That's Not What I Meant...

I have a degree in communications. You would think that clearly communicating ideas would be my forté.

That isn't always the case.

Sometimes words just don't sound the same coming out of my mouth as they did in my head. I'll take the blame for those times.

But then there are the times that I have carefully weighed my words, I have spent time thinking about what I'm going to say, and I executed that plan flawlessly.

Except the listener apparently heard something besides what I actually said.

I'm misinterpreted. Sometimes my words are twisted and used against me. But that's the nature of my work.

As a preacher, I talk a lot. It's part of my "job." I feed my family by the time I spend studying and speaking the Word of God. That's why it's insanely frustrating to be misunderstood, and especially to have my own words used against me as ammunition for some poor soul's “agenda.”

It's downright discouraging.

Thankfully, I can look at Jesus' life and see that even the Savior's words were (and still are) twisted, tampered with, misinterpreted, and misused. But it didn't stop Him from preaching.

What got me to thinking about this was reading through the first few verses of Matthew chapter seven. If there has ever been a phrase that has been misused, "Judge not that you be not judged" certainly qualifies. Certainly Jesus wasn't condemning all judging (see John 7:24 for example). While you need to remove the log from your own eye, your brother still needs the speck picked out of his eye (Matthew 7:5). This isn't an isolated case.

Consider also John 6:53-66, where Jesus talked about eating His flesh and drinking His blood. He lost some followers over that difficult saying (John 6:60, 66). Or look at His statement about raising the temple of His body in three days (Matthew 26:61; 27:40). That was the false charge that was used as grounds for Jesus' crucifixion.

Jesus certainly knows what it feels like to be misquoted.

I've told others before that all I can do is carefully speak the words; the interpretation is up to the mind of the listener. I still believe that to be the case. Sometimes people choose to hear an entirely different sermon from the one I preach to them. Clarification will only go so far in such cases.

Preachers and teachers, Satan will use this tactic to discourage and distract you. Resist it (consider 2 Timothy 2:23). By all means, don't let it make you quit.

As for you listeners, listen honestly. Remember that we as preachers and teachers have your best interests at heart; Interpret our words accordingly. We do what we do out of love for you and God.

Listen.

-Daniel