Simplify

The difficulty foreigners have in learning American English is greatly

complicated by our tendency to try to simplify long words or phrases by

abbreviation, acronyms or slang. Thus we add NATO (North Atlantic Treaty

Organization) PERK (perquisite) PAD (home/place to hangout) TNT

(trinitrotoluene) to an already huge vernacular. Natives instantly understand BLT

(bacon, lettuce and tomato) APB (all-points bulletin) DOC (physician or

Department of Commerce) and hundreds of other terms. However, for some the

simplified adds a whole new layer of vocabulary for new learners of English.

In my mother’s generation an atom was thought to be the smallest form of

matter. Then along came the electronic microscope and scientists discovered

protons, neutrons, quarks and beyond. Almost every culture also tries to simplify

its language and sometimes discovers that although it does streamline

conversation, it can also confuse and frustrate people.

Jesus Christ simplified God’s commandments when He said that all of them

could be condensed into the two greatest ones. Love God with all your heart, soul,

mind and strength and love your neighbor as yourself (Mk 12:30-31) (Lk 10:27).

However, these two have a multitude of applications. Loving God has many

facets: Obeying (2 Jo 6) Praising (Lk 19:39) (2 Cor 1:3) Trusting (Rom 4:5)

Studying (2 Tim 2:15) Sacrificing (1 Pe 2:6) and a whole host of others.

When we think about loving our neighbors as ourselves, we might find our

own spiritual electronic microscope. Jesus established some very high standards in

the Sermon on the Mount (Mt 5, 6, 7) and through the parable of the Good

Samaritan (Lk 10:30-37). He also taught many more lessons in the writings of the

Apostles as given through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit (Jo 16:13-14) (Eph 3:5)

(2 Pe 1:21). We should learn from them to use wisdom and grace towards

outsiders (Col 4:5) to win their respect through holy living (1 Th 4:11-12). Then

Jesus really gets down to the quarks when He commands, love, do good and pray

for your enemies (Lk 6:27-31). Simple? Yes, but simplified complexity!

Jim Bailey