Faith— 06/11/2020

“Same Vocabulary — Different Dictionary!”

By Pastor Ron Buxton

True story. My ears perked up when I was listening to a nationally-syndicated radio broadcast about a month ago. Why? The talk show host mentioned our little town of Van Horn Texas! And although what he referenced occurred several years ago–make no mistake about it–he was talking about little Van Horn Texas!

Apparently a major media outlet was dispatched to our community to investigate a massive crime at a pig farm. It seems that word had got out from a local farmer regarding the theft of over 2000 pigs! Now–that’s a lot of bacon–and so, a reporter was sent to get the scoop. Humorously, the dialogue between the reporter and farmer went something like the following:

“Good afternoon, sir. I’ve been sent here to report on your stolen pigs. Can you confirm that two thousand and five pigs were taken from your property?”

“What?” asked the bewildered pig farmer, “Somehow you’ve got your facts wrong! I actually reported to the authorities that two sows and five pigs were stolen!”

No joke—it’s important to get the facts straight! Details are important. Two sows are certainly not the same as two thousand! However, today,I want to explain a part of the problem with the modern-day church culture. You see, we might utilize the same vocabulary (the words we use)–but we definitely use a much different “dictionary”! This is especially true in matters of morality and sin.

It is essential that we interpret the Bible very carefully. And to misunderstand concepts like genre and the historical/cultural contexts of a Bible passage leaves the reader subject to potential heresy. And, for me, that–better than anything else–explains why a certain major denomination is in the process of now dividing. We’re talking millions of church members–unnecessarily victimized by a bad dictionary!

To read the Bible, and then insert current politically-charged language, is to use a dictionary that is far removed from its original meaning. The technical term is eisegesis. However, it’s now the more hip and trendy expression “lectio divina”. Either way–the reader is using the wrong dictionary. And moral behavior defined as sin remains to be sin, regardless of attempts to read it otherwise!

The correct dictionary requires more mental effort, and that’s why it often gets jettisoned. Although the Bible is a supernatural book, we must never forget that it was written in a definite period of history. And the dictionary of the author and the original audience must now inform us of its real meaning. Frankly, that removes much of the politicization that some modern church leaders have used to misdirect an entire denomination.

You see, the same vocabulary–but different dictionary–has led far too many folks away from the “good news” of redemption through Jesus Christ. Rather than pointing people to the God who saves, these leaders have a wrong dictionary that tells people that they don’t even need redemption and forgiveness for their sins. May God have mercy!

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