It may seem crazy in a cross-cultural congress like this, that I should begin by quoting from those two peculiarly English characters of fiction, Alice in Wonderland and Humpty Dumpty!  For it is more than possible that some of you have never heard of them.  Never mind!  I still think you will appreciate this part of their conversation.

“When I use a word,” Humpty Dumpty said in a rather scornful tone, “it means just what I choose it to mean, neither more nor less.”

“The question is,” said Alice, “whether you can make words mean different things.”

“The question is” said Humpty Dumpty – “which is to be master – that’s all.”

 

This paper was given by Rev. Billy Graham at the Lausanne 1974 gathering. The full paper can be downloaded below. For more papers from Lausanne 1974, visit the Lausanne website.