I AM YELLING AT YOU! No, don’t get me wrong; I am not angry or upset in any way. I’m just pointing out one of the conventions on Facebook and other social media; something is written in ‘All Caps’ (all capital letters) means that you are YELLING!!! As in most face to face conversations, nobody likes to be yelled at. There are times when you have to raise your voice, to be sure, but usually it’s impolite to speak in anything but a normal voice.
ALL CAPS YELLING is very obvious. A loud voice is also pretty noticeable but you can be yelled at in at least one other way, I’ve noticed. You can be yelled at simply by the attitude a person has. While they might use a soft tone of voice, if they are angry or really, really trying to make you see their point, or tell you that you are doing something bad, it’s just the same as if they were using a big OUTDOOR VOICE.
I don’t like to be yelled at in any circumstance. Being yelled at means I’ve either done something wrong, I’m in danger, or someone is just being rude or overbearing. I especially dislike, however, what one might call the ‘Quiet Yell’ that I’ve just described. It’s not only impolite, it’s very hurtful, and for somebody like me, it’s a great way to get me to turn against you or simply disagree with what you’re saying, no matter how salient the point might be.
That’s not to say that I’m contrary to others or that I will never agree with another person’s point of view. Come at me cheerfully and reasonably, make your point clearly and without a threat, help me understand what it is that you’re trying to say and why I should come on board with you, and I’m open to change my mind, or at least include your point of view in my personal way of thinking. Yell at me however, and you’ve lost me; whatever you’re trying to say will simply bounce off me like an echo off a canyon wall.
A careful read of the Bible will reveal that God doesn’t often yell at people. Yes, there are times when His speech is quite forceful and overwhelming, but rarely, if ever, does the Almighty raise His voice at us. This is especially true in the New Testament. The New Testament introduces us to God’s Word made flesh. Jesus.
Jesus, God’s Son, is neither a yell nor a whisper. He is not a reasoned discourse or a lecture. He is not a funny anecdote or silly story. Jesus is a conversation between friends or family. He is a loving talk between equals. He is an comforting chat for the sick or lonely. God doesn’t yell at us or even talk at us. Through Jesus, God talks to us through both words and actions. God lets us know His feelings and ideas as well as listening to us in return.
Not only are we invited into this conversation with God, we are also asked to spread the Word and to invite others into the conversation with and through Jesus. It’s a wonderful thing to share. You might even want to YELL about it so that everyone can get in on the Good News, but that’s not necessary. Live the conversation to others as Jesus lives it to you. That’s all it will take for others to hear Him.
