IF I HAD A PULPIT: There Must Be Some Misunderstanding

Big Jim is not a church-going man. We see his wife each Sunday and at church events, but generally Big Jim stays home. So when he walked in to last week’s service we knew something was up.

When Pastor called for prayer concerns Big Jim raised his hand. “Pastor,” he said, “I’d like the church to pray for my hearing.”

The grin on Pastor’s face told us that he would not let this moment pass. “Yes, of course we will, Jim. In fact, everyone gather around Big Jim and lay hands.”

Well, the pews emptied as we moved around the man, reaching out to touch his shoulders, back, and head. Pastor placed his hands on Big Jim’s ears, then bowed and prayed—a long prayer, peppered with choruses of “Yes, Lord” from the congregation. Heads lifted at the “Amen” and a few women wiped their eyes. Pastor looked at the big man with confidence and said, “Well, Jim, how’s your hearing now?”

“I don’t know, Pastor,” he replied. “I don’t go before the judge till next Thursday.”

That one’s been around a while. Yet its message remains forever relevant. Despite our best intentions—as the good pastor’s prayer exemplifies—misunderstandings happen when we assume to know what a person is saying. Communication is lost when one perceives a message differently than it was intended.

Jesus had an important message for the people of Israel: the Kingdom of God was coming (Mark 1:15). The time of God’s ultimate reign was closing in. The burden of oppression would be lifted, and evil would be abolished. Jesus’ message was an appeal to turn away from sin and believe.

It was more than an evangelizing sermon. Through captivating stories, miracles, and healings, Jesus taught about the wonderful things of the Kingdom. The Kingdom of God defies this earthly domain, as Jesus demonstrated when He commanded a demon to leave its human victim—and it obeyed (Mark 1:26).

This was a new teaching. It wasn’t the scholarly debate they were accustomed to. It was straightforward truth: God’s Kingdom was near. Believe and accept it.

How did the people respond to the new teaching? They went out and shared the news—news about the incredible healing they witnessed. Soon, villagers knocked down the doors wherever Jesus stayed for their own piece of the miracle action.

The people got the message. But they misinterpreted it.

Mark 1:28 says, Immediately the news about Him spread everywhere…(NASU). Some versions say His fame spread across the country. Jesus came to preach the good news, but the news that spread was about the miraculous exorcism. It was what Jesus could do that got the people talking.

And isn’t that just how we are. We hear a message, but condense it to headlines and highlights. The Kingdom of God is coming was reduced to There’s a guy who calls evil spirits out of people. The casting out of demons exemplified casting evil out of God’s Kingdom. But the meat of the message was missing from the stories that were spread. The purpose of Jesus’ mission was misinterpreted.

Undoubtedly your messages have resulted in unexpected outcomes. It’s a risk with all communication. Have you thought about how to avoid misunderstandings?

What about avoiding miscommunication of the Gospel of Christ? If you’ve let Jesus into your life, you have a message. In fact, all Christians have been entrusted with a message to share…the message of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:19). God’s Kingdom comes when the lost return to Him. You can have a part in bringing the Kingdom to a hurting world. Have you thought about what to say? How to say it? How does your life exemplify the hope of the Kingdom? A message as important as the coming of God’s Kingdom needs clear understanding…how are you assured that listeners perceive the your total message?