My adult Bible study just began an overview of Ravi Zacharias' book, Cries of The Heart. Today's section has this quote:
Language and reason are the special endowments of humanity, the pinnacle of God's creation. When we cease to understand the role of language we misuse that privilege and can reshape reality just by changing our use of words. Al we need to do today to see the ustter wrong-headedness of our culture is to see what we have done with words. Words such as freedom, love, pleasure, and marriage have all lost their meanings. In the beginning was the Word. God has spoken. Language must mirror reality [<-- this emphasis is mine -- K].
"Language must mirror reality."
Yet, today it so often doesn't!
Just look at the word "tolerance." The proper definition includes a sense that you can live peaceably alongside something - or someone - you disagree with. These days, we are labled "intolerant" if we disagree with govenment welfare policies or with gay marriage; we are expected to endorse, promote and approve these things to be "tolerant."
But, how can you "tolerate" something with which you have no disagreement?
"Language must mirrow reality."
God made this whole universe. He spoke the laws of physics and biology and morality into existance. He Himself created reality!
If we are so foolish to try and wrest His power away and redesign reality, we will lose and He will have the last laugh. No matter what your IQ, no matter how many degrees you have or how much influence you wield, you cannot - you WILL not! - conquer God. Instead:
For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made,even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.
Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature.& Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.
And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness,they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful, who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them. [emph. mine - K]
Is that not who we all are today?
Albert Mohler's article, "Reparative Therapy, Homosexuality and the Gospel of Jesus Christ," relates to this:
The normalization of homosexuality simply cannot be accepted by anyone committed to biblical Christianity. The new secular orthodoxy demands that Christians abandon the clear teachings of Scripture, and Christians must understand that the sinfulness of all homosexual behaviors is not only a matter of biblical authority, but also of the Gospel. To deny that sin is sin is to deny our need for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Christians cannot accept any teaching that minimizes sin, for it is the knowledge of our sin that points us to our need for atonement, salvation, and the forgiveness of that sin through the cross of Jesus Christ.
Second, we must recognize that every human being is a sinner and that every sinner’s pattern of sexual attraction falls short of the glory of God. There is no sinner of physical maturity who will be able to say that he or she has never had a sinful thought related to sex or sexuality. Taking the Bible’s teachings about sin and sexuality with full force, we understand that every sinful human being is in need of redemption, and that includes the redemption of our sexual selves. [emph. mine - K]
As Isaiah says,
Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil;
Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness;
Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!
Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes,
And prudent in their own sight!
We have taken reality and are trying to turn it upside down. We try to remake words to fit our own depraved and fallen definitions, calling what is evil, good, and what is good, evil. We refuse to acknowledge that we are ALL sinners under God's righteous and holy condemnation and that any sin separates us from God and condemns us to eternal hell.
We have twisted language so torturously that is is almost impossible to call sin what it is. We have crippled our ability to offer the glorious hope of the Gospel of forgiveness and redemption. We ourselves, though our corruption of language, condemn people to hell because we do not call evil EVIL and show people their desperate need for their God and Savior. We damn them to a life lacking hope, lacking transforming renewal, and lacking the power to change.
God is the God of reality. "Language must mirror reality."
God help us all...
Kat,
Thank you for putting this lesson up. It is comforting to read such a post in this age of insanity.
Posted by: Azygos | July 25, 2011 at 10:34 PM