If I had the opportunity to see or talk to you this past summer or at your church, I probably talked about connotation and denotation of words. This is vital to the rest of the post and therefore blogs for the next two years.
Denotation is the literal meaning of the word. The dictionary definition of the word.
Connotation is the implied or understood meaning of the word.
Examples of this are:
-"cut the cheese" - denotative, it means to slice a diary product. connotative, it means to fart.
-"Holy" - means set apart. It's kind of a word we created to describe God because there wasn't any good enough. Except now we often feel it means, extremely clean, boring, polite, and proper.
We interpret words and their meaning based on our background, events of our life, and position in life. "Baby" means something different to a 3-year old child, than a 18-year old guy, than a 30-year old new mother. "Religion" in China, is a system of beliefs and is good; in America, it's seen as man-made system of behavior to please God and it's bad.
Many times as I, and we, hear a word, we interpret it and it's not always what was intended to be said but it's what we understood it as. If you're married, you know this is true. If you've ever been in any close relationship (romantic or not), you know this is true. So we often have to go back to the origin of the word and what it's supposed to be and consider that in with the heart of the person talking. There's a lot of seeking to understand and grace there.
Awesome. Great. Why does any of this matter?
Over the next few months and probably years, I am going to be writing a lot and using words, some of which the Bible uses, but we have negative connotations or ideas about the word. I used to think someone who talked about the Holy Spirit a lot was a crazy person, unstable, and liked to smack people in the forehead during a service then ask for money. I'm learning that's not true. The Holy Spirit is God. Jesus talks about the Holy Spirit a lot and actually says it's better that He leave so we could have the Holy Spirit (John 16:7). I also used to think "hope" was a light fluffy term rather than a stead persistent looking towards and waiting for something (Rom 8:24-25). So I'm learning to re-orientate my ideas about many words I thought I knew.
My school:
The name of my school is Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry in Redding, California. Wait. Before you get scared of the word Supernatural, think about the meaning of the word "natural" - normal or basic "super-natural" -more than or greater than normal or basic. When is God ever natural? God is always greater than what is natural. He is supernatural. So at this school they just expect God to be God-sized much more. They see the stories of the Bible come to life and continue to happen. They pray for people all the time. Many are healed, some are delivered from evil things, some are overwhelmed by His goodness, and all are encouraged mentally, emotionally, and/or physically.
I want you to know that no, I am not completely comfortable with everything they say or do. There are a ton of things that I have trouble swallowing. But I see their hunger for God above everything else. I see their boldness in stepping out and trying things - even if they get it wrong, they're moving. I see this radical lifestyle to serve and love God and love and honor for everyone around them. I also feel like I tried to make the choice to go to a "safer" school, but God kept steering me back here. So here I am being faithful. This is where I'm at and where I'm coming from. I'd love for you to join me in the process, because I feel like it's leading to more freedom and more of Him. So lets go get more of Him, no matter what it looks like or how it feels, if it's from Him, we want it.
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