But What Does It Really Mean?

“So, to recap, ‘whole’ does not exactly mean whole, ‘natural’ does not all ways mean natural, and ‘local’ isn’t necessarily local. 

gospel frames icons_Our Story Title
But What Does it Really Mean?
 
Sometimes words don’t mean what you think they mean, even when that meaning seams obvious. Consider, for a moment, how we label food in this country. An article in a recent issue of Oxygen was titled “How to Deconstruct Food Marketing Jargon.” Here are just a few examples the author mentions: 
 
  • Whole Wheat Bread – “A manufacturer can label an item ‘whole wheat’ if it contains just 51 percent whole-wheat flour.”
  • Natural/All Natural – “These labels mean absolutely nothing. . . The Food and Drug Administration does not define or regulate the use of these terms. It only advises that “natural” products should not contain artificial colors, flavors or preservatives and should be minimally processed.”
  • Local/Locally Sourced – “These terms indicate that a food is grown fewer than 400 miles away from the location in which it is sold/served.”
So, to recap, “whole” does not exactly mean whole, “natural” does not all ways mean natural, and “local” isn’t necessarily local. 
 
The terms used by many today are no different. They are just jargon that must be deconstructed. God doesn’t always mean God. Love doesn’t always mean love. Gospel isn’t always good news. Even the name Jesus doesn’t always refer to the reigning King of Heaven described in the Bible.

Key Texts

Deuteronomy 32:17
They sacrificed to demons that were no gods, to gods they had never known, to new gods that had come recently, whom your fathers had never dreaded.

1 Kings 12:28
So the king took counsel and made two calves of gold. And he said to the people, “You have gone up to Jerusalem long enough. Behold your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.”

Mark 13:6
Many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!’ and they will lead many astray.

Galatians 1:8
But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed.

 

Key Topics

deceit, real God, Jesus, meaning, pluralism, words

Source

McGlashan. Lara. “How to Deconstruct Food Marketing Jargon.” Oxygen, August 2020, pp 114-7.

–