Big Is The New Small

NAME CALLING

Name Calling is one of those social weapons that we all pull out of our arsenal from time to time.  We can trace name calling all the way back to pre grade school.  Prior to grade school the name calling weaponry includes the subtle names, such as: chubby, goofy, skinny, slow…..  Once we are in grade school the names become more reflective of perceived social status: cool, athlete, smart, LD, fast, slow, geek, nerd, looser, teachers pet….  When High School hits the name calling turns into some more serious WMD’s that carry throughout adulthood.    Just think about your own life and the name calling that you are engaged in on a daily basis.  I am guilty of minor and sometimes even more serious name calling on a regular basis.  For instance, I am watching the news this week and they were talking about the arrest of our favorite court room friend, Mr. O.J. Simpson.  Here were some of my choice words for O.J.: stupid, arrogant, idiot……..  Below are some situations, along with a few choice weapons in name calling:

• Work- lazy, micromanager, jerk
• Politics- liberal freak, right-wing nut, Nazi
• Homosexuality- fag, queer, punk
• Racial- I won’t list any, you know what they are 

The reason that I did not list the names in the Racial category, is to illustrate the fact that some name calling is more appropriate than others.  Before you name call consider these transitions: “micromanager” their management style is to micromanage, “stupid” behavior is stupid, “crack-head” addicted to crack.  The bottom line is that we really do not have the right to call people names.   I read Proverbs 18:21 in the message version and it simply states; Words kill, words give life; they’re either poison or fruit—you choose.  

Share some of the name calling that you have used this week.  Are your words giving life?  Share your thoughts!

• Why do we share our faith so little?

• Why is the word blog not in spell check?
• Why are Dalmatians born without spots?
• Why do 50% of marriages end in divorce?
• Why do they name hurricanes and not tornadoes?
• Why do snacks cost so much at the Movie Theatre?
• Why is it illegal to put graffiti on someone else’s cow in Texas?
• Why do we have to return our seatbacks forward in an airplane?
• Why can’t any piece of paper be folded in half more than 7 times?
• Why are there no words in the English language that rhyme with month?

Share your own “Why” questions, or share your thoughts on any of the above.

I had the opportunity to do be a political consultant for a number of years prior to being in full time ministry.  My involvement was both locally and nationally, which allowed the opportunity to experience a lot, both positive and negative.  Now that I am removed from the political scene,J that old saying “You Don’t Mix Religion and Politics” has become more of a question for me.  Why don’t you mix religion and politics?  Lyndon B. Johnson pushed a law through in 1954 that prohibited Tax-Exempt organizations, including churches from participating or intervening in elections on behalf of any candidates.  I am not referring to churches or pastors pushing candidates, I am referring to a more personal thought process.  Throughout scripture there are passages that discuss the following: government, laws, leaders, rulers…. and the responsibility they have, as well as discussing our role as followers.  Has our society become so politically correct, that it has become “Taboo” to “Mix Religion and Politics?”  I am going to throw some questions out and I would love to get your feedback. 

• Does your faith affect your decisions at the poll? 
• Do you agree or disagree with the premise of not mixing religion and politics? 
• Is this one of those “Pink Elephant” in the room subjects that we just want to avoid?

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• Why does snooze only last 9 minutes?

• Why does printer ink and toner cost so much?
• Why don’t college athletes get paid?
• Why do humans drink cow’s milk?
• Why don’t we mix religion and politics?
• Why do the school supply lists have so many items?
• Why is St. Louis, MO the most dangerous city in the US?
• Why did presidential candidate John Edwards pay $400 for a haircut?
• Why is the Republican symbol an elephant and the Democrat symbol a donkey?
• Why do people pay to sit in first class, is the meal really that good and are the people really that important?

• Why do we pay for water?
• Why do people door ding our cars?
• Why is water with lemon so popular?
• Why is gas $3.00 plus a gallon?
• Why is Michael Vick so stupid?
• Why is ultimate fighting popular?
• Why are there so many Lawn/Landscape Companies?
• Why are there so many denominations?
• Why do meteorologists get more time than sportscasters?
• Why are you reading this blog?