Politic
I’m fascinated by how the meaning of a word can change over time. Look at how the 1828 Webster’s Dictionary defines the word politic. If you look at the state of our government and the how many of us work together (or don’t for that matter) and live together in community (especially the Church community), we’ve shifted from the term’s more robust definition to its lesser, more self-serving applications.
- Wise; prudent and sagacious in devising and pursuing measures adapted to promote the public welfare; applied to persons; as a politic prince.
- Well devised and adapted to the public prosperity; applied to things.
- Ingenious in devising and pursuing any scheme of personal or national aggrandizement, without regard to the morality of the measure; cunning; artful; sagacious in adapting means to the end, whether good or evil.
- Well devised; adapted to its end, right or wrong.
Did you see that progression? We start promoting public welfare (wholeness and health) and prosperity (success) and then shift to personal or national aggrandizement (self-exaltation) by adapting any means to our end regardless of right or wrong. To put it plainly, most anything we call political today has more to do with serving yourself than serving others. Oval office, City Council, church board, office politics, your personal relationships… we all have a politic.
- What is your politic? Which definition applies to you?
- In you work and life, who do you serve?
- Public welfare. Jesus came so we may have life and have it to the full.
Are you living it? Are you giving it? - How do you see this word when you look at our presidential candidates?
