Saturday, June 28, 2014

divine luck

I certainly will never be confused for an Etymologist anytime soon! However, I do appreciate the correct meaning of words and often wonder the impact of improperly and casually using words incorrectly over time. As a Christian I want to speak well of our Lord and represent Him properly with my life and speech. The more I listen to other quality Christian people speak I often get the feeling my perspective of words is probably an archaic view. 

We see throughout the Scripture the concept of the "divine" power and presence of God. The dictionary defines divine as "sacred, as pertaining to the Supreme Being, heavenly, or celestial." In my limited understanding this definition seems fair. In the last few weeks I have heard this phrase attached in multiple other ways:
        • Divine Food
        • Divine Comedy
        • Divine Makeup 
        • Divine Insurance
        • Divine Beauty
Is it proper to describe anything outside of the majesty and awe of the True and Eternal Being of the Almighty God as "divine"? Or, does the improper use eventually erode away the essence of what is truly divine and how we communicate this? Would there be any confusion if a Pastor went to dinner with some church members and described his food as "truly divine" and the next Sunday spoke on the "divine nature" of God? Is it obvious the immense span of difference between the use of "divine" in this example or should we just be more careful to use words more discreetly?

Another common word I often hear used in Christian speak is luck. We may hear people say such things as "that was lucky" or "good luck with that surgery" or "we are so lucky to be born American". The dictionary defines luck as "good fortune, considered as the result of chance; or a force that seems to operate for good or ill in a person's life". As a Bible believer and student I was always taught to believe in a God of control that has left nothing to "chance" and in fact there is nothing out of control or open to the negotiation of some foreign force. Have we inadvertently embraced "luck" when we:
        • Cross our fingers
        • Put up horse shoes
        • Collect four leaf clovers
        • Have a rabbit foot
        • Or even wear a cross around our neck?

2 Corinthians 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

Psalms 115:3 But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased.

Proverbs 21:30 There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD. 

Romans 9:21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?

Daniel 4:35 And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?



2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi Kevin.....its Kate from Naples Bible Church.....just a thought about wearing a cross. I get where you are coming from but I wear a cross to remind me of Jesus Dying for me. Ive never thought of it as a symbol of anything else. Is this wrong? Just wondering.....

Kevin P said...

hey Kate! Have you ever watched a baseball game in which the player gets up to bat, pulls the cross from under his shirt, kisses it, and then swings. Although he may be thinking about God, he is using some crafted device to connect himself with God. This is forbidden. In Scripture, there are times when good men made physical things to help the people but eventually these things became a snare (Judges 8:27, Numbers 21:9 & 2 Kings 18:4).
I have heard some people say they wear a cross because they want Jesus near to their heart, or "it" just makes them feel better. When it comes to remembrance the Bible tells us much (2 Tim 1:6; 2 Tim 2:14; 2 Peter 1:12, 13; 2 Peter 3:1).
Let every man be fully persuaded in their own mind!