We have a lot of phrases in our language that make me stop and think. Whose idea was this? Why did everyone else just go along with it?
“Cat got your tongue?” How in the world did anyone come up with this?
“Every now and again”… and? There can be more after every day.
“Purple is a fall color”… wait no, this is from a movie.
Idioms are common, and although some sound a bit dark, they’re pretty harmless.
But what about other common phrases that are maybe less harmless? At least for followers of Christ. The early Covenant Church used a phrase that I think we could stand to use more in our day-to-day: where is it written? Have you ever read anything about Karma in the Bible? Nope. Karma is part of another religion, and is about as far away from grace as we can get. Should those who have been saved by the grace and love of God really be hoping “Karma will get them” when someone cuts them off in traffic? Where is it written?
One that started to weigh on me a few years ago is “knock on wood.” This is a superstition that can actually be a form of idolatry! What mystic powers are we ascribing to that desk or door frame that will do us any real good? Are we still trying to invoke the wish-granting wood fairies?
As Christians, we are called to be light to our world. We are supposed to be different so that our lives can be a witness to the Truth. Something I felt convicted of was perpetuating the use of language that was the opposite of God’s message to the world. In the NIV translation, Ephesians 4:29 warns us not to let any unwholesome talk come out of our mouths. This isn’t just referring to not using “bad words” as in profanity, but also slander or other ways of tearing people down… And I would also say it applies to undermining the truth of God’s Word. Where is it written?
“Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ. For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body. So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.” Colossians 2:8-10 NLT