The Bible has influenced the English language in untold ways. Although we may not realize it, many of the common phrases we use to express ourselves are rooted in Scripture. Here are some well known sayings that actually come from the Bible:
* The skin of my teeth. Job said, "My bone clings to my skin and to my flesh, And I have escaped by the skin of my teeth" (Job 19:20).
* A drop in the bucket. "Behold, the nations are as a drop in a bucket, and are counted as the small dust on the scales..." (Isaiah 40:15).
* The root of the matter (or problem). "But ye should say, Why persecute we him, seeing the root of the matter is found in me?" (Job 19:28)
* Living off "the fat of the land." "And take your father and your households and come to me, and I will give you the best of the land of Egypt and you will eat the fat of the land" (Genesis 45:18).
* At their wits' end. "They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits' end" (Psalms 107:27).
* All things to all men. The apostle Paul said, "To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made All things to all men, that I might by all means save some" (1 Corinthians 9:22).
The Bible's influence on mankind has been so pervasive that most people commonly quote phrases from it without realizing it! If the speech of people of the world has been slightly influenced by the Bible, the speech of God's children should be greatly influenced by it. Christians, who are to be constantly studying God's word and striving to live by it, will naturally demonstrate it in speech.
* We will speak "the truth in love" (Ephesians 4:15).
* We will speak as the oracles of God, sharing God's word with others. "If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God" (1 Peter 4:11).
* We will speak with grace, answering spiritual questions with wisdom and solid Bible knowledge. "Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one" (Colossians 4:6).
* We will utter "sound speech" which promotes spiritual health. "...sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you" (Titus 2:8).
* We will not engage in filthy talk or dirty jokes. "...neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks" (Ephesians 5:4).
* We will not lie. "Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds" (Colossians 3:9).
---Steve Klein
Commercialized Convictions
I am ever amazed at the
glaring contrasts of our culture. A truck passed me recently and the vehicle
must have been traveling 85 miles per hour. Affixed to the back window was a
sticker that read, "My boss is a Jewish Carpenter." I see cars regularly with a
little fish emblem attached, which I understand to be a tacit reference to
Christianity, yet on the same vehicle will be the decal of a menacing child
urinating on the trademark logo of another auto company. There's something
blatantly inconsistent here. And perhaps a contributing culprit is our obsession
with commercialization.
We are a people bent upon
self-expression. Unlike other cultures in which people tend toward shyness and
hesitancy, we are bold, direct, and expressive. While those qualities certainly
have some merit, they set us up for some grief too. People from other countries
often think Americans brash and arrogant, and part of that reputation is
established by our "bumper sticker" mentality. We want the world to know what we
think, so we make public declarations of our opinions on our cars, our T-shirts,
or on little rubber wristbands. And nowhere is that trend more widespread than
in "religion."
It used to be that almost any
silk-screened T-shirt was likely advertising some music concert. Back in "the
day" I had a drawer full of concert T-shirts, because we wanted the world to
know that we say Jimmy Buffet or Charlie Daniels or the Eagles. Today, however,
the logo that looks like a concert shirt at a distance will, upon closer
inspection, probably reveal some religious sentiment. And while there are some
talented designers fashioning John 3:16 into the shape of a cross or a fish or a
landscape, it saddens me that religion has become little more than an expression
on a T-shirt or wristband.
While I don't think its wrong in
itself to wear such things, I am concerned about the mentality behind the trend.
First of all, I am amazed at the inconsistency often displayed by those so
declaring their "faith." A girl wearing a miniskirt and a tight fitting top,
while accessorizing such with a "What Would Jesus Do?" wristband is sending
mixed messages, is she not? Or a young man who is insolent and foul-mouthed does
not seem justified simply because he's wearing a bloody crown of thorns on his
shirt.
Secondly, I have a hard time with
the whole commercialization mentality. Imagine the "Sermon on the Mount" scene.
Jesus sits on the grass-covered mountainside while throngs of people are
gathered, listening to the words of life. And moving carefully through the
crowds are the apostles, hawking "This Ain't Your Daddy's Religion" T-shirts?
Somehow, I don't see the Lord working that way. In fact, the mindset that makes
religious devotion merely a matter of public display is more reminiscent of the
Pharisees than of our Lord. After all, it was those religious zealots who wore
their religion on their clothes (Matt. 23:5) and gave their alms publicly and
selected prominent street corners on which to pray. And they were, according to
Jesus, little more than hypocrites, religious without and ungodly
within.
It seems important to note that the
hypocrisy of such commercialized faith is apparent to almost everyone. It's no
wonder that "Christianity" is often maligned and disdained by the secularists of
our culture. What they see often is little more than moral platitudes and overt
symbolism displayed by people who are materialists, sensual, intemperate, and
untrustworthy as the general population. After all, that truck going 85 mph with
the religious window sticker is blowing by them
too.
Given this environment, it is
imperative that loyal disciples of Jesus use our influence properly. The Lord
instructs us to be "the light of the world" and "salt of the
earth" (Matt. 5:13-16). But doing so involves more than a T-shirt or
wristband. It demands that we adhere to the Lord's teaching. Our "doctrine" must
be consistent with His, given His command that His disciples "observe all
things that I have commanded you" (Matt. 28:20). While religious
organizations everywhere are catering to the will of the world, we must firmly
adhere to the revelation of God's Will (Matt. 7:21ff, Jno.
8:31,32).
Moreover, proper influence demands that we make an impact for good in this world. Our simple acts of kindness will make a far greater statement about our conviction than will a pithy slogan stuck to our car. Jesus noted that others will glorify God when they "see your good works" (Matt. 5:16). We must take seriously Paul's instruction in Gal. 6:10, "as we have opportunity, let us do good to all..." or his repeated admonitions that we "maintain good works" (Ti. 3:1,8,14). If we are kind and courteous and helpful and caring, there will be less opportunity for inconsistency and little room for criticism form those in this world.
There aren't enough bumper stickers, T-shirts, or wristbands to atone for the tragedy of hypocrisy. No matter how proudly they are displayed.
---Russ Bowman