words on which we stake our lives. It really matters. It is quite literally a matter of life or death.

Certainly, from the very first page of the Bible we discover that the words that come from the mouth of God are words that are truly words of life. Words that are charged with the most incredible life-giving power!

God speaks, and life ensues.
God speaks, and darkness gives way to light.
God speaks, and the universe bursts into existence.

Where before there was nothing – suddenly there’s heaven and earth.

And with it suns and stars, mountains and seas, potatoes and pomegranates, buffalos and butterflies, and people of every shape and size and colour and complexion. All part of this magnificent mystery called Life, which was ignited so gloriously through the words that came from the mouth of God!

If that’s what the word of God can do to the physical world, just think what it can do within you and me, within our communities, and within our world? Imagine the liberation we would experience if we really placed ourselves under the authority of God’s word, and allowed it to fill us.

Surely the dead and dying places within us would burst into vibrant new life.

PRAY AS YOU GO

Holy God, thank you that your words always bring life. Thank you that the clearest and surest way to test whether your teaching has been twisted is to ask whether it diminishes life or enriches it. Help me to immerse myself in your word more and more, so that its truth may direct my life. And may my living enable and encourage others to live more freely, more abundantly, more joyfully. In the name of Christ Jesus, the Living Word, I pray. Amen.

SCRIPTURE READING

John 5:25

Jesus said, “I tell you the truth. The time is coming, and has now come, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.”