QUESTION: Are we indeed only responsible for what we said and not how people understand us?
Sometimes, external factors distort messages before they get to receivers. The implication is that, despite the effort of the sender, the message was not preserved. A message may be compromised by physical, semantic, physiological, psychological, cultural or technical noise.
If the message did not sink because children were running around and shouting during the sermon, that’s physical noise. In a previous episode, we saw that Paul faced a noisy mob.
Acts of the Apostles 21:39b-40 NLT
[39b] Please, let me talk to these people.” [40] The commander agreed, so PAUL STOOD ON THE STAIRS AND MOTIONED TO THE PEOPLE TO BE QUIET. Soon a DEEP SILENCE ENVELOPED THE CROWD, and he addressed them in their own language, Aramaic.
We cannot underestimate the problem of physical noise. Paul was going to preach in the noisy environment, but he would first request for silence. By God’s grace, he achieved deep silence from a rioting crowd before he went on to address them. Physical noise (normal noise) can disturb the free flow of messages and we must find ways to deal with them for effective communication. Apostle Paul would speak by the Spirit, but he would still demand that there is some silence. The fact that our messages have spiritual backing does not imply that physical silence is unnecessary.
Silence is a physical depiction of our readiness to hear from God. It may go beyond being in a quiet environment or mood, but it will not always exclude it. As much as possible, we must find quiet places and moments where we give God our minds in restful and silent meditation. Perhaps, we will hear His still small voice when the thunderings have ceased. Physical noise can be a real hindrance even to spiritual communication. We cannot underestimate it.
There is also semantic noise. If I use vocabularies that make it difficult for my hearers to understand the message, that’s semantic noise. Sometimes, we want to show that we know the theological terms. Sometimes, it is an obsession over Greek and Hebrew terms. Sometimes, it is a desire to sound very learned, strange, prophetic, spiritual and all that. Semantic noise may be happening because of an obsession to sound deep by using the King James Version (KJV, nicknamed Kodzovi) English. If we use Kodzovi English, we may sound ancient and wise or deep, but what is the gain if our members did not understand even 60% of what we said? Breaking the semantic barrier requires speaking in ways that others can understand.
Semantic noise can also happen due to an obsession over sounding poetic and rhyming. You may end up sounding musical yet meaningless. I have sought for an example and found none yet. But those who face this temptation know that it may be wiser to explain concepts without the poetic and musical rhyming than to force your words to rhyme and thereby water down their meanings. Maybe, saying, “There is a tip in every deep” may not make so much sense compared to saying, “No matter what you are going through, God will work it for your good and you may soon realize that the mess brought you a message.” Being an author and a lover of words, I can testify that an obsession over sounding rhythmic and poetic can become a semantic noise in preaching, especially when the preacher is not skilled with words. Forcing to have the “tions”, “ing”, “ple” etc rhyme may begin to take the place of actually making sense to our listeners. This is another example of semantic noise.
Apostle Paul was a great communicator. He was multilingual. His communication skills must be studied. He spoke Greek to the Commander, and Aramaic to the crowd. He spoke the most fitting language. He was intentional about his icebreakers and conversation starters. He knew when to use which defense. Communication requires that you know the language of your audience and speak it. When we speak from the perspective of our audience, semantic noise can be reduced. When we preach to satisfy ourselves, we may be speaking into the air. Semantic noise is a must watch if our messages will be understood.
Semantic noise also comes with unnecessary poetic styles when words with potentially conflicting meanings are used instead of the most appropriate word. This may be the result of being too concerned with rhyming, like we’ve shared. But there are times where poetry is just intended to give that multiple and mystic effect. Compare it to those artworks that show different colors depending on your perspective. Such artistry may be amazing. But if the possible perspectives will give unbiblical impressions, then plain words backed by the Holy Spirit are more effective than poetic yet perplexing styles.
Edification lies in the meaningfulness of a message. And I could say, “Edification lies in the explanation.” It would make sense to some or I may have to explain further what I mean by explanation. But if I know my vocabulary, I could rather say, Edification lies in the essence. Beyond the form, what is the essence of your message. If I wanted to sound very poetic and said “What is the essence of your sense?”, I would only be confusing my listeners or doing long talk. People must understand what we say. And if we love to sound poetic, then we must consider this ethic and make our word game epic.
We must again highlight the semantic noise generated by the obsession over sounding “deep” or highly literate when simple language would work better for our audience. But I have observed other occasions for semantic noise such as the compulsory incorporation of thematic words even when they don’t fit very well. Not every sermon title must contain the annual theme of our churches, even if every sermon must relate to it. Not every sermon must repeat the theme in order to concern it. I suppose that preachers must be allowed to use language they are comfortable with, but also one that expresses their ideas more accurately and easily. Some semantic noise can easily be avoided.
Others produce semantic noise with unrelated or too technical examples and illustrations, or a misfitting application of trending words and concepts. May the Holy Spirit give us wisdom for effective preaching.
Physiological noise has to do with people’s physical status at the time of speaking or listening. It affects the flow of meaning into their minds. Sometimes, hanger (hunger-induced anger) makes people miscommunicate or misunderstand. That’s physiological. Also, if it is an uncomfortable posture or because I did not sleep all night, discomfort and stress can block ears in this regard. Don’t ask an otolaryngologist (ear doctor, to avoid semantic noise). Long whining messages may experience physiological noise as people get tired. It is a good example that Jesus fed his listeners when they became hungry after being with him for a long period. We believe that the Word of God is satisfying and man shall not live by bread alone. But it is a good thing that Jesus speaks about “bread alone”. Bread alone is not good, but bread is good. Sleepy, hungry, tired listeners and preachers may not be very effective, unless the Holy Spirit caters for these shortfalls. (We can never be so perfect that we don’t need the Holy Spirit to preach effectively.) The point here is that physiological factors can distort of reduce meaning.
In the case that someone is simply not in an emotional state to properly understand an otherwise clear message, the noise is psychological. Biases may fall in this category too. That is when you say, “You are right but I don’t agree with you.” Some people will not hear even if they hear, because of their biases. That’s also noise and impedes smooth communication. Biases are a big reason why people reject polemics.
Differences in cultural expectations may also become noise in communication. Some face this when they church with a new denomination. Cultural shock can throw listeners off. Technical noise refers to problems from the internet or other equipment. These are all noise that can disturb our communication.
The Puritans were wary of noise so much that they did not entertain too much decoration of their auditoriums. Beautiful simplicity, they understood, would keep the message the main thing. Today, our lights, stage setup, music, dressing and many other things we consider important may actually contribute to the noise in our meetings. When we think of beautifying God’s house, let us remember not to shroud His beauty. For the word of God is glorious and the presence of God has fullness of joy and pleasures evermore. Decorations are good, but they must not become distractions. Amen?!
It is clear that noise encapsulates everything that can distort a message either on the side of the sender, the receiver or in the middle. I want to talk about the noise that may not be blamed on either party. We may hit a wall in talking to people, not because we are not putting in the effort to make sense or they are not trying to understand. It may just be something we both should figure out. Even in an instance as this, the source or sender must be more concerned about breaking through. Not so?
We should not carelessly say that we are responsible for what we say and not how people understand it, when we must be preaching out of great love for God and the people. Indeed, we must identify the barriers to effective communication and deal with them with God’s help, not throw our hands in the air or put them in our pockets. Preaching is hard work. Paul told Timothy to “Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.” (1 Tim. 4:2, NKJV)
Please consider the two tools for preaching the Word; longsuffering (patience) and teaching. We must care to teach indeed, not just talk! When the Ethiopian eunuch was unable to receive divine communication even through his own reading of the Scriptures, Philip was led by God to help him understand. We are in the business of helping people understand, especially as ministers of God. It doesn’t mean we take all the blame for their ignorance or misunderstanding. It means we do the work, the hard work of communication, caring that they understand and trusting God to help them understand. We don’t say, It’s not my job! We may say, I’ve done my job!
To depict this better, let’s look at a statement made by Paul. He declared that no one’s eternal death in the Asian church or community could be blamed on him, because he had done his part. This was however NOT an absolution of the responsibility of faithful preaching, but a declaration of clear conscience in that regard. Again, this was at the end of his direct engagements with them. It was the last time they were going to see him. He made the statement during his farewell message to emphasize that he had “kept back nothing that was helpful” unto them. Still, this statement was made in pastoral love amidst great cautioning and beseeching of the Elders of the church to guard themselves and God’s people against danger and commit themselves wholly to the Word of God.
“And when they had come to him, he said to them: “You know, from the first day that I came to Asia, in what manner I always lived among you, serving the Lord with all humility, with many tears and trials which happened to me by the plotting of the Jews; testifying to Jews, and also to Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me. But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. “And indeed, now I know that you all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, will see my face no more. Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men. For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God.” (Acts 20:18-19,21-27 NKJV)
“I am innocent of the blood of men [that were committed to me]”, Paul says. He was sure about this, because “I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God.” (Acts 20:27, NKJV) This stands to reason that unless a preacher faithfully communicates God’s message, they are guilty of the blood of the sinner. Paul was faithful in content and extent. He preached the counsel of God, unreservedly and wholly. He preached it clearly also, so that people were without excuse.
Matthew Henry lists that Paul was a plain, powerful, profitable, faithful, Christian evangelical preacher. Plainness comes first, because many else depend on it. The message must make meaning because meaning makes the message. And the responsibility starts with the preacher. In our case, the true source of the message is God. But it is the preacher’s work to relay it, laboring in teachings and prayer. Paul considered preaching as labor (1 Timothy 5:17). Christian leaders and preachers are called to the hard work of “rightly dividing the word of truth” unto our hearers. We are not guiltless in the eternal death of our hearers or any consequences for that matter, unless we can declare with a clear conscience like Paul that our work was done faithfully in all integrity and longsuffering. “I have done my job”, we may say; but we never say, “It is not my job”.
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Shalom!