Fides Quaerens Intellectum

Although I’m not a usually a fan posting random thoughts just for the sake of having a post (as some of my brothers are want to do…posts about aerobies in trees and things like that), I did have a random thought the other day that I decided was worth sharing.  A couple days ago I returned from the mountains of NC, and as soon as I got out of the car I knew my back was going to be in bad shape.  I was nursing a headache as well.  So, I go to the cabinet for a couple of those little 500 mg pills to take care of it, and it struck me…”I don’t really know what I’m swallowing, here.”  Plastered in 18 point font on the medicine bottle was its brand-identity:  “NON-ASPIRIN.”  I had to look more closely before seeing the smaller print that read “acetaminophen.”  I suppose the market researchers discovered that folks with headaches don’t really care what they take, so long as it gets rid of aches and pains and so long as it isn’t aspirin.  Interesting…building identity through selling what it isn’t instead of what it IS.  Hmmm…it seems many American evangelicals and acetaminophen have something in common.  In this new year, may God grant us the wisdom and courage to stand FOR his truth and the building of his kingdom instead of falling prey to the temptation to just throw stones at those with whom we disagree.