WHAT’S IN A NICKNAME?
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by Dr. Dick Hillis
r T here is more to a nickname than meets the eye. Or, better said, a nickname is often the result of ' the disturbing habit of politely addressing you by your correct name to your face and calling you a nickname behind your back. And your nickname is not a fig ment of their imagination. They have carefully watched your conduct, sniffed out your attitudes and then anointed you with a nick- name that to them transparently describes your pre dominant characteristic. If the quality that stands out in your character is good, the nickname will be a pleasant one. If, on the other hand, the dominant quality of your personality is negative, you fare bet ter if you remain ignorant of the title they place above your name. I came upon this Chinese custom quite by acci dent during a long evening “ gabfest" in Honan. As we could not afford kerosene for our lamps, we sat in the dark on the warm summer nights and talked. That particular evening we got started on the sub- ject of Bible teaching. One of my seven associates declared that the “ Old Hawk” was the best Bible teacher in the province. Another quickly seconded the suggestion. “ No one can expound the Scriptures as clearly as the ‘Old Hawk,' ” he said. None of the other five pro tested or challenged their judgment. NOVEMBER, 1970
All this puzzled me as we had no missionary or Chinese pastor by that name. I asked them to ex plain what they meant and to tell me of whom they were talking. At first they were reluctant, but the darkness saved them from at least a measure of embarrassment and they confessed they were talk ing about a certain English missionary. I agreed that I had heard no better Bible teacher in the province. “ But why,” I asked, “ do you call him the ‘Old Hawk?” “ That is a nickname he has earned,” they replied. Still perplexed, I admitted I didn’t get their point. “ You say he is the best expositor of the Scripture but in derision you call him a ‘Hawk.’ I’m confused.” They quickly assured me that the nickname had nothing to do with his ability to expound the Word. They had crowned him with the name as descriptive of his attitude. To them at least, he used his Bible teaching gift to criticize and condemn and tear them apart much as a hawk uses its talons and sharp beak to rip and tear its victim. They felt no qualms of conscience about the name they had given him. All seven men felt sure he deserved it. I thought a long time and then ventured a daring question, “ And what nickname have you given me?” No amount of pressure could persuade them to tell me. To this day I don't know whether it is good or bad. But I do know they gave me a nickname as 27
what meets the eye. For example, the Chinese have
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