Through An Interpreter

One time President Jimmy Carter was speaking in Japan.  He had just lost his bid for reelection and he was afraid that the crowd would feel a bit uncomfortable, so he decided to open with a joke.  He picked a joke which was fairly short because everything said had to go through an interpreter.  The joke was told and the crowd roared with laughter.  After the speech, President Carter asked the interpreter to relate how exactly he had told the joke, considering it had never gone off quite so well.  At first the interpreter was evasive but finally admitted that what he actually said was, "President Carter has just told a funny story and we should all laugh now."

Wouldn't it be handy in life to always have such a personal translator.  We could speak and the translator could tell people, "This is what he meant and this is how you should respond." It might make a lot of situations a bit easier.

True story.  There were two of my co-workers that we having an issue.  One of them perceived an unintended slight from the other who then became a bit distant.  This made the other feel a bit put off which led to some hard feeling.  So they started avoiding each other assuming that the other was nursing some sort of beef or grudge.  Neither of them were actually mad or had any idea how it started.  It just took a little communication to work things out.  An interpreter could have been a handy thing.

There is a saying in Christianity that we should hate the sin but love the sinner.  I am afraid that our actions too often emphasize the former rather than the latter.  There are too many Christians who feel the need to point out where others don't quite measure up to their standings.  Too many times the message given by Christians is you're no good. 

While there are those who do look down their noses at the ill performing masses, that is not the norm.  Not by far.  Most Christians that I know are well aware of their own short comings.  Most would encourage others to lead a good life walking in the light of God's plan so that they can have a life of fulfillment.  However, that is not they way it is always heard.  I think that as Christians we need to guard against our own issues clouding our message, because first and foremost we need to let the message of God's love shine through us.

Watch this video from Pastor Chris.

We all know that Christians are not perfect.  Accepting the redemption of Jesus Christ does not erase every issue that we carry.  We need to make sure that it is the love of God and not our issues that are communicated to those around us.  With or without an interpreter.