A Wubulous Word Dewubulized

[Meditation Moment]

Meditation Moment #94
Jul-15-2002
http://www.bbc-cortland.org/medmoment/

My nephew, who is a college student, enjoys playing with words. A few years back he came up with a gem. It was the word "wubulous" (WUB-you-luss). As far as I know there only two people in the world who use this word – Joel and me. We might speak of a "wubulous day" or a "wubulific event." The marvelous feature about this word is that it has absolutely no meaning. If either of us were to tell to the other to do something wubulous, neither of us would have any idea what should be done. Because of that, "wubulous" has become, to me, a word that characterizes many of the words that Christians use. Unlike "wubulous," those words do have historical, grammatical and contextual content. That is, they mean something. However, through frequent thoughtless incantation they have become husks. They have become "religious wubulouses" used without thought and, thus, deprived of meaning.

One of those wubulous words that Christians use is the word "glory." This word and its related word, "glorify," has become more like mantras than mandates. We sing, "We will glorify the King of Kings," but I am not sure we have the first idea of how to fulfill that commitment. We read in 1 Corinthians 10:31, "Whether therefore you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." Yet, beyond praying before we chow down, I am not convinced that we have any idea how one would eat in a way that would bring glory to God.

When we take the time to examine the context of the word translated "glory" in the Scriptures we discover a wealth of insight that encompasses our whole relationship with God. Basically, the word "glory" has to do with that which is true and honorable in a person's actions and character. Sometimes we add the concept of "status" to that definition. Thus a king would be considered glorious in terms of his status. However, status does not necessarily correspond with what is true and honorable about the person's actions and character. In fact, the person's actions and character may not really be honorable at all.

With the word "glory" defined, it is not difficult to deal with the word "glorify." That word means to make publicly known what is true and honorable about a person's actions and character. This is done in two ways. Most conspicuously there is the matter of talking about someone in a way that holds them up for honor in the sight of others. This can be so much fun to do. I take a great deal of joy in being able to say, "One of the things I really admire about you is…." With regard to glorifying God, this means that we go beyond saying, "I will glorify the King of Kings," and become more specific in our ability to express how He creates awe in our heart.  

Less conspicuously but more genuinely, we demonstrate our admiration of another's actions and character by imitating them in the boundaries of our own personality. Often young people will "glorify" some celebrity by trying to imitate them in their styles. Someone has said that,  "Imitation is the highest form of praise." 

With this understanding of "glory" and "glorify" we are able to tackle significant light on some familiar passages of Scripture. One of those passages is Romans 3:23. This is the text that we frequently give to someone as a means of showing them their need of the Savior. It says, "All have sinned and come short of the glory of God." Understanding "sin" as living by my agenda rather than the agenda of my Creator (Isaiah 53:6), we are then described as failing to live in such a way as to give a true and honorable demonstration of the character of our Creator. In fact, Philippians 3:19 exposes the fact that we not only fail to honor God but many set themselves to honor that which is shameful. This is serious, because it was for the purpose of demonstrating the character of God that we were designed as "the image of God." 

All of this enables us to come to terms with the death sentence that was brought down on us as sinners (Romans 6:23). Failing, through our own self will, to fulfill our purpose for existence, it is not right that we should defile the landscape of Heaven as we have defiled the landscape of earth. At the judgment we will grudgingly acknowledge God as God, and then we will forever demonstrate His honor by our absence from His Kingdom (Matthew 25:30). All of this is our destiny unless there can be a solution.

The solution is found in a wonderful statement that Jesus made in a prayer on the night before His death. He said to his heavenly Father (John 17:4), "I have glorified you on the earth." When Jesus became a man and walked among men He perfectly and publicly fulfilled all that we have failed to fulfill. Included in that was the fact that He perfectly demonstrated in His actions and character that which is true about the actions and character of God. Because of that, His death on the cross was able to be totally focused on paying the penalty of our sin (Romans 5:8). Having done that, His resurrection put Him in the place where He can apply His payment to us in forgiveness and He can apply his glorification of God to us in such a way that when God looks at us He sees us as having perfectly glorified Him on the earth (justification – Romans 5:1). 

With all of this having been done by Jesus, our responsibility is to demonstrate God's honor by agreeing with His judgment on us and by receiving his provision for us. This is accomplished not by penance or works but by faith in the person and work and promise of Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9). With our salvation thus secured, Jesus then gives to each of us His Holy Spirit to help us grow toward what we will be like one day in His presence. Included in that growth process is the motivation and ability to turn the routine things of life (such as eating and drinking) into opportunities to demonstrate in our actions and character that which is true and honorable about our God. With this in mind the question a believer asks is not whether something is right or wrong but can he do or not do something in such a way as to give a true understanding of God's character. It also means that he becomes more and more in awe of God (godliness – see Med Moment #27-29) and thus more and more inclined to imitate Him in his character.

I would encourage you to take your Bible and do a fresh study in this wonderful region of "glory." I believe that you will find it profitable. If you are still without Christ as your Savior it may be just the exploration that will draw you to Him. If you know Him it may open up to you a whole new sense of the adventure of living for Him in hostile territory.

May God bring into your life all that He designed through the shed blood and victorious resurrection of Jesus Christ, His Son.


Pastor Comings
pastor@bbc-cortland.org