No Name-Calling

I laughed out loud when I heard on the radio that schools were taking part in a "No Name Calling Week" campaign. The radio jock said, "What pinhead thought this up!?"

But I've also thought more about name-calling. Out of the heart the mouth speaks. Matthew 5:22 makes it plain that the Lord takes this seriously, and Ephesians 4:29 suggests that the only name-calling done should build up others -- using positive names!

Name-calling shows up a lot in our political culture. Marvin Olasky notes how the politics of defamation is used in his recent column titled "Twist and Shout":

" Christians and conservatives can find good news and bad news in such mockery. The good news is political: As long as Dowdists are unable to engage arguments and instead depend on ridicule, the left will not rise again in American politics. The bad news is cultural: Those people who believe that people like Bush and Dobson are idiots are less likely to hear and absorb their message of personal and cultural renewal. More people need to understand the games secular liberals play. Here's one rule-of-thumb: No matter how bad a story sounds -- particularly if it sounds bad -- recognize the pattern of defamation."

From the family room to the playground to the internet to the editorial rooms ... we become very, very good at name calling, don't we? It's not just a kid thing (though adults are more sophisticated and suave about it, or so we tell ourselves).

So we organize a school focus on no-name calling to effect a dramatic change? It does draw attention to the problem. But if it's just a bandaid approach (stop calling people names in anyone else might listening!) then it will not solve the heart problem.

The heart problem will only be fixed by the Name above every Name.