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 Much
is being spoken and written about gaps —the credibility gap,
the generation gap, the communications gap, etc. Something needs
to be said about the identity gap too; that gap that often
exists between what something is and what it is called.
Nowadays,
the true nature of a thing cannot always he determined by what
it is called. And worse, the name by which a thing is designated
may actually mislead and deceive as to its true nature and
identity. For instance, under the name disguise pornography is
being peddled as art, anarchy is termed “freedom of expression”
and immorality is being called the “new morality”. What
gaping gaps!
Names
are not without influence. Since the beginning, Satan and his
servants have sought to minimize the offensiveness of wrong with
pleasant language. Sinners seldom call their sins what they are,
preferring to call bad things by good names — and many never
see the gap — or the sin. Through Isaiah, God pronounces a woe
upon those who would call evil good, and good evil (Isa. 5:20).
Wrong cannot become right under an alias and evil cannot find
dignity under a respectable name. We must take care not to allow
ourselves or our youth to be led astray by evil in the wrappings
of fair speech. As the “name-game” continues, so does its
influence — and so should the Christian’s awareness of it.
Even
the respected field of education has contributed to these
identity gap problems. Young Christians have been disillusioned
by the many theories of evolution that have been advanced under
the respectable banner
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of “science”. I once sat in a
college classroom where many false claims of Roman Catholicism
were set forth as historical facts — and they called it “European
History”. Other students may hear that children are not to be
disciplined and that immoral conduct is not always so bad —
under the guise of “psychology”. And to think that we call
such faith-robbing experiences “education”. Thankfully
though, such is not true of all schools, but even so, Christians
should remain alert.
The
identity gap presents problems in other areas with which we
should be concerned too. Immodest dress, for instance, was not
so much of a problem for some ladies until they called it “fashion”.
Long ago we learned that feelings, philosophies and opinions are
often identified as “faith”; that stubbornness may be called
“conviction” arid that desire is apt to be called “hope”.
Bad men are wrongly called “good men” and following men is
often called “following Christ”. We must remember too that
“faithfulness is more than good attendance; that “soundness”
is more than being called “anti”; that “repentance” is
more than coming forward and that “worship” is more than
just a gathering in a church building.
Accordingly,
we would all profit in remembering the prevalence and
deceitfulness of such gaps; in recognizing and identifying a
thing for what it is; in saying what we mean and in being what
we claim. May we call Christ “Lord” and self “Christian”
— without the gap. Dan S. Shipley
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