I Talk, Therefore I am

Bill Brown ... Xiamen University
"if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." Philippians 4:8 NIV

"Man does not talk because he thinks, but thinks because he talks, because he has words to play with, and thinking is only the tumbling about with words." Lin Yutang

Words from Where? Lin Yutang said we think because we talk, but where do we get the vocabulary that molds our mind, influences our actions, and determines our topics of conversation and thought? We are increasingly a passive entertainment-oriented society. Rather than read, or converse intelligently with others, we are spectators, watching TV, sports, movies, internet. Society is not only spoon-feeding us our vocabulary but spoon-feeding us our thoughts as well.

Captured or Captive Paul said, "Take every thought captive;" 2 Cor. 10:5. We should take charge of what we read, and talk about, and think. But have you ever really tried to "capture" your thoughts? I pity the Zen Buddhist who, after years of meditation, rejoices that he has finally achieved the stage of nonthinking--only to realize that his realization of this is itself thinking.

As James noted (3:2), we cannot control our tongues, much less capture our thoughts. But what we cannot capture, our Father can--if we interrupt our ceaseless monologue and start listening.

Don't Just Talk, Listen. Above all, begin each day not talking but listening to the still, small voice of our Father, who will teach us through our daily actions and experiences how to think His thoughts, and to live a rewarding life with purpose and direction. And our sense of direction and purpose are a compass for our actions--which in turn will reinforce our thoughts.

I Am What I Do We know attitudes affect actions, but our actions also influence our attitudes and thoughts. In the military, I felt sharper and more alert when standing erectly at attention than when I slouched. During prayer, I feel more reverent when I kneel than when I sit or stand. At school, I feel more professional when I slip out of the T-shirt and jeans (which I prefer by far) and into the suit and tie. None of the above are necessary for me to be alert, reverent, or professional--but they do help.

Do to Others, or Don't Do? Jesus taught us to "love others as ourselves," but he also gave us the Golden Rule: "Do to others what you would have them to do you", because he knew helping others heightens our sense of compassion, even as hurting others deadens our conscience and compassion as we rationalize our actions or inaction.

Compare Jesus' "Do to others" with Confucius' "Do not do to others what you don't want done to you," which leads not to compassionate involvement but complacent avoidance.

Jesus said "Your heart will be where your riches are." (Luke 12:34 NIRV). If we give our riches (our time, talents and money) to others, even for the wrong reasons, it may influence our attitudes towards them. In the same way, if we don't help others, or if we hurt them, we end up justifying our attitudes and actions (the West with its Opium Wars, the Japanese in Nanjing, the Germans in Auschwitz--the Chinese during the not-so-Cultural Revolution...

As Paul wrote, "if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things." And then do such things.

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." Philippians 4:8 NIV
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