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22 THE LANGUAGE OF LOVE
Our message may be abbreviated, either because we cannot say everything at
once or because those listening to our account cannot take it all in, or because
we do not fully understand it ourselves. We may not know how to express it
properly and trip over ourselves when we try to explain it. How many of us
can put into words the feelings we have for those who are closest to us? But
if human love is a powerful force that cannot be pinned down like that, how
much more will this be true of the love of God? It takes careful reflection in
order to speak comprehensively, accurately, and convincingly about an experience
of something that goes beyond what is merely rational. To guide us in
understanding and expressing such deep things, God has raised up teachers
and guides, so that we may learn, as Saul learned from Ananias, how to communicate
what we have experienced.
To do this effectively, we have to find the right terms—words that will
not be misunderstood by those who hear them. Our minds have to be given
the right conceptual framework, so that we will not get confused or talk at
cross-purposes. We cannot argue other people into believing in God, but we
can always say what he means to us and how he should be understood, so that
those who do not believe in him know whom they are rejecting. We must be
able to tell the world how we understand the universe, our place in it, and the
purpose of our existence. Others may disagree with us and offer alternative
proposals, but we must put our case as clearly and as coherently as possible,
so that they know what they are disagreeing with. Christians who are vague
about these things or who cannot articulate their beliefs in a comprehensible
manner will never communicate their faith to anyone. God has called us to
give a reason for the hope that is within us and to proclaim the message of
salvation to all mankind, whether or not they listen to what we are saying. 10
We may not always get through to unbelievers, but we should at least do our
best to make sure that, if our message is rejected, the fault for that will lie with
them and not with us.
Christian teachers and guides come in different shapes and sizes. Some
are “evangelists” or proclaimers of the gospel, whose primary task is to
explain our faith to outsiders and urge them to consider Christ’s claim on
their lives. Others are preachers whose main role is the building up of God’s
people, so that they will be more settled in their beliefs and better witnesses
to the wider world. Then there are teachers, whose duty it is to develop the
deeper implications of our faith and provide resources to preachers and evangelists
so that they can fulfill their own callings more effectively. Admittedly,
this analysis is an abstraction, and each person who is called to bear witness to
10 1 Pet. 3:15; Matt. 28:19–20.