DON'T SHOULD ON ME

            The word ‘should’ has become something of an all-purpose word these days.  Only from the context can we know whether it is being used to express moral imperative, community agreement or individual preference.  One thing is certain though.  People seem to be using ‘should’ more and more.  Even when the word isn’t used, the meaning can be smuggled in.

            What do you do when someone “shoulds” on you?  Ask a question.  Asking a question is almost always a better strategy than making a statement.  Greg Koukl of Stand to Reason ministry calls the strategy of asking certain questions “The Columbo Tactic, in honor of Lieutenant Columbo of the T.V. series of the same name.  (read his explanation here:  http://www.str.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=6879 )  He recommends it in many circumstances as a way of keeping the temperature down in an otherwise likely-to-be-heated conversation.

            Confronted by someone’s announcement that you should (or should not) do something, here’s the Columbo question:  “What do you mean by that?”  In asking the question that way, you’re indicating that you don’t understand which meaning of ‘should’ is being used.  Is the person saying it’s morally wrong to do that?  Are they saying it’s illegal to do it?  Are they saying it’s unwise?  Or are they merely expressing their personal disapproval of your action?

            Once you know which usage of ‘should’ is being employed – whether your critic considers you action to be immoral, illegal, foolish or personally offensive – you are able to continue the conversation with more precision.

            Occasionally, a friend who tells you that you shouldn’t do something actually has your best interest at heart.  They really care about you, and care enough to risk your friendship by telling you something you need to hear.  Even as you seek to avoid being “should” on by others, it is wise to keep your ears and heart open to those occasions when someone does so because they love you.  Friends like that are rare, and should be cherished beyond measure.  

            Oops!  There’s that ‘should.’

BRINGING YOU THE WEATHER

            This may seem an odd topic with which to begin a blog on religion and other issues, but read please before you make up your mind.  I’ve been bothered for a few years now by the change in language from our weather reporters here in Los Angeles, trying to decide if the new language is deliberate or not.

            I’m speaking about the evolution in the meaning of the phrase, “bringing you the weather.”  Back when Dr. George Fischbeck, a fellow Lutheran by the way, used to bring us the weather, what he was bringing was clearly the weather report.  He was reporting what meteorological findings indicated the weather was most likely to be – tomorrow, the day after, and even for the next week.  He was bringing the report.

            But that was then and this is now.   Now the dapper weather man Dallas Raines on Channel 7, or the attractive weather babe, Jackie Johnson on Channel 2, appears to take personal credit for the warm and delightful weekend we’re about to have, and even for the 60% chance of rain we so desperately need.   In recent years, “We’re bringing you a warming trend,” has been replaced by “We’re warming up the weekend for you,” or similar claims to control what we cannot yet control.  It may seem a subtle difference, but the difference matters.

            The weather is caused by a variety of meteorological circumstances completely beyond the control of meteorologists’ manipulation.  Weather reporters report the weather; they don’t make or bring or change it.  They simply don’t have that power.  The Bible tells us that God does have that power.  Though he usually appears not to directly intervene, whether it’s Jesus calming the storm or God sending a tempest to stop Jonah from running away from his prophetic assignment at Nineveh, controlling the weather is God’s province, not ours.

            So when the reporting language changes from “bringing you the weather” to “warming up the weekend” or “bringing us much-needed rain,” it seems like one more slide toward taking credit for things over which we have no control.  I’m not asking for weather reporters to give God the credit – or blame – for tomorrow’s weather.  I’m just asking them not to take it themselves.

            And when we say our nightly prayers, let’s thank God for today’s beautiful weather and ask God, not Johnny Mountain, for a nice beach day tomorrow.  I still haven’t decided if there’s some deliberate co-opting of God’s area of responsibility going on, but I’m still thinking about it.  I hope you now are too.

                                                                                     -- Pastor Mees