Saturday, August 9, 1997

Popular expressions often misunderstood, misused

By Tom Schaefer

Knight-Ridder Newspapers

(KRT)

"God helps those who help themselves."

True expression, right?

We hear popular ones like this almost every day, and we probably use them in our own conversations.

"I'm stuck in this dreadful situation and can never get a break," someone moans.

"Well, you know what the Good Book says," comes the reply, with finger raised for added emphasis: "God helps those who help themselves."

Popular quote. Slight problem. The saying isn't from the Bible. Several writers Sophocles, Aeschylus, George Herbert, Ben Franklin, among others have expressed variations of it. And that's only one example of a well-known quotation that is misunderstood or even misused.

Most of us have been part of heated debates or thoughtful discussions that go back and forth like a rally in a tennis match. Finally, someone gains the advantage and unleashes a zinger - a choice phrase, aphorism or biblical reference - in an attempt to end the discussion. An example: When the Southern Baptist Convention condemned the Disney Co. for its support of gays and for the extreme violence in its recent movies, sides were taken. More than once, someone accused the Baptists of failing to follow the Bible's mandate to "judge not, lest ye be judged." The reference is to Matthew 7:1.

Good passage. Wrong interpretation. Here's the context of that reference:

In speaking to his disciples, Jesus was telling them not to judge harshly or unfairly because they will be called to account for their judgment. Some commentators also interpret the words as a warning for believers not to take others to court. (So much for modern-day observances of that part of the warning, eh?)

At the same time, Jesus was not telling people to avoid criticizing wrong behavior. People of faith have opinions. They condemn immoral and unethical behavior, and they try to discern what violates the teachings of their faith. Old Testament law was written with the express purpose of providing guidelines for appropriate behavior so that believers could make God-pleasing judgments. (By the way, if you want to read some harsh judgments in the New Testament, by the carpenter's son himself, check out Matthew 23.)

Nonetheless, the do-not-judge comment is commonly made, as if the person saying it has scored a victory for tolerance. The point of the saying, however, has been completely missed.

Consider another popular passage in Scripture.

When demonstrators stand outside a prison before an execution or protesters gather at a clinic that performs abortions, invariably signs will be carried that read: "Thou shall not kill." The reference is to Exodus 20:13.

Powerful message, but it's often misused or used selectively.

The Old Testament commandment prohibited murder but not the execution of someone who violated specific laws within the community (Exodus 21:12-17). The intent of the law was to provide justice, not seek vengeance. While other Middle Eastern cultures of that era readily used the death penalty, the Israelites were given strict limitations on its use. Those who use the Bible to defend an anti-death-penalty stance have a problem.

On the flip side, those who believe the Bible upholds capital punishment should be careful not to be too literal about its application. According to Old Testament law, cursing father or mother, stealing a slave, even failing to keep an ox from repeatedly goring another person were among acts that warranted the extreme punishment.

All of which goes to show that wise sayings - and those who use them - have their limitations.

Trying to correct someone by using a popular maxim, seeking to gain an advantage by quoting a biblical reference, going on the attack by stating a well-chosen adage may actually backfire. On the one hand, you may completely miss the intended mark with your quotation. On the other hand, you may reveal your ignorance.

Not that you or I should avoid applying the wisdom of the ages to ourselves or to others. From such wisdom we discover, for example, whose image we are created in (Genesis 1:26), how to treat others (the Golden Rule, common to many religions) and what the greatest virtue is (1 Corinthians 13).

What's sad is when we ignore or misunderstand the truths such wisdom teaches us and demonstrate how little we really know.

To put it simply: "Think before thou speakest" (Miguel de Cervantes).

(Tom Schaefer writes about religion and ethics for the Wichita (Kan.) Eagle. Write to him at the Wichita Eagle, P.O. Box 820, Wichita, KS 67201, or send e-mail to tschaefer(at)wichitaeagle.com )