News

First Person, Third Person, All Persons?

The word “we” is a powerful word. The war cry of the pandemic has been “We are in this together.” We. Part of this word’s definition is together. In marriage there is a we. In family there is a we. In congregations, civic organizations, teams, unions, and professions there is a we.  We of course has as a corollary, us. 

One of the most profound displays of we can be found in crowds at sporting events as they loudly pull for their team. I will never forget attending the NFC championship game at the Cardinals’ stadium when the Cardinals defeated the Eagles to move on to the Super Bowl. There was hugging among strangers, men cried, and the very structure vibrated because we had triumphed….team, organization and fans…”we.”

Of course, we/us, can be powerful in a very negative and harmful way. Sadly, there was a tremendous feeling of we and us among the crowd attacking the Capitol building, its occupants, and its police. 

Like all words, we has an antonym. Of course that would be “”I”.  I can be a good word or a harmful word if used in a way that it denies any responsibility for being part of the we. In addition it can be said that another opposite of we is them with the word they being a close relative. Notice sometimes how we use the words them or they.  So often we use the words them or they in terms of opposition or at least of difference. Too often these two words are used as words of division drawing an imaginary line between us and them, we and they.

Interestingly we is not really used in the Bible. However, everywhere it is implied. When you see the words Israel or the church, scripture is talking neither about an individual nor some incidental or coincidental collection of individuals. It is implying a community called together with a communal mission. 

I remember many years ago when my first congregation held a Seder meal in our Fellowship Hall. One of our leaders wrinkled up her brow and asked, “Do we have to do everything they do?”  Of course we do not, but we could, after all, sharing what we call the Old Testament creates a kinship among us both. It seems to me there is more we in Christianity’s relationship with Judaism then there is they. Funny, on campus with all the Christian campus ministries as well as Jewish, Muslim, Bahai, and, occasionally Buddhist, I find myself often agreeing with the Reform Rabbi than many of my Christian colleagues. 

Why this word game on small, ordinary words? Because I am convinced the world is a better place when the word we can be expanded to include them. And the world would be a better place if they could bring us in. 

Silly wordsmithing? Probably. Not enough time to think of something else to write? Maybe. But think about the words we use so often….too often….as we talk about ourselves and talk about people near and far. Think about the implications of our (a possessive form of we/us) speech. If we do, just maybe some of the divisiveness of our time can be brought down a notch. Don’t we all hope so? 

We is not only a powerful word, it is a great word. No doubt it is not coincidence that this is the first word used in the preamble to our constitution….”We the people….”   We. It is not possible to be a nation, it is not possible to be a people of God without we.