In an interesting article on Boyce, Broadus and the Lost Cause, Southeastern professor Bruce Harper notes that the pair of Baptist titans “neither reveled in Confederate lore, nor sought means to subvert the post-war order.” The former rebels didn’t revel? I like the case he built.
Roger Simpson makes a point about “arcane theological arguments.” Yeah. For example, any appeal to the Institutes.
Both Rob Ayers and Bill Mac are familiar with apoplexy a common malady on the blogs that is best avoided. I recommend a vaccination against it. Stay away from paroxysms as well.
Todd Starnes knows a thing or two about insatiable. His appetite for culture war outrages is just that.
Bud Alheim (real or fake, SB or not, I don’t know) labels a response nonplussed, a nice term though one that has come to be used as meaning “perplexed” or nearly the opposite, “unperturbed.” I’m still looking for an astute soul to employ “plussed.”
Jon Estes should buy a hat for the hot, brain-baking Arabian sun. That would help him avoid referring to the “jest” of his comment when he meant the gist. Sorry to be schoolmarmish with my old online friend although I have made many a jestful comment…like this one.
Hershael York likes the word intransigence so much he uses it twice in the same article about following long tenured pastors. The second time he employs an descriptor to note monolithic intransigence in churches he has served. Pity the poor churches and laypeople who demand equal treatment – let’s deplore the monolithic intransigence of some pastors as well. Lest I see only the trees, I will say that the article is a helpful one.
George Robinson, Southeastern seminary prof, refers to the myriad of Beth Moore’s Bible studies. Good Bible Greek word though rather common. It is often explained in NT context as ten thousand but its use has morphed into meaning a large number or innumerable. LifeWay can count number (and the dollars) of the very popular writer’s Bible studies. The learned Doctor makes a very good point: using a popular curriculum won’t make disciples.
Bart Barber employs the ponderous term preponderantly with a useage not typical of the word. Almost always “preponderance” is used in a legal sense, preponderance of the evidence. Texas gold star for him for this. In the same article shouts “nefarious motives.” Nah, not Southern Baptists. Add to those deleterious and you’ve got a nice trifecta. Put them in the same sentence and you’d be showing off but he’s too smart for that.
If there is a phrase used among Southern Baptist that I’d like to murder, deep six, and bury it would have to be bathed in prayer. I’d put a howitzer on that one and start shelling. One of the sages here might educate me on it’s origin.
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It’s a tough job…but someone has to watch this stuff. Have a nice weekend and a fabulous Lord’s Day.
Isn’t there an “a” somewhere in York’s first name?
Hmmm, I added a “c” and left out the “a”. Sorry about that. He should have spelled his name ‘right.’ ;)>
William, this post is wonderific.
Ouch. Gimme another round for my howitzer. 🙂
I remember a seminary professor being tired of ‘share’…but we still use it A LOT! I get weary of missional because it means so many different things to different people; some more biblical than others. Missional is starting to pick up a lot of baggage…kind of like Billy Graham moved from ‘born again’ to ‘born from above’.
I’ve always felt I was inscrutable, but if I’m wrong, does that mean I’m scrutable?
Don’t get me started on “I feel led“.
Generally I reach for a rarer word when it (a) achieves a precision I can’t find with a more commonly used word or (b) adds to the bare meaning of a word an emotion that I want to convey. Preponderance is an example of the first. Sometimes you can’t achieve “entirety” because you don’t have 100% of something. Sometimes you want more than “majority” because that can mean as little as 50.1%. Preponderance is a nice word because it means a whole lot more than a majority, but not quite the whole enchilada. There’s an admitted bit of chest-thumping in… Read more »
Some words are fun if not functional. I’m fond of flummoxed myself. Glad you and nefarious are big pals.
Who knows? I may earn it for myself before I’m done!
As usual the Plodder has transmitted a missive via electronic means which heralds the extent of the exalted level of his erudition. It is rare when we observe such an elevated level of cognitive prowess as is now being manifested via this medium.
I leave with this motto: “In hoc signo vinces” — by which I mean “wherever particular people congregate”. Not: “In this sign you will conquer”
Roger OKC
I’ve always known Roger to be a man of exceptional insight and intellect. When it comes to numbers, though, he’s in a far more exalted position than I.
A very interesting and thought-provoking review of the literary habits of some of our fellow bloggers. I am going to have to call foul on William though for his spelling of the word “usage” with an additional “e.” I don’t believe you can get away with that one.
Indeed. I try really hard to get close on the spelling and usually succeed.
You do indeed, William. This was a rare slip-up for you.
WIlliam,
You gist?
😉
Someone has to do it? Ok… I am glad it is you and that I am forgiven.
I agree with William about the vocabulary we use. We should pray for clarity. Now, “every head bowed, every eye closed.”
Perhaps we Baptist rebels revel in arcane wordsmithery due to our insatiable desire to observe the apoplexy of our nonplussed theological opponents as they intransigently miss the gist of our myriad and preponderant arguments.
Perchance our opponents find prayer-bathing deleterious to their nefarious caterwauling?
When I take a bath I prefer H2O. Said aqueous substance is not nefarious. Instead it demonstrates the logical outworking of what happens when the covalent bonding of hydrogen and oxygen becomes operative in accordance with God’s perfect creative plan — a manifestation of divine sovereignty! God knew what he was doing when he made water. One should note that God has been eternally aware that a liquid substance, exhibiting buoyancy, and having a pH of 7 is a pre-requisite for bathing. It is not His will that we take an acid bath. Nor is it his plan that we… Read more »
Bad typo: Please substitute “require” for “requiring”. I’m getting tied up in knots with excessive gerundization.
Roger OKC