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Do Words Really Mean Things?
As many know, I have frequently based the Editorials I wrote for HORIZONS magazine and these moments of provoking thought on conversations I have had. These “real life” moments mean much more to me than hypotheticals concocted in my fertile imagination.
Within the past several days, I had an opportunity to speak with a long time friend and college classmate. During our winding conversation covering several topics, the question/premise above played a central role. It is one that arises in conversations about politics, culture, theology, law, and many other topics. It was mentioned by many, from those who agreed and opposed his philosophy, following the death of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia. Justice Scalia was an ardent “constructionist” when it came to the US Constitution. For him, the words of the Constitution should always be considered in the framework and context of the writers. He had the great ability to be friends with those who disagreed with approach.
I find myself asking this question more and more often about Scripture and how Christ’s church handles the Word of God. I grew up in a denomination that decided several things mentioned in Scripture had become unnecessary in the 1960’s. Since its founding in Europe, the denomination had held the Scriptures taught that a congregation should be led by a plurality of elders. The General Conference concluded that was no longer necessary in the latter half of the 1900’s. Congregations were told to dissolve the eldership and vest authority into District Superintendents. When I sensed a call to ministry, the leaders of our congregation gently led me to seek an education in a school from the Restoration Movement.
It is not my point here to draw lines of demarcation and division. However, I think the premise that adherence to meanings of words when a document is written is important in understanding the meaning. This seems of greater importance today than at any time in my life and ministry, including my formative years of the 1950’s and 1960’s. It is of particular importance, it would seem, when handling Scripture. We should never read Scripture through the lens of “modernity,” “post modernity,” or any other time other than when it was written. Yes, words do mean things! May God bring us to our knees before Him through the Truth of His Word and the conviction of His Spirit. May we do so in the humility of people seeking His Truth rather than a prideful spirit of someone who thinks they have found it.
Praying for more to be His,
Reggie Hundley
Executive Director
Mission Services Association, Inc.
the missions network
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