The Wordless Word?

Ben was supposed to be doing his Bible lesson for the day on Wednesday, but he was really putting up a fight. After my repeated attempts to encourage him in reading the lesson and looking up the verses in his Bible, he threw up his hands and said in an exasperated voice, “Why do I have to read this anyway? Why can’t we just use the Wordless Book? It would be so much easier!”

For those readers not familiar with the “Wordless Book,” it is a device used to share the Christian gospel. It’s a small booklet having no words or pictures, simply made up of different colored pages--black, red, white, green, gold. Each color represents a different idea: black=sin, red=blood of Jesus, white=righteousness. You get the general idea.

In light of Ben’s query I was prepared to rant about how silly the whole concept of a “wordless” book is. I took him to John 1:1—“In the beginning was the Word.” God places so much importance on words that he nicknames his own son “the Word.” He chooses to communicate with mankind through the 66 books that comprise his written word. How, then, could we suggest being able to know him apart from words?

Then I read a brief history of the Wordless Book concept (you can check it out at http://www.geocities.com/ceffreestate/book.htm). When I discovered that two of my great heroes of faith—Charles Spurgeon and Amy Carmichael—employed this tool in their ministry, I figured I should rethink the whole idea. After all, God can choose to reveal himself in whatever way pleases him. Words on a page mean nothing to someone who does not know how to read them. Our great God makes provision for all people and can use something as simple as colored pages to draw them to himself.

Still, I sometimes wonder how many of us who already know the Bible’s message might prefer the ease of a wordless book. Colors, pictures even, but not words that we have to read and wrestle with each day. Hate to disappoint you, Ben, but you still have to study your Bible lessons. No wordless books in this home school. And I hope that as you continue to learn its story you will look forward to the wrestling as an opportunity to grow in grace.