“On my six!” The soldier whispered.
What did that mean, I wondered, as I watched the action movie with Gary. Then the soldier near the speaker moved directly behind the first soldier to safety.
So, like a clock, 12:00 was in front of the lead soldier, and the “6:00” was right behind him. A code. “Watch your six!” Meant danger behind you.
I learned that “Got your six” meant, “I have your back.” “I have your back” means you are giving the other person the assurance you will support them, protect them, help them, and so forth in a tough time.
We all have codes we use. Teachers speak of IEP (individual educational plans) and refer to standards, objectives, scaffolding tasks. Doctors, nurses and medical personnel have codes they use to communicate.
Have you heard of the Indian Code Talkers who spoke in their native languages to send secret messages about troop movements and intelligence during WWI and WWII? The Native American languages were complex and not written down, so the enemies could not figure them out!
When our son Daniel was small, he was part of our seminary community, church community and our work with Jewish Russian immigrants who came to Louisville, Kentucky, to find a new and free life. He heard Bible stories, names of Bible people and places, and the words we used in church as our adult students did in our English lessons.
We taught these brave people English by using the English Bible. Many of them were professionals who were locked out of their careers until they learned enough English to pass the exams and tests to get their medical licenses here.
One night, as Daniel and I were getting him ready for bed, reading stories aloud, singing our songs, and saying his prayers, he had a question for me.
“Mama,” “Um, hum,” I murmured.
“If Jesus is in my heart, when I eat a hamburger, does it land on His Head?” Oh my!
The spiritual code we used for salvation and asking Jesus into our hearts had confused him as he tried to understand what it really meant.
Are we guilty of locking people out of understanding the Gospel of Christ and salvation by our church code or church words? We speak of “coming forward,” “being saved” and “inviting Jesus to come into our hearts,” and those we are speaking to may not really know what that means.
Let’s be sure that we are communicating clearly to those we are talking to about Jesus, salvation and eternity.
We don’t want to lock people out, keep spiritual truths a secret, or put people in danger by not being clear! Let’s “have their backs!” I Peter 3:15: “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.”
