Argument by neologism By Brent Richards Director of Christian Education Warwick, RI: Greenwood Community Monday, August 2, 1999 A neologism is a newly coined word or phrase, often a political or ideological "buzzword" invented to describe an emerging concept or changing value. Neologisms happen at a dizzying pace in our modern world. The coining of a new, positive word or phrase can go a long way to helping a previously unacceptable view become acceptable. It becomes, if you will, a form of rhetoric or argument unto itself. Let's call it "the argument by neologism." At the 211th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA), I observed a very vivid example of the argument by neologism. Numerous calls for action before the assembly used the gripping term, "spiritual violence." My first reaction was of course negative. Who would want to be guilty of spiritual violence? But, as I heard the term again and again and again, I began to wonder: What exactly is spiritual violence? The accusation du jour I wondered if, perhaps, it was just another relatively meaningless buzzword. Violence, after all, is the accusation du jour of the diversity crowd. You may have noticed that almost every form of disagreement has now been defined as some specialized sort of violence. To add the term "spiritual" was simply to "baptize" the buzzword into church usage. I wasn't left to wonder too long. One wise commissioner to General Assembly finally asked, "Will the Overture Advocate [for overture 99-35, regarding the condemnation of homophobia and "conversion therapies"] please tell us what precisely spiritual violence is?" The advocate did, though I couldn't quite divine whether his answer was his own position on the matter or the official answer of his presbytery. In any case, it got my attention, because it showed me that this neologism was a lot more dangerous than just a parroted buzzword. "Spiritual violence," he said, "is any attempt to make a person believe that they are sick, sinful, and unworthy of God's love." Some in the room nodded their approval. Some others, myself included, just looked stunned, and seemed to wonder "Did I hear that right?" Spiritually violent statements So then, this being the definition of spiritual violence, we should have a look at some clear examples of "spiritually violent" statements: "[Your] heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick…" "If we refuse to admit that we are sinners, then we live in a world of illusion and truth becomes a stranger to us…" "We can understand someone dying for a person worth dying for, and we can understand how someone good and noble could inspire us to selfless sacrifice. But God put his love on the line for us by offering his Son in sacrificial death while we were of no use whatever to him." From just these few examples, it should be abundantly clear (in case you don't recognize the sources of the statements) that Jeremiah, the Apostle John, and the Apostle Paul were all afflicted with the "sin" of spiritual violence. Imagine telling people they are sinful and unworthy of God's love. How do we expect them to respond to the "self-actualizing" message of the gospel with statements like that? But then, Jeremiah and crew are really the small players. By the above definition, clearly the biggest offender was Jesus Himself. Didn't He teach that, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick … For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." (Matthew 9:12,13; NIV)? I, Jesus, spiritually violent? Is Jesus spiritually violent? The very suggestion is patently absurd. Nor could it be violence to preach His gospel. Rather, it is violence to withhold it. Says the Lord, again through Jeremiah, "They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace." (Jeremiah 6:14; KJV) I am mystified by the spirituality that says "I am acceptable, and God has accepted me." So what? It reminds me of Jesus' words: "If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?" (Matthew 5:46; NIV) God accepts me because I am acceptable? So what? Big deal. The greatest act of violence in history, the cross, won acceptance for the sinful, soul-sick, unworthy creature I see in the mirror each morning. By the cross, God's ultimate neologism, "grace", came to me. If that's spiritual violence, bring it on, because it's still the best news I've ever heard.

Respond to this article

News From the PCUSA · Home · News · PLC Publications · The Presbyterian Layman Online Reviews · Archives · History of the Lay Committee · Feedback · Links