What is the language that we use? How do we use words? How about use of labels?

When people talk about things in life, what kind of language is being used?  It’s not whether it is English, German, French, Portuguese, Spanish, or whatever.  Is it foul language? Is it spoken in such abstract ideals?  Is it hard to differentiate what the point truly is?  Today people come from so many backgrounds and experiences that it is important to be clear when you speak, as to minimize misunderstanding or confusion. 

It’s so easy to jump from one thing to another and lose track and miss the point.  (We could be guilty of this as well, even as we write about it.)  When we speak slowly, fully explain our point, it is easier to get to the next point or level.  Yes, it takes patience, being specific, time, checking in, to communicate well.  Conversation truly needs to be a dialog.

Over the past number of years, how we use words has drastically changed.  Some might ask, “What difference does it make?”  Well, it makes a lot of difference.  The use of a word as it has been changed through the media causes confusion to the listener.  Do you have to guess what the speaker is saying or meaning?  Is there an alternative issue going on?

One such word is “democracy”.  When the left uses that word referring to our country, that we are a “democracy”, are they not remembering our history?  Democracy generally means that the 51% are the winners.  Our country is not a democracy where 51% wins.  Within our country there are times when a vote is democratic and 51% are the winners.  But again, that is not our country. To be clear, once again, our country is a “constitutional republic with representation”.  That means that our country is a republic, “a nation where the supreme power rests in all of it’s citizens  entitled to vote.”

  It is so easy for all of us to fall into the trap of labels.  We might not meet any harm, but little do we know that harm is the result.  Do you remember an incident in your life that included in a group of people who got into trouble, yet you truly were not part of the group?  Most likely you did not like being labeled in such a way.  It doesn’t matter what color of skin you are; we are all susceptible to doing such activity.  For example, if a person cuts you off in traffic, they happen to be   a different color of skin, if we label them into the larger group of people according to their skin color, that is wrong.  It was that one person who acted like jerk at that moment.

In terms of our Christian faith, there are two words that describe us, label us as to who we really are.  The first word is that for all of us, no matter the skin color, we all are the “human race”.  The second word is that each and every one of us are a “sinner”.  May our gracious Lord have mercy on us!