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| Volume 18 Number 6 June 2016 | Page 9 |
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| Volume 18 Number 6 June 2016 | Page 9 |
Jangling
Donald R. Fox
Ed Sullivan was a very early television personality. His TV variety show started in 1948 and ended in 1971. In 1948, most folks did not own a television set. As time passed, television became the entertainment center for the average family. I remember on the Ed Sullivan show a fast-talking entertainer by the name of Al Kelly. His routine was to double talk. Double talk is defined in part as, “Meaningless speech that consists of nonsense syllables mixed with intelligible words; gibberish, deliberately ambiguous or evasive language. Furthermore, called doublespeak.”
Another interesting word that is used to describe a type of double-talking is jangling. Jangling is found once in the King James Version of the New Testament as follows. “Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned: From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling” (1 Timothy 1:5-6).
Other versions of the New Testament translate the end of verse six as “vain talking” (ASV) or “vain discussion” (ESV). Our English dictionary defines jangling in part as, “To talk idly; to quarrel verbally; to utter or sound in a discordant, babbling, or chattering way.” We all can understand that jangling is idly conflicting speech that is designed to mislead the hearer. I have heard a lot of double-talking in the political world and in the religious arena also. How about you?
Without beating up this subject, let us in a simple way say, what you and I must do is to obey God via the Scriptures. Anything else is to go beyond the Word of God. What matters for all mankind is, “What does the Bible say?” Let us all remember, “If ye love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15 KJV). “I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed” (Galatians 1:6-8).
Mark N. Posey
The young salesman was disappointed about losing a big sale, and as he talked with his sales manager he lamented, “I guess it just proves you can lead a horse to water but you can’t make him drink.” The manager replied, “Son, take my advice. Your job is not to make him drink. Your job is to make him thirsty.” So it is with evangelism. Our lives should be so filled with Christ that they create a thirst for the Gospel. The Christian’s duty is to make those who we encounter thirsty for the Gospel.
The Command from above (Mark 16:15)
In the verse, Jesus gave the marching orders for every Christian. Notice Jesus’ authority (Matthew 28:18-20), Jesus’ assignment (Matthew 28:19-20a) and Jesus’ assurance (Matthew 28:20b). The Greek verb “go” in Matthew 28:19 is not a command but a present participle (“going”). The command in the entire Great Commission is “teach all nations” (“make disciples”). Jesus was saying, “While you are going, make disciple of all nations.” Wherever we go, we should seek to win others to Christ (Acts 11:29-21).
The Cry from beneath (Luke 16:27)
The Rich Man developed an evangelistic fervor, but it was too late. So, he cried to Abraham to send someone from the dead to convince his brothers. However, even a risen dead person would be less convincing than the prophets. Thus, the cry from the eternally lost is motivational to evangelize the living.
The Caution from before (Ezekiel 3:17-21)
The watchman stood on the city wall guarding against external or internal threats. He would sound the alarm of impending danger. God made Ezekiel a spiritual watchman. He warned the people with God’s warning. He wasn’t accountable for the people, but he was responsible to them.
The Call from without (Acts 16:9)
Paul answered the Macedonian Call; he went to bring Macedonia the Gospel – the best possible help. The greatest help we can bring anyone is the life-changing Gospel of Jesus Christ!
The Constraint from within (2 Corinthians 5:14)
Paul wanted to give the Gospel to others because so much had been given to him by the Lord. Jeremiah wanted to quit, but he couldn’t because “His word was in my heart like a burning fire” (Jeremiah 20:9). The Macedonians felt so indebted to the Jerusalem Christians for having received the Gospel that they sent generous help to their needy brothers and sisters (Romans 15:25-27).
In conclusion, please note: For God so loved the world, not just a few, the wise and the great, the noble and the true, and those of favored class, rank or hue. God loved the world. Do you?