Read between the lines… 

The whole of Israel was celebrating the small boy as a ‘bravo..’ “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands,” the women extolled David higher than Saul. David could have maintained that same image of a bravo forever. He could have ordered the poets of that time to write fictional epics centering him as the Hero, it would have accepted by everyone till today. 

However, read Psalm chapter 6 and 56. David has recorded about his fears about his foes in those chapters. He did not pray to God in privacy, mourning about his afraidness. Instead he wrote it as a Psalm and let everyone sing it. Would the people not think him to be a timid person, “we regarded King David as a brave warrior. Is he an ordinary man just like us who is intimidated by his foes?”

It is possible for David to be headstrong to create a Super-holy image in front of his people, “I was once a shepherd, looking after my flock somewhere, but God lifted me to the throne. Ain’t I the greatest?” Nonetheless he confessed about his sins and called himself a sinner in front of his whole nation, which is recorded in Psalm chapter 51.

Well, why does he divulge about himself? Why does he humble himself this lower? Here’s his answer for our questions! 

(Because of my transgressions) Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. Then I will teach transgressors your ways, so that sinners will turn back to you.(Psalm 51:11-13) 

What does this mean? “Even though my sins are abominable, when you forgive me graciously, my life will become an example for people. People will come to God courageously pondering that when God could forgive this horrid sinner, He could forgive me of my sins, too.” This was David’s notion. 

Amazing! Isn’t he? When it comes to the matter of God, David never bothered about his reputation. Otherwise would he have danced before the ark, wearing a linen ephod like ordinary people? Hence God calls him as the man after His own heart! 

Shall we review some of our sermons and social media posts so far?

In most of our sermons and posts, “God is good,” will be obvious, clear cut and “I am good, too,” will be stated indirectly. And “God is Holy,” will be shown in a straightforward manner and “I am Holy, too,” will be clinging there hidden. 

Have you ever read between the lines of your own sermons and posts? What do they say about you significantly? When we read the lines, the information is stored in our brain. But when we read between the lines, it reaches us Sub-conscious mind. The information that reached our brain will fade away as the days go by whilst the information that reached our Sub-conscious will remain forever. 

For example, let’s take a movie. A hero stands against the politicians who scam. That politician sends numerous brawlers to threaten that hero. But the hero trounces all those rowdies at one all alone. We might think that the director of the movie has shown about the frauds of the politicians and at the same time, he has also shown how a person should be justful and brave enough to fight against such fraudsters. When we see the success of the hero, our brain will secrete a hormone called Dopamine. The audience would applaud. It reaches his brain, like reading the lines. 

On the other hand, another information is recorded subliminally. That is, “politicians will be vile and wicked like this. We cannot stand up against them. They will threaten us with rowdies. If we are not a super-hero like the protagonist, we will die certainly. Ordinary people like us should keep quiet even if we know about their unfair affairs.” Hence, the ecstasy is sown in the brain of the audience and the fear is sown significantly in their Sub-conscious. The ecstasy of the dopamine fades away when the audience come out of the theatre, but the fear that is impregnated in them unapparently remains firm. It impacts their social life permanently. 

Do you know what we are informed subliminally when we read the Psalms of David? “Do we have as many nemesis as David? Will we face a humongous adversity than this? Won’t God who helped David in such miserable state help us? David coveted Bathsheba and killed Uriah, yet when he asked for forgiveness, God forgave all his transgressions. Will He not forgive me?” Data as these will reach our Sub-conscious. Not just the Psalm of David, the whole of Bible is filled with elixir of life that heals our Sub-conscious. 

Nonetheless, how the sermons and  Facebook posts of many of us are? They are good outwardly, like blazing fire, sword and hammer. The ones who hear will be excited thinking that the preacher has uttered the truth truthfully. 

But, what does it say subliminally? “Wow, Christianity is so great and noble! The spiritual life is wonderful! But we have to be super-spiritual, super-holy, sacrificial, fasting champion, like him. Is it possible for ordinary people like us who descend often?” These are the messages that are reaching the Sub-conscious of people. They begin to believe that a successful spiritual life is not possible for them unbeknownst of themselves. 

Be truthful to your conscience. How many of us are showing an illusionary Angel-like version of ourselves in front of people after being saved? Why do we hide our falls and failures from other believers? Why is our life not an open book? When we conceal our true nature and show a fake holy version of ourselves while we preach and write, how will it spiritually impact the children of God? 

This fake illusionary version that we display in the name of servants of God, segregates us from other believers. They are afraid of getting close to us and to talk with us. They alienate themselves from us mentally. 

On the other hand, the fake Angel-like illusion creates a fear, reverence and much greater anticipation on us. When they get closer to us, they also get to know about our truest nature. The illusion dies then and it also impacts the foundation of their spiritual life. We are not becoming their witness, but hindrance. 

Nonetheless, look at Christ Jesus! Though He was Holy, He was so modest, humble and down-to-earth to befriend anyone, even a sinner. 

When our life is an open book, natural and true without any illusion, and when are sermons are reflected from our own lives, it will touch the hearts of the people who hear and it will do its deeds in them. It will transform them. Or else, we may receive appreciation and thumbs up for our posts and sermons. However, the Kingdom of Heaven will not recognize it. 

All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one. (Matthew 5:37)