So what happens when I start realizing that they fail? They confuse. They lose their meaning. Even more--what does that mean for me, loving the description of Jesus as 'the Word made flesh'? Sometimes I catch myself wondering what that even means.
Barth translates the Word as Logos, which he later defines as meaning and truth. If Christ is the Word, the Meaning, the Truth--that starts to mean a whole lot more. In modernity, the world seems to have turned to mush and lost it's meaning. Language has ceased to be sufficient, and words seem to hinder us connecting in meaningful relationships. Even worse is the fear that once something is spoken, it ceases to lose it's meaning. It is no longer in your heart and mind being meditated on, but thrown out into the universe and often forgotten. Words typed up on a page are skimmed over or not even read at all. "Words, words, words!" as Hamlet says. It's somewhat maddening. But Jesus as the Meaning--now that is something modernity needs.
--commented on Will's
Yeah, the fact that I'm nearly proficient in two languages brings about good perspective on this. So much so, I want to blot about it myself. I think one of the biggest mind openers for me has been the reality of the shortcomings of the English language- and further more, as Barth suggests- the failure of language itself.
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ReplyDeleteI was thinking the same thing, Danielle. Words are so important to life- they define and give meaning, but what happens when they become overused and irrelevant? We have to look back to Logos- the Word- the Creator and the ultimate meaning. If our words find their meaning through Christ then I think they will help rather than hinder meaningful relationships. Although it is a bit scary to think of taking your dearly held thoughts, formulating them into words, and throwing them to the universe... perhaps they will land with someone who appreciates their value. :)
ReplyDeletethe problem of the failure of words in modernity reminds me so much of the Abolition of Man. C S Lewis says we see through things in order to GET to something. We see through the window to see the garden. If we saw through the garden we would in fact, see nothing. to always see beyond the words, to always find them lacking and unable to express is to live in an invisible world. Without Jesus- without Logos, we will see through to nothingness. Rather than seeing through to truth.
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