Last weekend, an eternity in the current news cycle, there was a video on social media that showed a conversation between Ady Barkan and Presidential Candidate Joe Biden. In the video, Mr. Barkan asks Candidate Biden if he would be willing to reallocate money for social services from policing. Biden appears to say that yes, he would do that.
I say appears; because, Ady Barkan did not ask that question. He did ask Candidate Biden if he was willing to reallocate money to social services. But those words “for police”? He never said those words. Someone doctored the video, added audio to put those words into Mr. Barkan’s mouth.
This wasn’t as difficult as it might be with most people. Mr. Barkan, you see, has been diagnosed with ALS, which has robbed him of the ability to speak. He has a computer, much like the late Stephen Hawking, that speaks for him. He puts his words into the computer’s mouth; so, it can speak for him. This computerized voice is what was used in the video to put words into Mr. Barkan’s mouth.
I’ve spent far too much of this week being angered that someone differently abled had been abused and taken advantage of in such a way. I wanted to say something to Rep. Steve Scalise who shared that video on Twitter. But, first, I had a plank to remove from my own eye.
While warning his disciples of the persecutions that would come upon them, upon any who follow the Way, he told them that when they were brought before authorities and councils they were not to worry about what to say. The Holy Spirit will give you the words to say. His listeners, and we, are meant to hear the echo of the story of Moses and Aaron before Pharaoh, remembering when the Holy One put his words into their mouths.
Moses was an ambassador for God, as are we. An ambassador is one who speaks for another. The words of a U.S. ambassador to England or Spain are considered to be the words of America. Our words are in their mouths just as God’s was in Moses. As Christ’s are to be in mine.
I can forget this, and I did this week. As I struggled with the words to write, I was reminded that I had not yet asked the One whose words are supposed to be upon my lips what he desired to say. I forgot that my words, given or not, are taken as Christ’s like everyone who tries to walk in this Way. I’m only an ambassador. I may speak, but the voice should be Christ’s.
Make no mistake, what happened to Mr. Barkan was wrong. But as angry as I want to be, I’m reminded that I’m capable of worse, of stealing the voice of the One. Of daring to put words of mine into Jesus’ mouth.
Because, it is not I who should speak, but Christ.