Dropping Word’s…
13 July 2009
Men take the words they find in use amongst their neighbours; and, that they may not seem ignorant in what they stand for, use them confidently, without much troubling their heads about a certain fixed meaning; whereby, besides the ease of it, they obtain this advantage: That, as in such discourses they are seldom in the right, so are they as seldom to be convinced that they are in the wrong; it being all one to go about to draw those men out of their mistakes who have no settled notions, as to dispossess a vagrant of his habitation who has no settled abode. – John Locke
I freely admit that I have an unusual appreciation for excellent quotes. Great thoughts stated briefly and with clarity are a particular pleasure for me. The above quote, one of my personal favorites, is only brief and clear to those who are used to reading puritans so I thought I would offer a brief explanation.
Locke says that some people like to take terms, and I think he has in mind theological or doctrinal terms, and use them with equal parts bold confidence and ignorance. These people speak of spiritual gifts, Lordship Salvation, and Calvinistic doctrine without having done the Bible study, prayer, and research necessary to understand their full meaning.
Ironically, Locke points out, their ignorance becomes their advantage. For the dedicated student that has spent many hours wrestling with the Scriptures, poring over the Church fathers, and examining application in his own life, these subjects are very near and dear. An ignorant “word-dropper” can come along and pick a fight. The student then takes up his defense and applies the fruits of his study by attempting to enlighten the ignorant word-dropper.
In the end, it is to no avail. What the student doesn’t understand is that the word-dropper is not like him. The word-dropper has done no study and no research. He has spent no time, sweat, or tear. He has merely picked up enough to cause trouble where he likes. The student can craft an argument that is logical, clear, indeed – irrefutable, to no avail.
The word-dropper cannot be pulled from his shell, he cannot be convinced he is wrong, he cannot be drawn from his position. He has no position. He is a vagrant. He is homeless. He owns no truths and no truths own him. He has come to start an argument. He can worm his way out of a fight he just started with terms like “I haven’t come to my own conclusions on this,” or “I’m not arguing for either side,” or “I should study this more,” or “I don’t think its worth arguing over.”
His work is done, and he moves on to the next bridge, under which he will set up camp with a term like “limited atonement” and when things get hot, he will move on, excusing himself politely and congratulating himself on his open-mindedness.
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