Homoveritasphobia
Posted by: ba <ba@...>
http://www.forthright.net
Straight to the Cross
COLUMN: Hands-on Faith
Homoveritasphobia
by Barry Newton
I have heard about a tribe of Indians in the
Amazon whose language only contains numbers for
counting up to 15. Anything beyond 15 is simply
"many". Of course this is not particularly helpful
in a number of scenarios. "How many warriors did
you say were attacking?" "Many." "How many
children have gone down to the river?" "Many."
Ouch!
Language is a powerful tool. We use the symbols of
language to build our ideas, organize our thoughts
and infuse precision into our communication. In
fact, whereas societies create words to express
ideas, those very words in turn shape the
possibilities for how a society can think about
ideas. The positive and negative connotations
associated with words can become powerful bricks
building a society's perspective about life.
Accordingly, connotations might either contribute
toward a biblical understanding of our world or
they might be an attempt to deconstruct a godly
worldview in order to support a humanistic view of
life. Consider the following example.
There are many phobias (fears) such as
claustrophobia (fear of confining spaces) or
arachnid phobia (fear of spiders) Most people
readily acknowledge that it is desirable to live
free of phobias. Phobias carry a negative
connotation.
When the homosexual community invented the word
homophobia, they demonstrated they understood the
power of language to shape a society. After all,
who wants to suffer from a phobia? Accordingly,
when they slap the label homophobic upon someone,
immediately this implicitly involves the subtle
claim that their "gay" viewpoint is superior and
more healthy. Given time, that word if uncontested
could contribute toward shaping a society's
perception of morality.
Since I believe that our ways of thinking should
mirror the way God wants us to think about life, I
am proposing that the English language needs a new
word: homoveritasphobia. This word simply means,
fear of the truth about homosexual behavior.
Despite the convoluted and sophisticated attempts
of the homosexual community to scrub out of the
Scriptures any condemnation of homosexual
activity, it remains plain for all to see. Equally
clear, is that this or any other sinful lifestyle
can be forgiven when people respond appropriately
to Jesus.
"Or do you not know that the unrighteous shall not
inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived;
neither fornicators, ... nor homosexuals, neither
thieves ... shall inherit the kingdom of God. And
such were some of you; but you were washed, but
you were sanctified, but you were justified in the
name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit
of our God" (1 Corinthians 6:9-11 NASB).
With my proposed word, the playing field has been
tipped back in favor of God's perspective. Either
a person is homophobic or homoveritasphobic. I'm
proud not to be homoveritasphobic. Which would you
rather be: afraid of the truth about homosexuality
or just afraid of supporting homosexual activity?
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