The implications of universal superlative statements.
When I was a young preacher, I heard James A. Kirkland analyze the statement, “The American Baptist Association is the best/greatest association in the world.” (At the time, Brother Kirkland was a well-known leader in that association. That is the gist of how he said it, but over 40 years later, it may not be exact.)
Brother Kirkland said that making such a statement such as this implies three things, that the speaker:
- (1) knows every association in the world
- (2) has studied every association in the world
- (3) is qualified to determine which association is the best in the world
This principle applies beyond the illustration he gave. I have kept this in mind as a good way to analyze our thoughts and statements. When I or someone else says something like this, how much validity does it hold? Little, I’m afraid. This came to mind again a few weeks ago when I heard a sycophant of certain popular internet personality say that person has taught more people about the words in the King James Bible than anyone else ever did. I “suppose” he did not know everyone who has ever lived (since 1611), has not studied them all, and most likely would not be qualified to make that assessment if he had.
Let’s all be careful of ginning up too much excitement on magnificent matters of which we know much less than what we present it to be.
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