Let's Do The Twist With The English Language

Spare a thought for our lexicographers at the moment. They have had to work an enormous amount of overtime lately. Lexicographers are those dear people who fuss about words and their meanings. They are the ones responsible for compiling our dictionaries. Generally they get to work at a leisurely pace and update our dictionaries every decade or so with the addition of those new words which have been adopted into our vocabularies. Of late, this has included such words as, “Google” which was originally added to our dictionaries as the name of a website (a proper noun) and then had to have another entry under it when it became a verb (‘I’ll Google it!”).

But in the last few years, these poor lexicographers have had to work their fingers to the bone trying to keep up. Their overtime hasn’t been devoted to the addition of a few new novel words such as ‘hashtag’ or ‘tweet’, but by overhauling of long-held definitions. Words which have universally been understood and thereby ensured the undemanding workload of lexicographers, have now come to mean something quite different from what they actually mean. This makes the lexicographer’s job very difficult as they flounder to make sense of it all as words now no longer mean what they mean. 

Here’s some examples that have now got lexicographers in a tizz.

Word	Lexicographical Meaning	Attempted Twisted Meaning
hate	verb: feel intense dislike for noun: feelings of hate and revenge	verb: when someone disagrees with you noun: differing point of view
discrimination	noun: the unjust or prejudicial treatment of different categories of people, especially on the grounds of race, age, or sex	noun: the suggestion that distinctions can be made on the basis of capacity, capability, or biology.
logical	adjective: of or according to the rules of logic or formal argument;  characterized by or capable of clear, sound reasoning	adjective: it agrees with my opinion
unfair	adjective: not based on or behaving according to the principles of equality and justice	adjective: when I don’t get what I want
gender	noun: either of the two sexes (male and female)	noun: whatever a person identifies as; this identity can be fluid and can include – homosexual male, lesbian female, bi-sexual male or female, transgendered male or female, man-boy attracted, to name a few.
marriage	noun:  the legally or formally recognized union of a man and woman voluntarily entered into for life to the exclusion of all others	noun: the legal union of any two people
gender-dysphoria	noun: the psychological disorder of feeling one’s emotional and psychological identity as male or female to be opposite to one’s biological sex.	noun: the feeling of being trapped in a body which does not correspond to the gender one wishes to identify with.
racism	noun: prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against someone of a different race based on the belief that one’s own race is superior	noun: the unfair prejudicial treatment of a person based on their lifestyle choices
rainbow	noun: an arch of colours visible in the sky, caused by the refraction and dispersion of the sun’s light by rain or other water droplets in the atmosphere. The colours of the rainbow are generally said to be red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet. Identified in the Bible as a promise from God that He would never again flood the world of man.	noun: representing sexual attraction diversity
love	noun: a strong feeling of affection, a great interest and pleasure in something verb [with object]: to show deep affection, unwavering commitment to for another’s highest good	noun: a strong feeling of sexual attraction for someone verb: to act on feelings of sexual attraction, to eroticise
sexual-orientation	noun: a mid-twentieth century concept used to describe sexual attraction and grounded in one’s natural gender	noun: something which defines a person’s identity with which they are involuntarily assigned from birth. A key concept developed in the tactical book, After The Ball, where the authors proposed that if they could persuade society that there was such a thing, it would make same-sex attraction appear to be normal and natural.

Of course, these are just samples of some of the key words which have been distorted so severely that their recent usage is virtually the exact opposite of their actual meaning. Unfortunately, this propensity for twisting words into novel meanings is not just confined to our street-vocabulary. It is now increasingly occurring in how people understand the Bible.

Pivotal Bible words such as ‘sin’, ‘love’, ‘Jesus’, ‘God’, ‘Scriptures’, and ‘Hell’, have all been twisted beyond recognition from their actual meanings. Sin means to miss the mark of the acceptable standard (Rom. 3:10, 23). Yet, word-twisters would have us believe that it means acting contrary to our true feelings. This is despite the Bible declaring that our feelings are subject to corrupted inclinations which – if left untamed – will result in our harm and ultimate demise (Gen. 4:7; Gal. 5:16).

For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out.
Romans 7:18

The word ‘God‘ has similarly been twisted from its actual meaning – the all-powerful, self-existent, omni-present, omniscient, unchanging, triune, creator of the universe, and final Judge of all mankind; to – a celestial-type being or force whose supreme existence is to ensure my happiness. 

WORDS HAVE POWER

It has been said that, “He who defines the words used in a debate has already won the debate!” Words have power. I remember when my father in-law died suddenly. I was devastated. I was asked to take the funeral. I wondered how on earth I could say anything to bring any measure of comfort. I found myself saying, “No words can make any difference” to which I felt the sharp and instantaneous rebuke of the Holy Spirit. “Never say that words can never make a difference! Words can heal. Words can comfort. Words can strengthen!” This is why it is so distressing to me to have to endure the butchering of language at the moment. Too many people are going unchallenged with their word twisting. For example, last Saturday night the ABC 7PM TV News reported that a lesbian Uniting Church minister from Goodwood Road, Adelaide, was displaying a rainbow flag with a “YES” across it. They reported that the minister was receiving much “hate mail” as a result. Of the two examples they presented (which had respondents pointing out that such a position was contrary to Scripture) neither expressed any hate whatsoever. But it seems under the twisted words regime being thrust upon us, their disagreement with the lady in question was deemed to be ‘hatred’. How bizarre.  

Little wonder then that the general public who are generally unaware of how language is meant to work has been lured into the trap of accepting that disagreement is hate. The other day, Karen Dickson announced on her Facebook Page that she had just voted “No” in the Same-Sex Marriage Postal survey. One her FB Friends commented on that post that they could no longer be her friend because of Karen’s differing views! How bizarre.

The current practice of word twisting is making any possibility of having a sensible debate virtually impossible. When logic, normally grounded in research and reason, is twisted to mean nice feelings, resulting in the acceptance of the nonsensical slogans such as “Love is love” we are in peril as a society. This is so concerning to those of us who understand that words which once meant something have now been kidnapped and held to ransom by word-twisters because this makes the unsuspecting general public susceptible to being willingly persuaded that black is white and night is day. Quite frankly, it’s enough to send any lexicographer around the twist!

I conclude with a comment from James Parker who knows a thing or two about words and their power:

Pastor Andrew

THE PROBLEM WITH WORDS

I'm currently doing some of my daily Bible reading in Greek. After all, I just spent a year studying it and sat 5 exams to verify that I'd done it, so it would be a shame to let it lapse. This morning I read from John 6. This is one of the most difficult episodes in Christ's ministry. This is the point where thousands of formerly adoring followers abandon Him and His closest followers are left bewildered. It really doesn't matter which language you read this story in, Greek or English or whatever, the content of what Jesus said at that time sounds bizarre. And that's the problem with trying to say something with words!

I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh."
¶ The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?" So Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.
John 6:51-54

Words are only a part of our means of communication. This is one of the primary things that I endeavour to teach a couple preparing for marriage (and one of the first things I have to address when I'm dealing with a couple in crisis). As we journey through life and interact with other we learn that communication also involves-

+ tone ("You dag!" could an affectionate compliment or demeaning put-down, depending on the tone with which it is said.)  

+ facial expression and body language (some things are better heard when said with a smile on your face. People talk to us differently when our body language invites them to open up and share with us.) 

+ timing (If you have something to say that starts with, "Now probably isn't the best time to say this, but..." you've probably picked a bad time and thus ensured that what you have to say won't be heard properly.) 

+ emotion (When you ask someone how they are going and they hesitate before answering and then say, "Fine thanks." You may confuse the words they've just used and miss the emotion in their voice and thus what they are really telling you.) 

+ actions (When someone says, "I really love you" but doesn't want to spend any time alone with you or you and your friends, their actions communicate something louder than their words.) 

Added to this brief, non-exhaustive, list of communicators, is the depth of connection we have with the person we are communicating with. As we get to know someone, we begin to understand them better because we learn their "language". An individual's language is not just the words, tone, expression, timing, emotion, and actions they use, but their meaning that they assign to their words, expressions, and metaphors. Husbands must attempt to learn the language of their wives. (When a wife asks her husband what he is thinking it is not so much an information gathering question as it is an request to engage in conversation with her.) Wives must attempt to learn the language of their husbands. (When a husband is silent and alone it is not that he is emotionally withdrawing, it is that he is emotionally recharging.) This highlights the problem with words.

All of this means that words are rarely unequivocal ('one meaning in all instances'). Words take on the meaning of their context. My Biblical Greek studies introduced me to a confusing little Greek word: epi. I say confusing because the word has around a dozen very different meanings depending on its context! Context is not just derived from their surrounding words. Context also comes from a person. Take the word, hospital. To one person this word means a place of hope and healing. It is where a loved one was cured. It conjures fond memories. But the same word to another person can create fear, terror, and great anxiety. For them, the childhood memory of going to the hospital and being seated on a hard hallway chair in a white sterile corridor just before being told by the nurse who was just about to clock-off, "Your mother has just died" gives the word hospital an entirely different meaning to this person. The same kind of thing might be said for the words, "Father God" depending on the context a person places around these words. 

Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.
Colossians 4:6

The words of Jesus in John 6 highlight the problem with words. The words He used meant something. The words His audience heard meant something else. Christ was often misunderstood. What might surprise the modern reader of Christ's words is just why Jesus didn't publicly attempt to clear up these misunderstandings. John 6 is a classic case in point. After all, this particular misunderstanding cost Christ thousands of followers. He could have clarified, re-worded, or appealed for His hearers not to be so 'literal'. But He didn't. We are left to conclude that Jesus very deliberately, very intentionally, and very precisely chose His words, and we, His hearers, must learn His language. And even though God has ordained to communicate the indispensible means of eternal life through the words of Scripture, He considers the potential benefits to innumerable numbers of people compared with the risk of misunderstanding infinitely worth it. God does not have a problem with words! The record of Christ's words in John 6 confirm this.

Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another—showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God's way.  Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us. 
Second Timothy 3:16-17 The Message

We now have the benefit of Christ's words having been collected into the Gospels. We understand that Christ often used word pictures and parables to make profound points. He has inspired and ordained not only the Gospel writers to write, but to also write what they did (which included strategic omissions - see John 21:25). This collection of Christ's words are sufficient for us to sufficiently understand Him and His language. The entire Bible has Christ as its theme. Therefore, all the Scriptures give us a deeper understanding of who Jesus is, what He taught, and what He has achieved. This brings me back to one of opening observations about communicating. To truly understand someone you have to learn their language by getting to know them - their past, their heart, their vocabulary, their priorities, their achievements. Even after walking with and serving Christ for decades, the Apostle Paul could write -

that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death
Philippians 3:10

Even though the Gospels give us sufficient knowledge of Christ and all the Scriptures give us plenty of further insights about Him, we can still not exhaust the full wonders and infinite pleasures of knowing Christ! 

Those who are married understand the problem of words. You marry someone you think you know only to discover that you barely did! Because you love them, you want to learn their language. To do this, you have to spend time with them. You have to ask questions about the moments and events which have defined them. You observe what they do with their time. You learn how secure they are by how they celebrate or criticise the achievements of others. You begin to learn their language - despite their words. Those who are not seasoned in genuine love (due to their lack of having enough trials or adversities together) can not possibly appreciate what I am trying to say. Until you've walked long enough, through many dangers, toils and snares, with another person, you cannot possibly know their true language. Oh, and one last word. A person is more likely to let someone learn their language when another person demonstrates their willingness to learn it. This is why none of us have ever exhausted the treasures of the language of God's Word. To do this, it requires an intimacy with Christ that is best described as eating His flesh and drinking His blood. And each week He invites into such an intimacy with Him.

¶ And as they were eating, he took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to them, and said, "Take; this is my body." And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, and they all drank of it. And he said to them, "This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.
Mark 14:22-24 

Ps. Andrew

Biblical Illiteracy Is Not Just About Big Words

I have a son who thinks he is the world's best speller. It's actually become a family joke just how bad his spelling is though. In his 5th year of Elementary School, he couldn't see the irony of how he had labelled his Spelling Workbook - "Speeling". Even now, at pre-tertiary level, Tiger (my son) still can't spell. I have to read and re-read what he has written in order to figure out what the correct spelling should be and this discover what he is actually trying to say.

Every good English teacher will tell his students, "Don't use a big word when a small word will do." Similarly, they will teach their students to write concisely - don't use a lot of words when you can say the same thing with just a few.* But sometimes it is a big word that is both simple and concise. This is especially so if the big word is unequivocal (it can only mean one thing). Scripture very carefully uses such big words. Let's look at four of these and then we'll conclude with Christianity's biggest word...[more]