Bumbled, Blundered, Bungled, Botched & Baffled Babel Gab

For me to effectively communicate, it is necessary that the meaning of the word or idea be the same in my mind as it is to the person I am trying to communicate with. Most words can be defined sufficiently, if I am uncertain of their meaning, in an updated dictionary. However, some people, in the use of certain words, conjure up their own meaning and forget to tell someone about it. Either that, or certain words have lost their original meaning, such as "cute" (bowlegged) or "nice" (ignorant). Several words have mutated into graphic terms, such as "jack@$$" (KJV: donkey). In the dog training world, you will find trainers still using the word "b!+c#" in its originally intended context (female dog or female barking dog). That first took me by surprise, quite honestly. When we first started training our dog, most of the helpful dog training books were riddled with that word.

My point...

"Then you should say what you mean," the March Hare went on.

"I do, " Alice hastily replied; "at least I mean what I say, that's the same thing, you know."

"Not the same thing a bit!" said the Hatter. "Why, you might just as well say that "I see what I eat" is the same thing as "I eat what I see!" -Alice in Wonderland.

In light of the big controversy over words as of late in the blogosphere, I wanted to say a few words about our use of words...

Now that I'm older I have given up worrying about what people think about me: What is most necessary is that I bring honor to the Lord and seek to express myself clearly, unquestionably and without compromising truth or integrity both in actions and in words. I am obviously in a learning process with this, and the blogosphere has been a wonderful refining tool of learning how to articulate what I believe and why for the glory of God.
I have learned the hard way that unintentional ambiguity is a serious error that always comes back to bite me. So, it is not whether I have used the right words, or presented them in an ungrammatical way: But have I expressed myself clearly.
I love to write. When it comes to being a writer, it is necessary to read, and to read a lot. Most especially the Word of God.(Don't use Tim Challies as a yardstick... ha)

I must constantly keep in mind that the power of words is real... "Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me" is a lie.

Back in Genesis 11:1, "the whole earth used the same language and the same words."

...Imagine that.

Now words can, and often do, have totally different meanings. Why is this?
Having all these languages and different meanings of words is the result of God's just judgment on people seeking to bring glory to themselves instead of bringing glory to God. (The Tower of Babel... Babel means "Confusion", right?)
Even so, we are to still "Let the words of (our) mouth(s) and the meditation(s) of (our) heart(s) be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, (our) rock and (our) Redeemer."

"Where nature's end of language is declined
And men talk only to conceal the mind."-Edward Young

Prov 26:24-28 " He who hates disguises it with his lips, But he lays up deceit in his heart.
When he speaks graciously, do not believe him, For there are seven abominations in his heart.
Though his hatred covers itself with guile, His wickedness will be revealed before the assembly.
He who digs a pit will fall into it, And he who rolls a stone, it will come back on him.
A lying tongue hates those it crushes, And a flattering mouth works ruin."

Often men, but especially women can talk and reveal their mind way too much. There is this really wonderful elderly man that I just love (along with his precious wife.) that go to my church. I have mentioned Stan before. He's the man I am going to race down the church hallway if I ever end up using a walker again from the MS. Anyway, we were at a church picnic held at one of the members of our church's home. I turned to Stan, who is typically very quiet, but quick-witted, and I said, "Stan, could you please let me get a word in edgewise."
He replied with a BIG WITTY GRIN, "If I were a woman, I suppose I would have alot more to say."
(Proverbs 10:19, "When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable, But he who restrains his lips is wise.")

Now let's take a look at WORDS:

Weasel Words are devoid of any content, like a weasel can remove the content out of an egg with it appearing to have left NO mark on the egg. Think of "blah, blah, blah, blah, blah..."

Concept Words are trigger words that set off a simple or complex concept in ones mind.

Emotional Words: Several of these such words do not set off a concept, but rather give rise to an emotion. Swear words fall into this category. This is the category that we must be very careful with in our communication. There are, however, alot of words that fall into this category that set off both emotion and concept. For example, "Calvinism" (Go read Strange Baptist Fire, one of my top-notch favorite blogs, for a good look at why I put this word in this category.)

Babel Gab: reminds me of people that are out to impress me with their knowledge, but are truly ignorant, and merely trying to procure to themselves the admiration of others. For some reason my mind pictures TBN.

"When I use a word,' Humpty Dumpty said, in a rather scornful tone,' it means just what I choose it to mean, neither more nor less.' 'The question is,' said Alice, 'whether you can make words mean so many different things.'

'The question is,' said Humpty Dumpty, 'which is to be master - that's all.'

Alice was too much puzzled to say anything; so after a minute Humpty Dumpty began again. 'They've a temper, some of them - particularly verbs: they're the proudest - adjectives you can do anything with, but not verbs - however, I can manage the whole lot of them! Impenetrability! That's what I say!'

'Would you tell me, please,' said Alice, 'what that means?'

'Now you talk like a reasonable child,' said Humpty Dumpty, looking very much pleased. 'I meant by "impenetrability" that we've had enough of that subject, and it would be just as well if you'd mention what you mean to do next, as I suppose you don't mean to stop here all the rest of your life.'

'That's a great deal to make one word mean,' Alice said in a thoughtful tone.

'When I make a word do a lot of work like that,' said Humpty Dumpty, 'I always pay it extra.'

'Oh!' said Alice. She was too much puzzled to make any other remark.

'Ah, you should see 'em come round me of a Saturday night,' Humpty Dumpty went on, wagging his head gravely from side to side, 'for to get their wages, you know.'

From Through The Looking Glass
by Lewis Carroll

May I be careful to use my words to bring glory to our heavenly Father. I have at times failed at this. And then I have at times been thoroughly clear, but my words were completely twisted. However, I pray earnestly that the Lord rightly convicts my heart and I seek forgiveness both from my Lord and the person with whom I have slashed with my tongue. And for those who have twisted my words, I pray diligently for a heart of grace and even thankfulness and forgiveness... even if they are not seeking to be forgiven.
As Carla has pointed out, when someone twists your words and brings false witness against you with their words, "Don’t respond in like kind – take the hit and thank the Lord for allowing it as part of your sanctification"
(Prov 11:9 " With his mouth the godless man destroys his neighbor, But through knowledge the righteous will be delivered.)
May I never be transparent in my words at the expense of the Gospel. May I never take on the appearance of the world in my words thinking that in doing so would cause the WORD of the Gospel to be more culturally acceptable and appealing.

Proverbs 15:23 "A man has joy in an apt answer, and how delightful is a timely word!"
"Apt" means suitable or appropriate.
In other words, let my words be encouraging, edifying and glorifying to my heavenly Father.
Isaiah 50:4 says "Lord GOD has given Me the tongue of disciples, that I may know how to sustain the weary one with a word. He awakens me morning by morning, He awakens My ear to listen as a disciple."

Daniel has written a great post that discusses how "Christian liberty is never liberty to offend others" and says "the "liberty train" was never meant to run on rails of offense to others." It is called The "Subjectivity" Cop Out.