When one has made a living using words, and enjoyed the occupation as much as I have, there is an inherited feeling that there must be a way of editing writings or speeches so to better present the ideas that insightful, truth seeking, life respecting, value accepting persons communicate – or try to communicate. I have studied the oral and written rhetoric of history to the present day, and much of the evaluation of it. The doctorate I earned from the University of Washington has the word Rhetoric in its title. Sermons, speeches, essays, lectures and the various forms/processes of language to elicit belief and action have been the meat and potatoes of my secular intellectual life, and closely inter-related to my theological education. The two areas are applied in my own holistic focus on the serious uses of language that affect the life of individuals and society. My scope of interest includes both the human and divine meaning of communication, and the social impact that all has on life, both mortal and immortal. When language declines in usage, respect and meaning, greatness also declines. Permitting exceptions, this is a rather common guideline to follow. Persons mastering language and using it wisely tend to value education.
One is humbled in the realization that Jesus Christ, the Apostle Paul, and unnumbered millions in public life, for personal, social and spiritual purposes, were primarily engaged in communication by means of reflective language. The departing words of Christ related to invoking the verbal gospel in the world, as a vital factor in God’s touch with humanity. On completion of the task in that Great Commission, found in Matthew 28:19-20, the world system will close as we know it. Christians basing their Christian faith from Scripture, accept that benediction cast in words. The statement of conclusion may not be a feature of some institutions claiming Christian context, including sects of denominations, but the statement stands. If this major legacy is doubted, then any statement of Jesus is open to reinterpretation, perhaps to doubt or denial.
Current uses of language in life often seem shallow, evasive, confrontational, political, and unnecessary to the ongoing of life meaning and problem solving, even in the communication contexts of love or even relief in entertainments. Candidates for office have reduced the greatness of their leadership in their words. Even Christians have diluted the immensities of Scripture and faith words. Speech has become slovenly and crude words are common in public media. With the decline, even swearing loses impact so body parts and functions are invoked with sniggering exchanges. In this, language is bereft of much of its beauty. Many persons earning academic degrees have modest oral language felicity. (I wonder about that folly.)
Some time ago I reviewed a book on the life and occupation of Noah Webster, whose name is a nickname for the dictionary. Today I read a review of a new book about Webster’s work. An important point in both was that Webster was precise in the definitions of the thousands of words he included that outnumbered the popular dictionary of English words in England before his work. His dictionary made the English language distinctly American in the western sense of informing what words meant, but left open the fact that the Americans might be changing the language in ordinary usage. His definition, for example, of mercy and grace were quite Christian, with mercy related to a supreme being. What a change has occurred for many words of aspiration, of higher thought to action, so to fumble our lives. In the newspaper this morning the ending paragraph in an article noted that an important factor in human relationships had been greatly diluted because of the breakdown in language usage. We rightly give considered pause, and great care, to those communications that express our meanings. Scripture recommends that our language be purified. Christ gave the disciples a major assignment – to preach the gospel of redemption. He knew that our language shifting, adapting, polluting would take his message and try to make a stew of it. In defense for us he gave Scripture, offered concentrated ministry of faithful persons, warned the world with the church, and provided the Holy Spirit to make sure that we get it right – all in faith and love. Numerous scholars have devoted their lives to the single purpose of providing Scripture in the original meaning, no matter what language in which it is cast. We seek the original meaning – to live by. We have the privilege of permitting Scripture to interpret its own meaning to us – of God. *Mark W. Lee, Sr. — 2016, 2020