Sunday, July 6, 2008

Whatever (in the good way)

We spent six hours in a car with a four-year-old and not only survived, but enjoyed the trip! Of course, this four-year-old is near perfect because he is our grandson but that's another post. For part of the trip we listened to Patch the Pirate's adventure Coldheartica. While listening to the song "Whatever" I began thinking about that word and it's current cultural meaning.

Teenagers, children, even toddlers and some so-called-adults use the word "Whatever" to shut down a conversation when they aren't getting their way. It is a word that has come to mean "begrudging compliance" used "to dismiss the previous statement and express indifference."

However, when said to God with a surrendered spirit, whatever is a good thing. Actually, it's the only thing we ought to say.

"Now be ye not stiffnecked, as your fathers were, but yield yourselves unto the LORD, and enter into his sanctuary, which he hath sanctified for ever: and serve the LORD your God, that the fierceness of his wrath may turn away from you."
2 Chronicles 30:8

"Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness."
Romans 6:13-19

1 comment:

Deborah said...

Great post! In the usual context, I really dislike the word 'whatever' but you are right...when speaking to God, our only answer should be "Whatever Lord!"