Etymology

Etymology

Good Morning Friends,

What is the cause of the way we define the words of our particular faith expression… words like grace….worship…love… peace…blessed…church…even the word faith? Jesus of course never uttered those words. All the translations of the Bible, fixed in time, can be such a hindrance to communication if we do not have a common understanding formed in action and plot and people in a story. It is interesting to look at the causes of change in words. 

As the words and their meanings change, our faith streams separate and converge. We can easily be misdirected. The past is relevant but the meaning of a word, a 100 or a 1000 or 2000 years ago, does not necessarily mean the same thing today. For example the word nice was derived from the Latin nescius meaning ignorant, foolish or silly but from this negative quality it became linked to shyness and reservation. So when these characteristics became more admired by society, the word became more positively charged. Today the word is coming full circle when people use it with a hint of damning faint praise. The word bully was once a term of endearment but in the span of only 100 years it came to mean intimidating tyrant of the weak. Liars will use words to justify their actions. Claiming another is such and such so that their actions might appear justified. People did this to Jesus before they killed him. Do not make the mistake of believing that everyone understands words the same way. Paul spent a lot of time defining words so that he could build his case for Jesus. Words became the weapon in a political battle. Defining a word is like sharpening a sword so one can make a point. Friends, different faith streams have different heritages and they are important but the tradition does not necessarily reflect current thought and meaning. With discussions about faith it is easy to get lost in the wrong context.  One needs a translator. Here in reading the Bible, in being drawn into the story with one’s own breath we experience the role of the Holy Spirit. The history of course of the Word begins with Jesus in the story of creation. Finding the word of Jesus in our story is the task of our life. Jesus is the Etymology.

Scripture: The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue lasts only a moment.

Proverbs 12:18-19 (NIV)

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

John 1:1 (NIV)

But they kept shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!”  For the third time he spoke to them: “Why? What crime has this man committed? I have found in him no grounds for the death penalty. Therefore I will have him punished and then release him.”  But with loud shouts they insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed.  So Pilate decided to grant their demand.  He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, the one they asked for, and surrendered Jesus to their will.

Luke 23:21-25 (NIV)

Message: All my mom’s children love her and in her way she loves us back. Still her care, like care for the elderly in general can bring a lot of stress and tension especially when people feel threatened with change and a lack of control. The stress for the most part is not with her but with her kids. Last Monday evening my youngest brother called a family meeting. The topic was to discuss my middle brother’s use of my mother’s credit card which he is using for his personal expenses. A plan had been crafted to figure out a way for my brother to establish his own credit. The meeting did not go well. My middle brother was a no show. I ordered food for my mother thinking that he would not show up but still called him to encourage him to come so we might resolve the issue. But when he did come it was with his dog barking and girlfriend making accusations. My brother repeatedly shouted at me “Your Belligerent! Your belligerent! The words became infused with deeper meaning of intimidation, for if the words were true then, I am sure he felt that he would be justified in attacking me as he had done before when my parents decided to sell their home in which he lived. The scars are deep my friends. The dependency and codependency so engrained between my mother and brother…one has to wonder if it is just too late for any words. You see my father and middle brother used to fight too. Both were over six feet. I imagine that the word belligerent had come out of my father’s and brother’s mouth more than once to justify their actions. The choice of the words I think were designed to create fear that I might share the stress he was experiencing. It brought memories of the time he had assaulted me. The memories of my son screaming for him to stop. The words cut my very soul in the reliving of it…of professionals calling me up to offer me help in unpacking the experience. Friends we need to choose our words carefully so that what comes out of our mouth may honor God… Friends, the meaning of a word… the meaning of the Word made flesh is embedded in the story. To understand the meaning of a word we have to look it up in the story not a dictionary. Here it becomes alive. Here the right words can bring healing…maybe even in time reconciliation.

Pray our chosen words are called to a higher purpose. Pray we give others a word of hope. Pray we realize that we must speak the truth but only in love. Pray we have the right words. Pray we know that God is listening in so His Spirit can engage us for His purpose.

Blessings,

John Lawson