Someone Once Said

"Someone once said... I’ve learned that silent company is often more healing than words of advice."

Really good advice! But not what I was thinking about :) Netherwood's preacher, David, loves to say "Someone once said...." In fact I've heard that a lot lately. It's like a preacher trick or something. I've always prickled a bit at it, thinking "Ya right, YOU just made it up" or "Was it Nietzsche or something? Someone you're unwilling to credit?"

I've always snorted at it anyway. But lately I was thinking - names carry so many connotations. We associate the name with the person. Maybe the speaker is quoting his wife, and people would think "oh he's just flattering his wife". Or maybe we would turn our nose up at the person quoted (and their statement) because we have a personal predjudice against them, and the speaker wants to avoid putting that stumbling block out there.

On the other hand, I won't buy a great song from a musician that lives destructive a lifestyle. Choosing not to support their public example through purchases is one thing. But - what if a bad man says a good thing - is it to be immediately disregarded? I think the amazing thing about a life in Christ is to understand that God can work in anyone. A bad man can become a transformed man through repentance and intentional decisions. And even then - God works with all people to accomplish His will, whether they be committed to Him or not.

All of that aside, a mature person can weigh a statement with it's origin and decide to take or leave it. But I think we abuse that concept, and we fill our minds and souls with entertainment (movies, music, books) that has good elements and also a lot of bad, and tell ourselves that we're taking the good and are impervious to the bad. I know that isn't possible for me, and I don't believe anyone can truly do that on a regular basis.

So I don't know, maybe sometimes it's appropriate to just say "Someone once said..."