2007-11-07 - Euphemisms
As a word-lover, I "collect" euphemisms.* Some of my favorites:
Pre-owned cars: I have never understood why dealers think buyers would
find that more appealing than used ones!
Counselors: Salespeople
Courtesy calls: The people on the other end of the line are pressuring
us to buy their product or service, and they interrupt family time without
an invitation. They are anything but courteous.
Side note: I would enjoy hearing your favorite eumphemisms!
Euphemisms are fun to think about, but there is one issue that has moral
implications. Have you noticed how people sometimes don't like to use the
words "sin" or "wrong" any more? I recently read of a middle-aged man who
had raped several children. He called it "bad judgement." No. Wearing shorts
on a 20-degree day is bad judgment. Raping a child, or any traumatic violence
perpetrated on an innocent person, is evil. It is sin. As are pride, coveting,
theft, disobeying authorities (See Romans 13), oppresing the poor, and more.
Whether we want to admit it or not, there is an eternal concept of "right
and wrong," which is not washed away by "situational ethics." And if we truly
believe and live by God's word, we are agreeing to that belief. Though I
know some Christians who insist that we don't sin at all after we believe
in Christ for salvation, that doesn't line up with God's word. For the Bible
says that "all have sinned and come short of the glory of God."
Thankfully God has provided a remedy. First, He sent His son to bear the
punishment for our sins and purchase our salvation with His blood (see John
3:16). And we can have a "clean slate" with God whenever we sincerely repent
(which means to turn around) and confess. We will sometimes still bear Earthly
consequences for our sins - a prison sentence, breaches in relationships
that may or may not heal here on Earth (though we are responsible for doing
our part), illnesses, accidents if we drive when impaired etc. But God is
standing ever-ready to forgive us (See 1 John 1:9), and to enable us to stay
on the "straight and narrow."
Let's not forget that while there are a lot of "Gray" issues that are matters
of preference (musical styles in church etc.), there still are also some
"black and white" issues, as well.
*Merriam-Webster's defines euphemisms as "the substitution of
an agreeable or inoffensive expression for one that may offend or suggest
something unpleasant; also: the expression so substituted"
Comments or Questions?
Jan
cfdevcfpray@yahoo.com
http://www.cfdevotionals.org |