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Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Today's Frontline Devotion Sunday, June 8, 2003 HYPERBOLE |
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Frontline Devotion for Sunday, June 8, 2003 By Frederick A. Foltz
Hyperbole (hi-pur’-bo-lee) extravagant exaggeration of statement, a statement exaggerated fancifully, as for effect.
Text; Matthew 10: 32-40
TODAY’S MESSAGE
In first century Israel acknowledging you were a Christian was a dangerous confession. Christians were persecuted by authorities and shunned by families. Statements that embarrass us today, such as “I bring conflict rather than peace” or “You must love me more than you love your parents”, are just common sense in such a setting. To remain silent about your beliefs was very tempting.
But the faith is never just about me getting into heaven. It is trusting that God makes change possible in this world, that together we can make a better world for everyone. That will never happen if we all remain silent about our beliefs. We must trust God’ care enough to acknowledge and act out our faith, even in dangerous situations.
Admittedly, statements such as “I come to bring a sword” or “I have come to set a son against his father and a daughter against her mother” are hyperbole, a form of exaggerated expression, common in scripture. A calm reading quickly perceives it is a one-sided literary device used to make a point. We all know Jesus much more often spoke of his mission ultimately bringing peace and unity to humankind.
Hyperbole does force you to think. For instance, if I proclaim, “None of you gets into the kingdom unless all of you get in” I might be exaggerating, but I bet I made you think. And perhaps, if I was successful, I helped you improve your understanding of Christian activity.
Let us pray: Father, grant us the courage to acknowledge our faith in you and your ways wherever we find ourselves. And enable us to do it in a way that attracts rather than repels, brings light rather than darkness, and inspires good works rather than violence. In Christ’s name. Amen.
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