English now and then (Re. Pulpit language

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>>>>> "Mark" == Mark Bassett <mbasset@iconn.net> writes:

    Mark> On Sun, 8 Sep 1996 17:14:50 PST, you wrote:
    >> I've been wondering, if a word is filthy on the streets, and
    >> it's not in the text of the King James Bible doesn't that mean
    >> our English language has changed to the degree that we need to
    >> address that issue now?  I love the Word, but there seems times
    >> when the English then and the English now have changed.  Not
    >> just with the words we've been discussing.  Just curious what
    >> you all think.

    Mark> Well, if so, we better drop the word Pentecost, because it
    Mark> sure doesnt mean the same thing in much modern religious
    Mark> life as it did originally.

    Mark> Also, the phrase "born again" better be dumped.

    Mark> Actually, it might be a good idea to go on down the list and
    Mark> consider these things. Im an advocate of using biblical
    Mark> language and teaching appropriatly..

    Mark> For example, the words RECEIVE and OBTAIN have practically
    Mark> reversed meanings since the KJV's origin. However, I still
    Mark> believe that we must RECEIVE the Holy Ghost, and re-teach
    Mark> the word RECEIVE as an active verb.

The concept we are referring to here is what I have been calling for
years "semantic drift".  It seems to be a favorite long range strategy
of New Agers.  Just listen to the radio, and hear the way words are
either used slightly differently, or pronounced differently, than the
way we learned them in school.  

This alteration is not accidental: it is being done with an agenda.
The favorite words to "adjust" pertain to sexual behaviour, and most
especially to homosexual behaviour.  Other words, in feilds associated
with morals, ethics, or religion, are likewise twiddled with.  

The idea seems to be to pervert the meaning until that which was
unacceptable becomes acceptable because the meaning of the words has
drifted, or to change the term appied to describe something to a term
wiht more favorable connotations.  

In performing these maneuvers, the very meaning of the scriptures is
perverted.  We must not permit this to happen!

-- 
--------  "And there came a writing to him from Elijah"  [2Ch 21:12]  --------
Robert Jay Brown III  rj@eli.wariat.org  http://eli.wariat.org  1 847 705-0424
Elijah Laboratories Inc.;  37 South Greenwood Avenue;  Palatine, IL 60067-6328
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