The Bible Speaks to You December 20, 1969 Issue

[The above is an abbreviated, postproduction text of the program released for broadcast the week of December 12-18 in the radio series, "The Bible Speaks to You." Heard internationally over more than 1,000 stations, the weekly programs are prepared and produced by the Christian Science Committee on Publication, 107 Falmouth Street, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A. 02115.]

RADIO PROGRAM NO. 402 - Communication That Heals

with contributions from Jerome Franke, Harlan Witham

[The speaker is Jerome Franke. The questioner is Harlan Witham.]

Questioner: Antagonism and misunderstanding are hard to take when you're trying to communicate with other people. It can be a real impasse when we are trying to get something important across.
Speaker: I agree. What we communicate can make all the difference. In such situations it has helped to ask myself what my motives are in dealing with others. Do I want to heal the situation? Am I willing to see both myself and the other fellow change?

It is important that we be honest with ourselves, that, as we read in Timothy (I Tim. 6: 18), we be "willing to communicate," if we are to make the most of the opportunity to add a deeper dimension to communication by really bringing healing.
Questioner: You don't believe, then, that it is enough to be merely civil, to try to understand the other person's point of view, to be openminded to adjustments and accommodations?
Speaker: No. We read in Proverbs (23:7), "As he thinketh in his heart, so is he." It's essential that what we are thinking in our hearts is in accordance with God's teaching. When we're willing to love, and our hearts are actively in accord with divine Love, God, we're able to communicate in word or deed all that's necessary to wipe out antagonism, misunderstanding, resentment, and strife.
Questioner: But that may be difficult to do.
Speaker: True! But we must turn our thought to God to realize the spiritual nature of man as set forth in the Bible. This gives us the foundation for daily response to the pressures and conflicts that seem so prevalent today. A deeper level of communication is required, as indicated by Christ Jesus when he said (Matt 5:43-45): "Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; that ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven."