Words...

Ecclesiastes 1:9b “…there is nothing new under the sun.”

“As modern words are actually used, there is hardly a shade of difference left between meaning well and meaning nothing.” G. K. Chesterton, G. K.’s Weekly, October 25, 1934.

What prescient words by Chesterton! H. G. Wells also acknowledged the power of words, or rather changing the meaning of words, in his 1984. In changing words and their definitions one can deny the past, obfuscate the present, and reformat the future.

Thankfully, our God does not mince words with us. God’s Law calls a sin a sin and it always accuses us (lex semper accusat). But that is for our good! Sin was sin before the giving of the law (Romans 5:13; 7:7). But having it named, having it brought to our attention, provides the opportunity to repent. That repentance then drives us the cross on which the Prince of Glory died for us. It drives us to see the cost that God was willing to pay for our forgiveness.

The Law is truly an expression of God’s love for us (Hebrews 12:5-6)). With that in mind, let us always strive to speak truly and clearly in these times when words and their meanings are deliberately muddled. But let us always do so in the love which God provides (Ephesians 4:15) so that it leads to sharing Christ Jesus’ passion, death, and resurrection for the sins of the world.