Perhaps a pet peeve of mine yet a true and factual statement none the less.
We have watered down the language and the strength of our words by calling Biblical accounts "stories".
Tall tales, greek mythology, Aesop's fables, romance novels, these are stories.
A story is something that may be true, an account factual or otherwise.
Yet when we say the "story" of David and Goliath the connotation in today's world of a story is negative.
We must go to a more accurate usage of words to convey this as an historical factual account.
Jesus used parables as a teaching tool. We can use metaphors, Allegories, parables, myths, etc.
However, when referring to the Biblical accounts we must not demean them or give cause for anyone to make them less than they are - Historical records.
I heard a preacher on the radio say "in the story of" making it seem as if this was just a tall tale. Again this may just be me ,but most probably not, when he said story I immediately thought of fiction.
I had an aunt who everyday watched her soap operas and called them her "stories".
I have long been a proponent of the power of the spoken language. We have the power to strengthen or weaken our message based on the language we use. The common vernacular is not the speech we should be using for the written or verbal messages we put forth of the Bible and it's content.
It is the Word of God. It deserves all the respect and admiration we can give it.
Christ understood this and even spoke to the clarity of language.
In the days of Christ they were swearing by things to show their sincerity. In doing so they were watering down their language and taking away from and/or adding to the meaning.
Mat 5:37 But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.
We have watered down the language and the strength of our words by calling Biblical accounts "stories".
Tall tales, greek mythology, Aesop's fables, romance novels, these are stories.
A story is something that may be true, an account factual or otherwise.
Yet when we say the "story" of David and Goliath the connotation in today's world of a story is negative.
We must go to a more accurate usage of words to convey this as an historical factual account.
Jesus used parables as a teaching tool. We can use metaphors, Allegories, parables, myths, etc.
However, when referring to the Biblical accounts we must not demean them or give cause for anyone to make them less than they are - Historical records.
I heard a preacher on the radio say "in the story of" making it seem as if this was just a tall tale. Again this may just be me ,but most probably not, when he said story I immediately thought of fiction.
I had an aunt who everyday watched her soap operas and called them her "stories".
I have long been a proponent of the power of the spoken language. We have the power to strengthen or weaken our message based on the language we use. The common vernacular is not the speech we should be using for the written or verbal messages we put forth of the Bible and it's content.
It is the Word of God. It deserves all the respect and admiration we can give it.
Christ understood this and even spoke to the clarity of language.
In the days of Christ they were swearing by things to show their sincerity. In doing so they were watering down their language and taking away from and/or adding to the meaning.
Mat 5:37 But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.
Christ was telling them to speak the pure answer, the pure truth. He understood the power of the language and speaking plain and honest.
Speak the plain honest truth in the sincerest form. Do not let your language be watered down. Speak the straight true and factual Word of God plainly. Do not demean it it by using slang or the common vernacular (slang).
God's Word is all this world needs. We do not need to couch it in "easier" verbiage.
Those who have ears let him hear.
You do your listeners a disservice when you make it less than it is even if you do so unintentionally.
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