Christians and Humanities Part 3 | Communication
We live in a world built on words. Because we as human beings are capable of using and understanding language, we are able to gain knowledge, foster relationships, and express ourselves to the world around us. This ability even allows us to communicate with people we’ve never met through the written or digital word. Although the majority of living creatures communicate on some level, the scope of human communication—from literature to rhetoric to speech—generates great fascination among humanities scholars seeking to discern the origin of these abilities as well as the appropriate and effective employment of them. For Christian humanities scholars, who recognize the ability to use language as an aspect of the imago Dei, the question of language’s origin is settled, but our concern for how to use it well becomes even more important. We as Christians must come to understand communication in all its forms as a gift from God, entrusted to us in order that we might give to others as well.
Like all other aspects of our humanity, our ability to communicate is derived from God’s own nature. God Himself communicates, both indirectly through creation (Psalm 19, Romans 1:19-20) and directly through language (II Timothy 3:16-17). He even labels Himself as “the Word” (John 1:1, 14), a title that suggests not only the profound knowledge and meaning that can be found within the person of God but also His revelation of Himself to mankind. Because God communicates, we can as well, although our use of language exhibits the effects of the fall. Our communication can be confusing, deceptive, contentious, idle, pompous, corrupt. We do not always speak as we ought to.
Yet for those of us who have been restored to a right relationship with our Creator through Jesus, every part of our humanity—including our ability to communicate—is being redeemed in order for us to fulfill our purpose as human beings. We as Christians, regardless of our profession, are called to communicate in a way that ministers grace to those who hear us (Ephesians 4:29). Our words ought to be gifts of truth and love for all who hear us (Ephesians 4:15). These principles of truth and love ought to inform the study of communication and guide its practice.
For Christians who study communication as a discipline of the humanities, truth ought to be especially emphasized. Whether written or spoken, our communication ought to reflect reality as God has designed it. We speak out of the abundant truth which fills our hearts: the knowledge of God’s existence, the way He has ordered the world, and the role He has given us as human beings. We also seek to represent facts accurately, avoiding bias and deception in order to present the clearest possible picture of a given issue, event, person, or organization. In all our uses of language, we are called to be honest.
We must take care, however, that our zeal for the truth does not mutate into aggression. In our postmodern world, which denies objective reality, truth is offensive enough, but all too often we express truth in a way that invites additional offense. While we cannot deny or dilute the content of our communication, we ought to be attentive to the way we communicate it. Christian communication should be marked by love.
In its truest form, love is not mere affirmation or affection, but a choice that motivates us to act in a way that promotes the ultimate good of our neighbor (Matthew 22:39). By communicating out of a heart of love, we honor both the truth of our message as well as the dignity of our listeners, who are made in the image of God just as we are. To tell the truth can be an act of love in itself, but we can also demonstrate love in the way we present the truth—clearly, thoughtfully, and respectfully.
Though we have many mediums of communication available to us, our mission of communication remains the same across all platforms. Whether speaking, writing, or sharing virtually, we are called to speak the truth in love so that through us, the world may hear the message of the Word Himself.
Author Rachel Mayes Allen graduated from MBU in 2018 with a BS in English Education. She teaches 9th grade English through Wisconsin Virtual Academy. She is working on her MA in Composition through Liberty University and expects to graduate this summer.