Daily Word, 2.3..2012 “Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate [reprobate, Greek definition, failing the test, rejected]. Titus 1:15-16 “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled.” Hebrews 12:14-15 I have finally started a new book; a book that, to my way of thinking, is understandable. The author of this book was once a professor. His area of study is society’s influence upon an individual’s thought process, meaning the situations and events that someone encounters will have a direct effect on how they think and behave. This book is a work of fiction. I’m interested in this book because of realizing how the author’s background is used to develop a story line that reflects his personal views on social development. In this story you find a group of people who are extremely “prejudicial,” regarding other people. This prejudice is being cultivated by the social organization that makes up the family’s historical life line. In this story ideas are brought into existence within the lives of certain people that demonstrate what I think of as being extremely cruel and uncaring behavior. The last book I read was highly metaphorical. I usually like this type of style of writing especially where, within the arrangement of sentences, a more poetic style is used. It too was a work of fiction. But I found this last book to be far too extreme. I was not comfortable with the book because, in scene after scene, events occurred that had no connection with reality. I realized this book was meant to provide a metaphorical plane of existence, but because I understood there was nothing on earth or in heaven that provided an identity with which to compare, I became disappointed. Usually I enjoy this author. But when mystical happenings occur, even though meant to be metaphorical in nature, I still desire to see some connection with reality, something that I can relate to. In my opinion, the metaphors in the last book are unproductive, because there is no possible way a reality exists that could reflect the situations mentioned. But I suppose some people like this style. I am just not one of them. I think it’s safe to say that, when creating a metaphor, there must first be some connection with reality, or at least something people can identify with. I will try to explain using the word “mountain.” To use it metaphorically, first, this word, “mountain,” must represent something people are familiar with. In this case, we often think of the word “mountain” as representing a landmass that projects above its surroundings and is higher than a hill (paraphrasing Webster’s Dictionary definition). To ascend this mountain, would be to find ourselves exalted above the valleys that lie below. This means step one, in developing metaphorical context, would be to use a word where a person, place or thing is recognized. Then step two is incorporating the rhythm which words are able to create, especially when developing metaphorical context; those words could explain or reveal a particular type of thinking process associated with the recognizable person, place or thing. Let’s, for this example, use the words “self-exaltation,” where pride is the ultimate goal. This means, when using the word “mountain” and the words “self-exaltation” together in order to create a metaphor, a connection is made between the words which are in keeping with linguistics (language). Because I like to cross over the line from carnal, worldly intent into that which portrays God’s holy nature, I would most likely, in using the words “self-exaltation” and “mountain,” create a metaphor that explains this idea. I might say something like this: When God’s love and holiness moved upon my life, after my first believing Jesus is the Christ (describing the effects of God’s Spirit upon our lives), then those high places that were as a mountain I had tried to climb, hoping to find something that brought purpose to my life, were revealed as nothing more than man’s selfish pride and vice; then down they came crumbling into the sea (the word sea could also be used to suggest metaphorical context), so now I walk on a path where the peace of God walks alongside of me. In the development of language (linguistics), the word “darkness” conveys the idea of there being an absence of light. To talk metaphorically, so that a spiritual value associated with the nature of God is realized, we could use the word “darkness” to describe our walking uninfluenced of the Light (another metaphor that carries a spiritual value associated with the nature of God), who scripture teaches is Christ. The scriptures teach that in looking to and trusting in Christ, so that it becomes our desire to do as He asks (as opposed to hearing but not doing, so that the Word does not profit a person’s soul) that the true Light, who is Christ, will bring to light (metaphorically speaking), or will reveal God’s will and purpose for our lives. The word “darkness” suggests a spiritual value, associated with the will of God, that can be used to help someone understand the undesirable thinking and behavioral attitudes that are in keeping with a carnal mindset, or what scripture sometimes refers to as the works of the flesh (see Galatians 6:19-21). To continue on with the idea of using things that people can identify with in order to create a metaphor which explains the nature of God, you could use the word “Babylon.” Babylon was the name given to an actual city, where creation and not the Creator was worshipped. In this particular city, gods were brought into existence in keeping with a carnal, worldly mindset. In creating a metaphor that carries a spiritual value associated with the nature of God, you might first acknowledge Babylon as an actual city of bygone days. You might stress the values and beliefs of those who existed within this actual city of long ago. Also, in creating this metaphor, you might include the idea that those of Babylon, who worshipped creation and not the Creator, represent those who live separated from the Lord. They did not experience His love and holiness in a manner that would bring about change of thought and attitude. In using the word “Babylon” to create a metaphor, as noted, we might first start by saying this word belongs to the idea of an actual city of bygone days. We might even include the idea that the people who held residence within Babylon were of a carnal, or worldly mindset; they were of the flesh. These were people whose relationship with life, similar to the opinion of the first author I mentioned, was shaped and molded by what they saw and heard, with all things being processed through a mindset that was uninfluenced of God’s love and holiness. In other words, they were carnal people who were influenced by the attitudes and beliefs of other people of a carnal nature. Next, in order to present a metaphor that holds spiritual value in keeping with the nature of God, you might want to discuss how it is possible to “leave Babylon,” using this phrase as a way to explain walking with God today. If I wanted to create a metaphor that held spiritual value in keeping with the nature of God, I would probably use words that describe our walking away from ideas where creation and not the Creator (similar to the mindset of those who resided within physical Babylon of days past), the One True God, is worshipped. Again, like the earlier metaphor I mentioned, I would most likely discuss crossing over (the line) from living a life void of any relationship with God, into the realm where Jesus lives, where we are able to appreciate being influenced of God’s love and holiness (God’s Holy Spirit). Like the earlier metaphor I mentioned, where self interest creates a mindset aligned with pride, people are then associated with an actual mountain that is able to fall from a position of influence when encountering the love and holiness of God; I might say, Babylon is able to fall from a position of power and worth within our lives. Because this is a metaphor, where spiritual value in keeping with the nature of God is meant to be shared, then the message I would most likely try to convey, is how, in encountering the living God in Spirit and in truth, it is possible to give all praise to the Creator as opposed to creation. As a side note, I do appreciate all of creation, not because I look to creation to supply answers for life, but because of appreciating how God spoke and His beautiful creation came to be. There are other ideas I might want to demonstrate when using the word “Babylon” to create a metaphor that demonstrates a spiritual value associated with the nature of God. I might want to include the idea of how to recognize our actually leaving Babylon. In looking at the opening scripture, Titus 1:15-16, where people, “profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate [reprobate, Greek definition, failing the test, rejected],” I might want to include ideas, in forming a metaphor that uses the word Babylon to express a spiritual value associated with the nature of God, that encourage people to take into account their own actions. Ideas that invite people to “leave Babylon” might actually cause them to consider whether they have crossed over from death of self involvement, where pride and the worshipping of creation is accepted as the norm, into life, where the love and holiness of God is what motivates and directs people’s thoughts and actions. There are many more ideas I would like to cover, which might help us understand and create metaphorical language, but I recognize this letter is already long enough. Perhaps next time will continue with this subject. But as for today, may we, “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled.” Hebrews 12:14-15. May our thoughts, words and actions be in demonstration of the goodness of God, so that no one should ever, in observing or hearing us, walk away thinking there is no value in believing in Jesus Christ, God’s only beloved Son. To the One true God, blessings and honor, Arlette Click here for a complete archive of daily words