Vocabulary

Good Morning,

I was thinking of changes in our lives, especially in vocabulary and the Christian life.  I thought of the preaching conferences I attended when I was a young pastor, and the things I heard godly, old pastors talk about.  I heard words and phrases such as “power of God,” “courageous,” “stand,” “contend,” “fighting for the faith,” and even words as simple as, “manly,” “feminine,” “virtuous,” and “godly.”

We have found ourselves in a society that has softened everything – a society that has embraced the vocabulary of the world, and has sought not to use any words that offend.  One very well-known pastor in California said we should not use the word fundamental as it does not fit in the vocabulary of our culture. Another mocked the use of the term “virtuous woman” because it was not used by anyone anymore (and I thought, “God uses it”). 

As our Christian culture seeks to use terms that are acceptable by the world, they have also changed their vocabulary to adopt the shameful society around us.  Adultery has been removed, now folks “live together.”  We have stopped asking how long someone has been married and replaced it with how long they have been together.  Drunks and addicts are “chemically dependent.” Fornication and sodomy have simply been removed from acceptable vocabulary along with patriotism, treason, or “proud to be an American.”

As a child, I remember Las Vegas being called “Sin City.” Now that city is a popular site for conventions and vacations. “Sin City” – can you even imagine saying that in public!   Loyalty and devotion are forgotten words, and purity and holiness are absent from preachers’ sermons.  The terms used in the Scripture regarding disciplining a child are cause for a visit from CPS, and doing right no matter the cost is an untouched subject. 

Too much television and media from the world has purged our thoughts from the most obvious and logical words and perspectives on life. I will not even venture into the words God uses regarding marriage like “reverence” and “honor,” for even the fundamental world struggles with those.  

Listen to the words people use referring to becoming a Christian.  Instead of repentance, conversation, born again, or saved, you hear “coming to Christ” or “give your life to Jesus.”  Now let us be Scriptural: your life is not worth a thing, and Jesus does not need it to save you, that is why HE GAVE HIS LIFE! We had nothing worth giving.  Biblically, you “receive Christ,” “trust Christ,” “place your faith in Christ,” or “believe on His name,” but again, those terms are nearly unheard of today.  

I was soul winning recently and began witnessing to a lady; and she said, “My daughter led me to Christ,” and I thought, “Wow!”  This lady had a day, time and place when she was SAVED.  I believed her and was encouraged. 

Let us get away from media (even much of the conservative and so-called “Christian” media) and get back to volumes of Bible and old-fashioned preaching; it will change our lives and our vocabulary. 

Pastor