Our society wants the definitions of words to change based on how they are being used today. There is a real problem with that. Instead we should be teaching everyone how to use the words that have already been defined correctly.
What is the problem you may be asking? Lets take a look at below of just two issues with changing the definitions of words
- Changing words means that the target is always moving and it becomes near impossible to hit that target.
- Changing words to what it means today will have negative implications on documents already written such as the Bible, the Constitution, and the Laws.
I understand that man has always defined what a word meant, but once that words has been defined, it needs to remain as that definition.
Here are just a few words that have changed or people want changed.
- Bastard – Today it not only means an illegitimate child, but one who is mean, disagreeable, abnormal, inferior, etc.
- Homicide – It means one person has killed another, but people also use it mostly to mean 1st degree murder
- Gender – It means male or female, but today we want to expand that to mean a range of identities.
- Racist – Prejudice against or antagonistic towards a person or people based on the racial or ethnic group. Today has a wide variety of definitions such as a person disagreeing with another, someone that is considered evil, and even goes towards inanimate objects such as guns. Did you know that Covid-19 was racist?
- Bigot – A person who has strong, unreasonable beliefs and who does not like other people who have different beliefs or a different way of life (Cambridge Online Dictionary). Today it literally means that when someone disagrees with you, they are a bigot.
- Terrorist – Someone who uses violent action, or threats of violent action, for political purposes (Cambridge Online Dictionary). Today, it means anyone who causes terror or fear. There is a student arguing with a teacher/professor over the definition of terrorist/terrorism.
- Terrorism – (Threats of) violent action for political purposes (Cambridge Online Dictionary). This is along the same lines as terrorist. This is being defined as any act that causes terror/fear.
My wife and a friend said they can understand changing the definitions to match how people are using it today, but as stated above, that causes a whole range of other problems that they are not thinking about.
I am just thankful that God does not change because if He did, then we could never be saved.
Malachi 3:6 English Standard Version
Robbing God
6 “For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed.
Hebrews 13:8 English Standard Version
8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
I just ask that you open your eyes to what is going on around you and ask yourself do you really want the words to change to how we are using them versus being told to use the word correctly? You can say yes, but then be prepared for the aftermath.