Ever been the target of a stranger’s “word rage” on a bad day?

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

“She Yelled and Called Me Names”
This anecdote by Susan Basham from Everyday Grace brings to life many biblical teachings. It’s a touching story in its own right, but it also calls to mind all those biblical admonitions that we need to be reminded of from time to time — the ones about turning the other cheek, doing good to those who persecute us, giving food and drink to an enemy.  As Proverbs 15:1 says, “A kind answer soothes angry feelings” (Contemporary English Version).  You may be more familiar with it in the NRSV translation: “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”  I think Susan Basham’s simple little story from everyday life drives home the point well, and it’s likely to linger with you long after you read it.   (My thanks to Susan Campbell of Hot Dogma for calling my attention to this link.)

Letha Dawson Scanzoni is an independent scholar, writer, and editor, and is the author or coauthor of nine books. In 1978, she and Virginia Ramey Mollenkott wrote Is the Homosexual My Neighbor?, one of the earliest books urging evangelical Christians to rethink their views on homosexuality (updated edition, 1994, HarperOne). More recently, Letha coauthored (with social psychologist David G. Myers) What God Has Joined Together: The Christian Case for Gay Marriage (HarperOne, 2005 and 2006). Another of Letha’s most well-known books is All We’re Meant to Be: Biblical Feminism for Today, coauthored with Nancy A. Hardesty (Word Books, 1974; revised edition, Abingdon, 1986; updated and expanded edition, Eerdmans, 1992). Letha served as editor of Christian Feminism Today in both its former print edition (EEWC Update) and its website for 19 years until her retirement in December 2013.

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