Ever wonder why it is that the person who gets the last word in, wins the argument? How many times as parents we argued with our children and ended the argument by saying, “I don’t want to hear another word from you. I have spoken and that’s the end of it!”? On and on it sometimes goes. As parents we want to get in the last word.
I think this argumentativeness extends to life, politics, the workplace, religion, science, philosophy, morality, and education. It’s pervasive. Everyone seems to have an opinion, some based on fact and some just emotion. Of course, we all like to think that we are right and everyone else is wrong. Even when confronted with fact, most people refuse to admit they could be wrong. The old saying, “Everybody is crazy except for you and me, and I think you are just a little bit.” Applies here.
Who gets the last word? In the biggest struggle of our lives, when all is said and done, God gets the last word. When we stand before God, and experience the full revelation and presence of God, it is God who will have the last word. That is one reason why, when I am asked whether I am republican or democrat or independent, liberal or conservative, I answer, I am Christian. In that way, I try to conform my life and morality, beliefs and worldview to that of Jesus and the Bible and the Teaching of the Church.
This does not mean that I blindly accept everything I hear and see. So much of the information we get is only half-truths and so one must dig deeper, reflect on what is presented, listen to all sides of an argument, and then decide what to believe and how to act. Yet, some things are not up for discussion since they have already been decided by people a lot smarter than me. The Ten Commandments are not up for discussion. The beliefs in the Nicene Creed are not up for discussion. The Gospels and the rest of the New Testament are not arguable. Granted, we can find what we perceive to be literary flaws and criticize the writings, but that is easy to do when the Bible writers are not here to defend themselves. We are called to accept and affirm a doctrine or dogma, even if we sometimes don’t comprehend it. Which for me is much of the time. Wrestling with these ideas is mostly above my understanding and “paygrade”.
To think that I know more about Jesus and his teaching than the Apostles, or know more about our faith and morality than priests, cardinals and bishops, or know more about medicine than doctors, is the sin of pride. I rely heavily on mechanics, electricians, etc. and would rarely contradict them. They get the last word and I pay for it. Why would I not give Jesus and those who know him the last word in belief and morals? I seek more understanding, but do not challenge the truth.
“May the Lord bless and keep you. May he let his face shine upon you, be gracious to you and give you his peace.”