The True, the Whole Truth, So Help Me God

In part one, we saw that it was actually Allen who inaccurately redefined freedom, love and justice. Dictionaries from three different eras were pretty consistent in their definitions of these words. However, it was Allen who put his own conservative spin on these words and changed their meanings to fit his purpose.

In part two, Allen created a fictitious melodrama with a five-headed villain who is redefining words and causing serious damage to our society.

In this part we’ll see why Allen believes it’s important to recover the biblical meaning of words and to live our lives according to the true meaning of words as found in the bible.

Allen: For Christians, it is vital that we be open-eyed and discerning about the destructive ways that language is being manipulated. To do this, we must recover a biblical lexicography. “We cannot be the Church if we lose our vocabulary and the conceptual framework that makes us Christian. Nothing is more needful today than the survival of Christian culture” Christian culture survives if we understand that words have objective meanings… that are given by God as revealed in Scripture.  God is not some impersonal cosmic force, but a person, and He speaks and reveals Himself to us.

“Objective meanings that are given by God”? Now there’s conflict of terms right out of the gate. What if I don’t believe that God is person? Am I rejecting an objective truth? But finally, we’ve come to the root of Allen’s proposed dilemma. We need to restore the true meanings of words that God originally assigned to them. Now, how does Allen propose we do that?

Another Christian writer named Elizabeth Youmans supports Allen’s premise that words are God-given. She writes, “Therefore, is it surprising that the enemy would target language to dumb it down and rob and pillage us of a biblical vocabulary? When words are defined biblically, they help us think and reason… and free us from secularism.”

There’s that fear of secularism again. I was curious about this so I emailed Dr. Youmans and asked three questions. Who is the enemy? What is a biblical vocabulary and how can it be robbed and pillaged? What does it mean to define words biblically? She responded by sending me the entire text of what transpired in the Garden of Eden as found in Genesis. But that’s a topic for another blog.

Words Are A Gift

Allen: The written Word of God has come to us through the Jewish nation. Most of our best words, in fact – new, adventure, surprise; unique, individual, person, vocation; time, history, future; freedom, progress, spirit; faith, hope, justice – are the gifts of the Jews.

Is anyone else’s crap detector going off right now? I’m not a linguistic historian, but I can say with confidence that the words he calls “gifts of the Jews” are not uniquely Jewish.

We have a vague dastardly new villain that is trying to destroy our language to control us, but on the other hand we have heroes to save us, and it starts with the Jews because they gave us our best words.

Anyone want to venture where this discussion is headed.

Allen: These (Jewish) words are gifts—priceless gifts to the whole world. Yes, they were given through the Jewish people, but their ultimate source is God,

What a Surprise!!!

Serious Consequence of Redefining Words

“The Word” who became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14). This is why we are not free to redefine words like freedom, love, justice, and many more without serious consequences.

The concept of “The Word” (Logos) becoming flesh and dwelling among us is a very Greek idea that goes back to the age of Plato. The fact that it made its way into the New Testament is a tribute to Greek philosophers and their influence on whoever wrote the book of John. But that’s a topic for better scholars than me.

So what are those serious consequences?

When the Judeo-Christian roots of Western civilization are rejected, the result will inevitably be a loss of human freedom, tyranny, and bloodshed. This is a lesson we urgently need to heed in our time.

There we have it. The serious consequences of rejecting the Biblical definition of words are “loss of human freedom, tyranny, and bloodshed.” Oh my! Looking at this historically is it really accurate for Allen to suggest that American history is void of slavery, tyranny and bloodshed? That just seems far fetched. Anyway, I’m sure if we keep reading, he will give us the solution to our pending doom.

The solution

Allen: Our task is to deeply understand the true meaning of words, and order our lives accordingly. Not only this, we need to speak the true meaning of words to the broader culture.

The true meaning of words? Excuse the pun, but what does he mean by that? Does anyone want to guess where Allen suggests we find the true meaning of words? Keep reading and it will become clear that for Allen, Christians hold the ultimate truth and that their truth must be shared with the broader culture so it can be accepted and obeyed by all.

In These Trying Times

Allen: In these trying times, this will lead to conflict. We must be gracious, kind, and compassionate, yet refuse to be silenced or pressured into going along with false definitions. There is probably no more powerful way of being salt and light at this moment in history.

What does he mean by “in these trying times” and “at this moment in history”? Once again Allen is being vague and for a reason. It’s a dog whistle for Evangelicals everywhere who would understand this reference to be from the book of Esther.

“If I continue to remain silent my family and I will be wiped out.  Perhaps I was put here for Such a Time as This!”  (Paraphrase of Esther 4:14)

This storyline has been used by believers since the time of Esther. Their lives and their families are in danger from some vague evil that is out to destroy them. Apparently, this new evil villain is out to spread false definitions. Oh dear!

Allen: Words are not empty vessels to be filled with whatever meaning we wish. They are not tools to be manipulated to acquire power. Words are precious conveyers of reality. They need to be treasured, conserved, embodied, and passed down to future generations. God’s Word is the North Star that guides us into all truth.

What is Truth, Dammit?

Jesus said “everyone on the side of truth listens to me (John 18:37).”

Allen, neglected to add the next verse, Pilate said to him, “what is truth?” There is no recorded answer from Jesus. Not to worry, Allen is about to answer that question for him.

So Allen, what is truth?

Allen: God’s Word is the only sure foundation for free, flourishing societies. The church is the repository and steward of the truth. We contribute to building flourishing communities as we understand, and order our lives according to, the true meaning of words. This should begin in our families and churches, but also in our interaction in the public square.

Onward Christian Soldiers

We have been blessed by God to be a blessing, and there is no more powerful way we do this than by how we use and embody language.

This conjures up a rather comical image in my mind of a Christian soldier but rather than carrying a shield and sword he’s carrying a dictionary, but not any dictionary, as we shall see it, it needs to be an 1828 Noah Webster dictionary. So as the song goes, Onward Christian Soldiers marching off to war… with an 828-page dictionary.

 

I can imagine a conversation like this in the “broader culture”.

Man: (Speaking to a woman) I really love you!

Woman: I really love you too!!

Christian Soldier: Hark, I couldn’t help but heareth thy professions of love one to another. It is important that both of ye are sure what thou really mean by “love”. (So, he begins to read Noah Webster’s definition of love… all 453 words.)

Man: Come on Babe, let’s go. This guy’s a twit.

Woman: Good idea. Let’s get away from this dweeb.

Christian Soldier: Verily, I say unto thee, those words are not found in my dictionary. I adjure you in the name of free men everywhere and to avoid tyranny and bloodshed you must refrain from using unauthorized non-biblical vocabulary.

Man and woman walk away muttering something under their breath.

Christian Soldier: Hark, I heareth that… and I’m not sure what thou hast suggested is even possible.

Salt of the Earth?

We must refuse to be silenced or pressured into going along with false definitions. There is probably no more powerful way of being salt and light at this moment in history.

Have to wonder how he supports this idea biblically. Whatever happened to “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” Can’t find anywhere in the bible where it says, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples… how you use and embody language.”

The irony of Allen’s argument is that in an attempt to disseminate his understanding of the truth he is using deceptive means. It was he who changed the true meaning of love, freedom and justice to his fit his own purpose. Now he’s altering the spirit of scripture to make “false definitions” the most important issue for Christians. Not a surprise though as this kind of deception has been going on since the first century. New Testament scholar Bard Ehrman in his book Forged says “The use of deception to promote the truth may well be considered one of the most unsettling ironies of the early Christian tradition.” And so it continues 20 centuries later. At least it’s a longstanding tradition in Christianity.

If Allen wants to be taken seriously by anyone other than evangelicals, he needs to stop ranting about some fictitious melodrama that is not even mentioned once in the bible. Then he should roll up his sleeves and get to work solving some real-life problems like poverty and human suffering that are mentioned again and again in the bible. Nonbelievers don’t want to hear what he thinks is important for Christians. We want to see how his beliefs make a real difference in the world.

Consider these words of Edgar Guest

I soon can learn to do it if you’ll let me see it done;

I can watch your hands in action, but your tongue too fast may run.

And the lectures you deliver may be very wise and true,

But I’d rather get my lessons by observing what you do;

For I might misunderstand you and the high advice you give,

But there’s no misunderstanding how you act and how you live.

One good man teaches many, men believe what they behold;

One deed of kindness noticed is worth forty that are told.

Who stands with men of honor learns to hold his honor dear,

For right living speaks a language which to everyone is clear.

Though an able speaker charms me with his eloquence, I say,

I’d rather see a sermon than hear one, any day.

Coming next: Built From the Bible Up?

In the final part of this series we’ll take a closer look at Noah Webster’s 1828 dictionary. According to Allen, it is a dictionary build from the Bible up. But there are some serious issues with this dictionary that Allen considers essential for a nation of free people.

 

 

From Where I Stand

Dale Crum