Thousands of new words
and new definitions are added to English dictionaries each year. The Oxford
English Dictionary online has over 600,000 words. There are reported to be over
7,000 languages in the world, not including dialects. Our understanding of words
is influenced by our own background and beliefs. Many probably remember the presidential
discussion, “What does ‘is’ mean?”
It’s little wonder that we have trouble understanding one
another. In the Tower of Babel incident in Genesis 11, God said, “Come, let us
go down and there confuse their language, so that they may not understand one
another’s speech” (v. 7 ESV) We may think we’ve overcome that problem by
creating dictionaries and training translators, but we still have difficulties.
A recent Supreme Court ruling attempted to define what “sex” means in Title
VII. Public opinion is divided as to whether they defined it correctly. That’s
just one of myriads of words that get redefined based on what point one wants
to make.
We all agree that
words matter, and most of us want to use our words carefully in order to convey
truth. But then we face Pilate’s question in John 18:38, “What is truth?” Paul
told Timothy, “Charge them before God not to quarrel about words, which does no
good, but only ruins the hearers” (2 Timothy 2:14). Yet it seems like that is a
battle we are constantly facing even within the Church. Individual churches and
denominations have split over the interpretation of words (and specifically the
Word), and the Church is always in tension with culture because of our application
of what we believe to be the Word of God.
In the turmoil of recent days, I’ve often been reminded of
Ephesians 6:12, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the
rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present
darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” What I
hadn’t really noticed before is that the following verses have a lot to do with
words. The armor of God includes the belt of truth, that shoes of the gospel of
peace, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. That is followed
by a reminder to persevere in prayer and Paul’s prayer request “that words may
be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel.”
The truth of Scripture is both our protection and our message.
While we know that not everyone will listen or accept Scripture
as having any authority, that does not negate our responsibility to proclaim
God’s truth.
“For the word of the cross is folly
to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God”
(1 Corinthians 1:18).
“Therefore, having this ministry
by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart… [By] the open statement of the truth
we would commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. And
even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their
case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep
them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of God. For what we
proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord” (2 Corinthians 4:1-5).
Until Jesus—the incarnate Word of God—returns, we must
abide in His Word so that we will know the truth that sets us free (John 8:31), and we must share the truth with others so that they may find that same freedom in Christ. “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12).
“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your
sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer” (Psalm 19:14).
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*I started reading
Paul David Tripp’s book War on Words several days after
writing this post, and found that he said some of the same things. No plagiarism
was intended.
Here’s something else I wrote on the armor of God.
© 2020 Dawn Rutan.
Unless otherwise indicated all images are copyright free from pixabay.com. The
opinions stated do not necessarily reflect the views of my church or employer.
