We both used the same word but we each meant something entirely different by it. It is a word that is often used the way he used it, but in my mind it could never mean what he wanted it to mean.
So we called in the dictionaries. I confronted him with two dictionaries that said it meant what I said it meant and he countered with a dictionary that said it meant what he said it meant.
Perhaps you could argue that on the weight of numbers, I was right but on the weight of history we know that the greatest numbers are not always right.
As neither of us is a lexicographer, we settled for a smiling truce.
It did not matter in this case, it was only one word in a whole vocabulary but in the big issues of what we believe and how we live together and how we deliver justice to all people, correct meanings really do matter.
All the different powers in the world seem to subscribe to different authorities so they come up with opposing decisions. Perhaps it is this lack of a final authority that causes wars and racial tension and the abuses we see in society.
To deal with the confusion and cynicism, we all need one final authority that is far above ‘any name that can be named, not only in this age but in the age to come.’
Jesus claims that authority. He said ‘Full authority in heaven and on earth has been committed to me’.
All the shades of meaning to life and love and justice are written by word and illustrated by His life, and presented in His book.
So have you read any good books lately?
References: Ephesians 1:21 and Matthew 28:18.
Elizabeth Price