Worth the Effort
The other day I had a conversation with a woman who sends out email news for her local church. She told me how from time to time she feels compelled to share a word of encouragement along with the factual information she provides. When she does this, it takes more time that she first expected, for two reasons.
Firstly, she is concerned about spelling and grammar. She knows that some will be quick to correct her, but more importantly, she knows that even simple typos and grammatical mistakes can lead to misunderstanding.
Secondly, she is concerned about making sure that her devotional content is theologically precise. She knows that some would express concern if her comments, intended for encouragement, proved to be theologically ambiguous. But of more significance is her own desire to reduce the spiritual clutter that hinders people from moving toward God.
Some might say, “Get a life! Everybody makes mistakes. If people can’t accept unorthodox spelling and fuzzy grammar, that’s their problem. What’s more, nitpicking over doctrine has done too much damage to the church already. It’s time to lighten up.”
But I say, “Bravo. Thank you for caring about words and how they are used because they communicate thoughts and thoughts shape the way we live. Lately, I’ve seen some communications that could barely be called that. The spelling and grammar were so bad that I could not be certain of what the writer was trying to express. While some will miss the point of even the best communication, many more will fail to follow thoughts when they are poorly expressed.”
I also say, “Thank you! Theological nitpicking has indeed damaged the church and its ministry to the world, but misleadingly ambiguous statements about the Truth are even more hazardous. People pick up odd ideas from stray lines from all kinds of sources of Christian material, songs, hymns, sermons, and creative writing (including electronic devotions). Without thinking, they let these ideas shape their perceptions, their decision-making, and ultimately, their lives. Even when there is no motivation to confuse or mislead, confusion and misapprehension can follow. I applaud those who recognize this and strive to lead people toward God in the most direct way possible.”
So to all of those preparers of Christian ministry-related bulletins, newsletters, websites, and emails I say, “God bless your efforts. Persevere in striving for accuracy. Be clear. Don’t sacrifice theological precision for a clever turn of phrase. Even though your work is aimed at a human audience, the service you provide is spiritual.”
“…whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” 1Corinthians 10:31
Ron Hughes
© January 2007
