We subscribe to a monthly publication called God's World News: Early Edition for the kids. It's full of current events articles tailored to their ages and understanding. It has been a great way for us to introduce them to what's happening in the world around them from a Biblical perspective.
I finally sat down to look through the January issue today. I was startled by what I read in the editor's note to parents on the first page:
Is it just me, or is this alarming?Most British schoolchildren carry a copy of the Oxford Junior Dictionary to use in their public school classrooms. Now the latest edition of that work has dropped hundreds of words linked to Christianity, the monarchy, British history, and nature.
Coronation, decade, duchess, duke, emperor, empire, and monarch have been erased. The publishers also believe the children's lexicon has little use for words like beaver, cheetah, goldfish, lobster, oyster, panther and spaniel.
The Oxford University Press says that a dictionary should "evolve to reflect that fact that Britain is a modern, multicultural, multi-faith society." So abbey, bishop, chapel, devil, disciple, monk, nun, psalm, saint and sin have also been removed.
Words like analog, blog, celebrity, chatroom and voicemail are now included in the dictionary instead.
Oxford University Press, with the help of lexicographers and teachers, analyzed millions of words. They looked at children's books to see how frequently words were used, before making a decision on an addition or deletion.
....The story underscores the importance of what you do as you teach your children to look at everything through the lens of God's word. (emphasis mine)
I am shocked that the authors of a British dictionary would not find it relevant to provide a definition for the word monarch. Why is it unimportant to define a decade? And can you hear it: "Mommy, what is that little orange thing swimming in the bowl called?" "Well, I don't know dear, there's no longer definition for it."
And of course I am most disturbed, but sadly find it less surprising, that the words devil and SIN have also been deemed unnecessary. As if, by omitting the words, the truth can also be denied.
This is how subtle and crafty our culture has become in an effort to wipe out truth. I mean really, just how many parents do you think are perusing their children's dictionaries at night to see which words have been omitted? But it's happening. And if it can happen in a first world western civilization like Britain, don't think it can't happen here in our beloved "land of the free."
Which reminds me that today is inauguration day. We don't have tv, so I won't be able to watch the ceremonies. But from what I've read and the buzz I've heard, many of the festivities and events of the day are a grievous departure from what was once a government based on Biblical principles. Seems more like a reflection of the "modern, multicultural, multi-faith" (translate SIN-less?) society America has become.
God help us.
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith."
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them.
For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.
Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.
And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.