I have always been roused by Etymology. Certain words can be resplendently influential. Most of the time, we use our lexis out of milieu. From time to time we throw out big words into our lackluster tête-à-tête just to zing things up a smidgen. C’mon don’t act like you have never attempted to perk up your reverberation by wrenching out highbrow words from your diminutive lingo.
Obviously throughout history words with the same definition have been inverted with no apparent reason. We always have to be cutting edge.
I have seen this carried over into mainstream Christianity as well. With the words such as saved, preach, membership, religion and so on.
I need some help. I am trying to create or maybe even learn of, the new buzz word for “call.” Is it out there? Call as in, “God called me to [this].” If you haven’t heard of someone mixing things up with this word, would YOU please do so?
Please, I have never asked for people to comment on this blog, so I am not trying to boost some meaningless stats. Do it anonymously if you would like. Up at the top of the post simply click on the “comment” button and replace the word call with a word that better fits our culture.
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June 17, 2009 at 2:00 pm
Anonymous
designed
June 18, 2009 at 9:33 am
Anonymous
I really don’t have a word yet for called, but I SO agree with the comment about punch words–saved, etc. Sometimes they’re so overused that they become meaningless.
June 21, 2009 at 2:13 pm
Anonymous
Appeal–Maybe it’s a little more then a calling? I have missed a couple of days reading your blog. It is very good and I agree with most of your ideas. Go for it Cody, we are all praying for you!
June 22, 2009 at 9:19 am
Kevin
I can’t think of a good replacement because the word “call” is such a carefully chosen word for a very strange thing. God is not a cosmic rapist… He doesn’t demand our love, He doesn’t require, He doesn’t blackmail anyone. He does, however, invite us to join His story – already in progress. He invites us to join to His timeless story of grace, mercy, and love for a people who continually turn away from Him. It’s a story that goes on, with or without us. God wants us to join, but He won’t require us to join. It’s a very personal invitation that cannot stay personal. Once we join the story, we become part of a larger story that spans generations.
Perhaps another word is “invite”??
June 22, 2009 at 9:55 am
codyknutson
I like your insight Kevin. Especially about describing it as very strange. I am trying so hard to learn how to discuss this strange words meaning/purpose/intent.
Maybe that’s why so few answer the “call” because it is never forced. Sometimes I wonder about the people who have taken the free gift of Christ. I wonder if they even know Christ wants to use them…there is just so much within the epistles concerning living out your faith. Then there is the faith vs works ordeal…
I can’t get over (my idea) that without man living the Gospel in a fleshed out sense, others will not have the opportunity to learn of the answer to their depravity. Of course someone could pick up a Bible and learn of this answer…maybe this idea is just the baptist evangelist coming out of me.
Sorry all this typed out so chaotically.
June 23, 2009 at 1:42 pm
Kevin
You are absolutely correct! Matthew 28 is all about living the Gospel… Jesus’ big word is “GO!”. Go to all nations, baptize them in the name of the Trinity, teach them to obey…
All who put their trust in Christ are invited to “Go”. But this invitation is strange because it’s unique for each and every person. Rarely can we articulate what we sense the Holy Spirit leading us to do, and rarely will someone else have exactly the same path. So, 20 people coming to Christ will be called/invited to 20 different missionary paths in life. And, like me, some of us continue to be patient and see how God continues to unfold His plan (too slowly sometimes, or so it seems!).
So, baptist evangelist or not, people almost only always come to Christ via another person telling them about Him. I do know of one person in seminary who went into his bedroom having no knowledge, concern, or care about God, and left the same bedroom having had the power of God fall on him and he was a Christ-follower. But we can’t just say we believe; that belief must be continually solidified/grown through serving others – in whatever capacity and situation God has placed us and given us a heart for.
I’m babbling now… good post! 🙂