Whatever

In the book of Titus, the apostle Paul opens up by reinforcing His spiritual credentials, which are predicated on His relationship with God and His call on his life:

1 Paul, a bondservant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect and the acknowledgment of the truth which accords with godliness,
2 in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began,
3 but has in due time manifested His word through preaching, which was committed to me according to the commandment of God our Savior...

There's a common word in our culture that is rather annoying to people, according to a recent poll - it's "whatever."  And, unfortunately, that has become an expression of the viewpoint of many.  The word communicates a lack of clarity and conviction.  Christians are not "whatever" people; Paul's opening of the book of Titus can remind us that we can acknowledge God's truth and embrace His hope.  He cannot lie, and we can rely on what He has said and done, and be encouraged by what He has done and is doing in our lives.  He is our rock, and he provides a firm foundation for us.

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Hebrews 6 addresses the concept of Biblical hope, which gives us something to hold on to when we
feel unstable:
11 And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end,
12 that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

In the same chapter, this hope is described as "an anchor of the soul."

The Marist Poll has announced its most annoying word of the year used in casual conversation, and a repeat champion has been announced.  Think a comic-book and movie star cat, and you'll have this year's word - yes, Garfield's favorite, whatever.  The Washington Examiner states:

"Whatever" has been used by both sides in the political wars this year, each meaning to dismiss the other side's legitimacy. It is the word used often by the comics character Garfield.

According to the survey summary:

“Whatever” irritates 38% of Americans followed by “no offense, but” with 20%. “You know, right” is irksome to 14% of residents nationally as is “I can’t even,” 14%. “Huge” grates on the nerves of 8% of Americans, and 5% are unsure.

But, last year, "whatever" was an annoyance to 45% of those surveyed. And, the older an American is, the more annoyed he or she is, apparently, by that word. 49% of Americans 45 years of age or older believe that "whatever" is the most annoying, but only 27% of those under 45 mention "whatever." For those under 30, "I can't even" takes the cake.

Broken down by race, 57 percent of African-Americans are annoyed by the word, with 42% of Latinos and 35% of white possessing that view.

In an article on the Focus on the Family website, Lindy Keffer says:

In a society where ultimate truth is treated like a fairy tale, an outdated idea or even an insult to human intelligence, the motto of the day becomes, "WHATEVER!" Believe whatever you want. Do whatever seems best to you. Live for whatever brings you pleasure, as long as it doesn't hurt anyone. And of course, be tolerant. Don't try to tell anyone that their whatever is wrong.

"Whatever" is a word that lacks moral clarity, and it is a word that is used to put down the viewpoints of another.  When someone says "whatever" to something you say, it is definitely not a word of affirmation.

But, we do live in a world that is seemingly adrift, and maybe the word "whatever" annoys people because it is counterintuitive for those who are searching for an anchor for their lives.  I think deep down, we want security, and to dismiss that need with a casual brushing-off with an attitude of "whatever" can be troubling.

As Christians, we can present a different point of view.  For one thing, where there is a lack of clarity, or ultimate truth, the Bible teaches us that our God can provide an anchor for us.  The Bible tells us that hope in Christ is an anchor for our souls.

Also, if we are aligned with truth, then we recognize that we are creations of God and we have innate worth because our lives have been created and ordained by Him.  We can come to God and be totally transparent with Him, realizing that He will not reject us or cast us out of His presence if we approach Him with a humble heart.  In a culture that is all-too-quick to dismiss the viewpoints or opinions of another, sometimes in haughty and harsh ways, we can know Jesus, who is gentle and humble in heart.

In an age of carelessness, Christians can be seen as the people who care.  We are not the "whatever" people; we are the "forever" people.  Because we embrace the truth about Jesus, and have experienced His unlimited love, we can know who we are and where we are going.  We have lasting hope, and we can effectively radiate that hope in Christ as we reach out for His stability.