FAITH & ACTION by Rev. Carlos Mendez Jr.

Noble Bereans


"Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received with great eagerness and examined the Scripture every day to see if what Paul said was true."

Here is a short story…

"As soon as it was night, the brothers sent Paul and Silas away to Berea. On arriving there, they went to the Jewish synagogue. Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scripture every day to see if what Paul said was true. Many of the Jews believed, as did also a number of prominent Greek women and many Greek men.

When the Jews in Thessalonica learned that Paul was preaching the word of God at Berea, they went there too, agitating the crowds and stirring them up. The brother immediately, sent Paul to the coast, but Silas and Timothy stayed at Berea. The men who escorted Paul brought him to Athens and then left with instructions for Silas and Timothy to join him as soon as possible." (Acts 17:10-15)

As told, Bereans were of more noble character (1) for they received the message with great eagerness (2) they examined the Scripture every day (3) to see if what Paul said was true; and (4) many of the Jews believed, as did also a number of those who prominent Greek women and many Greek men believe.

The Bereans' noble character was further highlighted in contrast with the Jews-Thessalonians who (upon learning that Paul preached of the word of God at Berea), agitated and stirred-up the crowd.

Is there a connection between noble character and in the way communications (whether in the form of Scripture or otherwise) are sent, received and examined? Can we see noble character in communication? Can we see in communication noble character? Uhmm…

Trinitians especially the members of the administration, faculty and staff send or receive a lot of information, messages or communication expressed in many forms or mediums; information, messages or communications that come out because of different needs, purposes or contexts. In short, Trinitians whether they are members of administration, faculty and staff are just one among the many living species that communicate. It is part of our being!

Some information, messages or communications are simple and sometimes come naturally; others are more complex and sometimes done studiously. Senders and recipients of communications react or respond in many ways and with varying degree of responses, expectations and even consequences. This is so because of the content of the communication; this is so because of how the content or communication (manner) relayed to the recipient; this is so because of the present state or condition of the recipient when he/she/they received the communication; and other internal or external factors you can cite.

Is there a connection between noble character and in the way communications (whether in the form of Scripture or otherwise) are sent, received and examined? Can we see noble character in communication? Can we see in communication noble character? Uhmm…

Here are some points for reflection drawn from the Berean experience:
1) Do I receive "messages" (communications whether in the form of Scripture or otherwise) with eagerness? Or how do I react every time I send-receive communication?
2) Am I examining messages (communication) every day? Thoroughly? Carefully?
3) Am I "seeing" (checking, clarifying, evaluating, validating) the veracity or truism of the message (communication)?
4) Am I "seeing" the sender's (Who is the sender?), credibility, integrity, personality in relation to the messages/communication and content he/she/they are sending?
5) What are the results or impact of the message (communication) on me and as well as to others? How am I or other are behaving in relation to the messages (communication) received?
6) Are we examining the Scripture and applying the lessons we learned from the Scripture in the way we communicate to others? Or in the way we behave when communication come to us?
7) In relation to molding a more noble character, how many of us consciously consider the importance of our communication, the content of our communication, the context or the event of our communication, the recipients of our communication, and the lessons we learned from Scripture?
8) What kind of Being are we being formed into in the light of the many communication we send or received?

Let us pray. Almighty God, by your Holy Spirit helps us to mold ourselves into a more noble character through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Now you just read a piece of communication. Any reaction?

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