Empty rhetorics are among the many problems of the church. Rhetorics that are meant to convey good but do the exact opposite in the long term.
Starting with “God bless you”, a very common one shared by the majority of Christians but that is very detached from the message of the gospel. Often, the words are pronounced to convey something good from God to our behalves. Maybe it stands for “(May) God bless you”, or ” (I wish or pray that) God (will) bless you”, or “God (has) bless(ed) us). It’s never always clear what the person means when uttering those words. At the very least, the words fail to acknowledge that God has already blessed us. The words fail to recognize that God has always been blessing us since the beginning of time and will continue to do so for as long as He lives. The words are often meant to convey to us that the person who uttered them hope to see something of a wonderful nature happens to us soon. It almost seems right to have such wish by anyone toward ourselves. But what is lacking is that something of a wonderful nature has already happened to us, that is God “has” already blessed us in Christ.
So what do you hear when you listen to such expression? Maybe you hear, “I’m thankful to God for you” based on the context in which it was mentioned. Maybe you hear, “May God continue to do great things for you and through you”. Maybe you hear, “It was great to see you, I hope to see you again soon”. When we don’t say what we mean to say and hide our expression of gratitude behind traditional rhetorics, we’re simply honoring traditions rather than pronouncing and proclaiming the truth. We may be saying a truth, while forfeiting the opportunity to say “the” truth.
As we find the opportunity to do so, we are not to simply say “God bless you” and throw the person into a whirlwind of what we mean by such. Instead, we are to tell them exactly what we mean to say without leaving room for various interpretations. We are to be clear with our words to the benefit of our hearers.
We are to follow Christ, understand Christ in his words saying,
“What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs.” (Matthew 10:27)
We are to be clear in who we are, what we say and what we do. We are the redeemed of God in Christ. We are to proclaim the gospel. We are to do whatever is of necessity because of the gospel. The gospel gives us the encompassing license to do good because it empowers us with freedom, joy, hope, peace, patience, knowledge, understanding, and love.
As one cleared of a crime, we have been cleared by God in Christ. Therefore, we are to acknowledge our state of clearness and help others to do the same as well so that our burden can become lighter as they join us in doing the same to others as we did for them by the power of the gospel.
“All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting men’s trespasses against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation.” (2 Corinthians 5:18-19)
All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ.
We’re cleared. Let us show others that we’re cleared by proclaiming the gospel, teaching the gospel and living because of the gospel.
We are to help others hear and understand what is meant of the clear fact: “Whoever the Son sets free, is free indeed.” Free of the allegations, free of the accusations, free of the charges, free of the burdens, free indeed.
“All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting men’s trespasses against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation.” (2 Corinthians 5:18-19)
It is clear that we are cleared. We are to help others hear, know and understand that they too have been cleared.
Jesus is the well of the living water, the Holy Spirit. 