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If you are young, you have probably heard that line. If you are a parent or have been in some position of authority, you might have said that. I did. I confess that it usually came at the end of an exhausting argument about “why” something had to be the way I said it had to be. I was done with logic, and I had exhausted my relational capital and simply wanted surrender.

I have read the Bible “cover to cover” many times. A number of years ago I used a color-coded system to track various themes; I had a color for God’s speaking to man, for prayer, for heaven, hell and so forth. What really struck me was how much emphasis we give to things that the Bible doesn’t emphasize as much. I remember coming to the end of that experience thinking that the Bible is really about the relationship between God and people more than anything else.

Symbols are used to remind us of ideas. When we see a Swoosh, certain things come to mind. When we see the Golden Arches, certain things come to mind. Symbols were used before the days of mass-marketing. For many centuries, the cross, the anchor and the fish have been used as reminders of Christianity. That’s not wrong but the symbols the Lord gave us are known as “ordinances,” they are His prescribed memorials.

Remember? I know I’ve brought this up before but that statement that “words will never hurt me,” is so wrong. Words are from the heart, so words have meaning. Words carry a certain weight depending on who they come from. Generally, the closer we are in a relationship, the more the words weigh. If they are words of blessing from someone close, they really bless!

Some of you will recognize that phrase as the title of an essay written by C.S. Lewis. If you have never had the privilege of reading it, take an hour at some point in your day to stop and meditate on this classic piece of writing. You might not grasp all the concepts, but you will be better informed for having tried, and if you apply what he wrote, you’ll be becoming a better person and a better friend. Both in and out of the church, people have recognized that character is not given at birth, it is formed by our life choices.