Newspeak

I’ve enjoyed The Spiritual Encourager on Facebook. A post on Thursday brought to mind an old book. It took a bit longer than 1984, but a portion of that book has been achieved.  We live with ‘newspeak’, changing a word instead of changing our error. Adultery sounds so biblical, but affair sounds like fun.

Did you know that Daniel’s name was changed because it had meaning?

Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: Unto whom the prince of the eunuchs gave names: for he gave unto Daniel the name of Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah, of Shadrach; and to Mishael, of Meshach; and to Azariah, of Abednego. (Daniel 1:6-7)

The children of Judah’s names had meanings connected to God. Their new names were an attempt to replace God. A Woodrow Kroll article explains:

After all, it just wouldn't do to have people serving in Nebuchadnezzar's court with names like Daniel ("God is my judge"), Hananiah ("Jehovah was favored"), Mishael ("who is like God") and Azariah ("strengthened by Jehovah").
These names honored the God of Israel, so Ashpenaz changed them to reflect Babylonian gods. Daniel became Belteshazzar ("Bel protect his life"), Hananiah was called Shadrach ("command of Akur"), Azariah became Abed-Nego ("servant of Nebo"), and Mishael was renamed Meshach (a possible corruption of the name Maraduk, another Babylonian deity).

In “Nineteen-Eighty-Four”, George Orwell wrote that newspeak would be accomplished by 2050.  We are so far ahead of schedule that we might as well call it done. Politically correct rhetoric defines terms and reasonable discussion or even valid debate is tossed out as divisive.

Our Bible translations have watered down or deleted doctrinal issues to the point we argue over them instead of spreading the good news that God loves the world enough to provide for our salvation. This is not new, as Isaiah testifies:

Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight! (Isaiah 5:20-21)

Or, the way Paul wrote:

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. (2 Timothy 4:3-4)

And ‘Pulpit Commentaries’ expounds on this verse:

The measure of the number or the quality of their self-chosen teachers will be their own insatiable and ever-varying fancies and mental appetites, not the desire to be taught God's truth by teachers sent from God

God’s word has not changed. His promises are kept. Can we believe such promises as God gave Abraham?

And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him. (Genesis 17:19)

Or do we laugh, as Abraham and Sarah did (Genesis 17:17, 18:12) – until it happened?