Sometimes our politicians
and/or brethren carry on great "battles" that remind me of my childhood.
Two boys, each in his own back-yard, with a high board fence between,
would begin a "word" bombardment.
One would call, "You're
nothin' but a cockle-pasted patsy-jobber," or some other equally
appropriate name. The second boy would respond, "Yeah--Well, you're
anothern!!"
Whereupon, the first
would shout, "You are
ten cockle-pasted
patsy-jabbers!" And the second would reply, "Ats nuthin! You're
hunnert, so
there!!" "You're a
thousand!" "You're
a million!!!" In just a little while a fellow could be a jillion --
drillion cockle-pasted patsy-jabbers, without even climbing off the
fence. All of which, of course, only proved "boys."
When we became men we
should know that name-calling -- and charges -- of themselves, only
prove we have never grown up. We highly favor plain talk, which includes
calling a false teacher a false teacher. But an honorable critic is
obligated to point out the error, not simply call names. We only
compound the wrong by whispering.
The Power Behind Name-Calling
Childish shouts of
"Patsy-Jabber" did little damage, but adult name-calling can break men
and divide churches. The difference lies in the power behind
name-calling -- the sectarian "party" spirit, branding, with "liberal"
or "anti" labels, would be insignificant were it not for the party
spirit that backs groundless charges. But when brethren move blindly,
approving or rejecting as their sectarian leader indicates, a
name-calling sermon is all it takes to separate life-long friends.
It is sobering to reflect
that under such circumstances, the leader could bark at the
truth and the
party would bite at it.
Battle Demands
To destroy this evil each
person must do two things: (1)
accept individual responsibility to know and to follow truth.
We have no obligation to believe and act "like the church"; and such
sectarian allegiance binds us to human fallacies. (2 Cor. 10:12)
Our allegiance is to Christ, and this demands that we study His will,
and answer religious questions for ourselves. (Rom. 14:10-12 Jn.
14:23)
(2)
We
must not fear name-calling.
The faint-hearted are going to Hell. (Rev. 21:8) On their way,
they "join the party" and "follow the majority." (Matt. 7:13-14)
It takes courage to have personal convictions and stand firmly by them
while the masses revile; but this is the price of freedom, here and
hereafter; and this is necessary to break the power of name-calling.
"Cockle-Pasted Patsy-Jabber"
What is that? Define your
terms please! What are its characteristics? Why do you call me this?
Will you help me improve, so I will no longer be a "cockle-pasted
patsy-jabber"?
You see -- name-calling
loses its punch under Christian investigation. That is why name-callers
refuse to have open study of issues. And you???
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