English

Use it wisely

July 23, 2009 (Thursday)
English is a very expressive language, but some words have several meanings. There are many different ways to use the word, “tract,” for example.
“Tract” once meant a stretch or lapse of time; in geography it can mean an expanse or area of land, water, etc., a region, a stretch; in anatomy, a region of the body, such as the digestive tract, or a bundle of nerve fibers; in some churches it is an anthem of Scripture verses sung at a special time; in bird science, it can be an area of feathers; among conservative Christians, it is a pamphlet designed to inform the reader about a specific subject.
Every church once had a “tract rack,” a display of pamphlets. That was one of the first things that caught my eye when I started thinking more seriously about church at the age of 16. The publishing arm of the Southern Baptist Convention produced those pamphlets. Many are available today, and there are several very good sources for tracts of all kinds. They are useful for Christian witnessing and teaching Christian beliefs.
When a word has so many possible meanings, how do we know which one is being used? We can tell by the context of what is being written or spoken. The word by itself has many possible meanings, but the word in a sentence or in the midst of a discussion, has a usage which is perfectly clear and not misunderstood.
When we study the Bible, “context” is a strong factor in determining what a verse or a word means. If we really want to know what the Bible says, we cannot just open it at random, close our eyes and pick a verse. One person who tried that method found “Judas went out and hanged himself,” then on the second try, “Go and do likewise.”
English. Use it wisely.