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

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http://www.cfdevotionals.org