If you can say anything good about somebody...
by Pastor Dennis on 01/10/17
The snow fell silently
as I came in from chores. The coolness of the night was welcome. But soon I buttoned
my coat. It was a reminder that the world in darkness is a cold place.
The kitchen
window glowed with warmth and wood smoke gently rose from the chimney. Mom would
be making supper.
Life was
simpler when I was young. We worked the farm; went to school in town; and went
to church every Sunday. Except on rare occasions during harvest, or if a winter
storm blocked the road.
My parents
seemed to live by simple rules. My mother was fond of saying, “If you can’t say
anything nice about somebody, don’t say anything at all.”
Although I did
not know it at the time, she had captured the essence of Luther’s explanation
of the eighth commandant.
The eighth commandment
warns against “bearing false witness against our neighbor.” I thought it only
applied to court cases. My mother knew better. She knew Luther’s words.
“We should
fear and love God,” Luther’s writes, “so that we do not deceitfully belie,
betray, backbite, nor slander our neighbor, but defend him, speak well of him
and put the most charitable construction on all that he does.” (Small
Catechism)
What we say
makes a difference; good or bad. And it is important to God. For He loves to
see His children encouraging not discouraging one another.
The Israelites
were enslaved for centuries and when they were freed from slavery, they did not
know how to live as a free people. So, God gave them the ten instructions; like
a good parent instructs His children. However, the children could not keep God’s
Law perfectly.
So, in the fullness
of time, God sent His only Son to proclaim, “God meant what He said and He said
what He meant.” And second he paid the price so that all who come to Him might
be forgiven and released from the guilt of sin.
The challenge
for all of us today is to take God’s Word, and my mother’s wisdom, seriously.
Jesus gave His followers a new commandment, “Love one another just as I have
loved you.” (John 13:34)
When we miss
the mark, be assured, if we will call upon Him; He will release us from the
guilt of sin that enslaves us. So that, we may be free to be better at life and
love our neighbor in word and deed.
I hope to see
you in church where God’s Word and wisdom guides us through a cold and dark
world.