CASUAL AND CAUSAL ROSS SMITH 30/04/2013
I have been prompted to review how our relationship exists with the Lord and how we address it. Two words emerged and there is a common factor to both words in that:-
THEY HAVE THE SAME LETTERS IN THEM.
These words are CASUAL and CAUSAL.
One can be easily misled if the words are misread. The key to these words is where you place the “U”, and this is where it becomes relevant to our position with the Lord. This can lead to an extension of the word CASUAL to CASUALITY. This then can be the result of being CASUAL, we can become a CASUALITY.
Can we explore the more precise meanings of both terms?
The word CASUAL (which comes from casus, the Latin word for chance) means ‘happening or done by chance’. So we may speak of a casual encounter or a casual remark. Derived from this root meaning of the word is a further meaning: “relaxed or informal”. A casual attitude is an attitude that is relaxed and unconcerned, while casual wear is clothing that is suitable for a relaxed or informal occasion.
Romans 11:7 What then [shall we conclude]? Israel failed to obtain what it sought [God’s favor by obedience to the Law]. Only the elect (those chosen few) obtained it, while the rest of them became callously INDIFFERENT (or in my terms “CASUAL) (blinded, hardened, and made insensible to it).
2 Chronicles 15:2 And he went out to meet Asa and said to him, Hear me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin: the Lord is with you while you are with Him. If you seek Him [inquiring for and of Him, craving Him as your soul’s first necessity], He will be found by you; BUT IF YOU [BECOME INDIFFERENT AND FORSAKE HIM, HE WILL FORSAKE YOU.
So we must become alert to our ensuring ours is not a casual relationship with the lord ….. Not a “happening or done by chance” or with “an attitude that is relaxed and unconcerned”, as described in the definition, or we become a CASUALITY
*************CAUSAL ************
The word CAUSAL means ‘BEING OR INVOLVING A CAUSE’ – for example, “There is a causal connection between obesity and susceptibility to heart attacks”. An action or occurrence can cause another (such as smoking causes lung cancer). If one action causes another, then they are most certainly correlated. (We need to hold the word CORRELATED as it is important) This is most significant in light of what we have been studying in ISAIAH 58 where we are promised several “THENS” if we carry out the requirements. By loosing bonds, by destroying yokes, by undoing the bands, there is a CAUSAL RESULT
In general, or to the mortal mind, it is extremely difficult to establish CAUSALITY between two correlated events or observances. There are several reasons why common sense conclusions about cause and effect might be wrong..
Proverbs 16:2 All the ways of a man are pure in his OWN EYES but the Lord weighs the spirits (the thoughts and intents of the heart).
Hebrews 4:12 For the Word that God speaks is alive and full of power [making it active, operative, energizing, and effective]; (the word and power are correlated)it is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating to the dividing line of the breath of life (soul) and [the immortal] spirit, and of joints and marrow [of the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and sifting and analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart. (Whether those purposes are casual or causal – comments mine)
CAUSALITY
How, then, does one ever establish CAUSALITY? This is one of the most daunting challenges. When the stakes are high, people are much more likely to jump to causal conclusions. (Everyone becomes an EXPERT ) This seems to be doubly true when it comes to suspicion about chemicals and environmental pollution. In general, we should all be wary of our own bias; we like explanations and if they are not forthcoming we can create them.
Luke 11:13 IF YOU THEN, evil as you are, know how to give good gifts [gifts that are to their advantage] to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask and continue to ask Him!
The key is IF THEN …. Because we understand our love/responsibility/obligation to our children THEN THE CAUSE KICKS IN WITH A RESULT
CAUSALITY refers to causal relations, i.e. the relations between causes and effects. Remember we needed to hold the word CORRELATION – there can be CORRELATED events which may not be CAUSAL )
A study of the field of CAUSALITY must also include an investigation of non-causality in all its forms. For, as we shall see, even if we were to consider spontaneity impossible, the existence of causality in one form or other between things in general does not imply that any two things taken at random are necessarily causally related, or causally related in a certain way. We need both positive and negative causal propositions to describe the relations between things.
Psalm 107:20 He sends forth His word (cause) and heals them and rescues them from the pit and destruction. (effect)
Matthew 8:8 But the centurion replied to Him, Lord, I am not worthy or fit to have You come under my roof; but only speak the word, (cause) and my servant boy will be cured. (effect)
****************CASUAL **************
- happening by accident or chance
- offhand; not premeditated: a casual remark
- shallow or superficial: a casual affair
- being or seeming unconcerned or apathetic: he assumed a casual attitude
- Informal wear: a casual coat (esp of dress)
- occasional or irregular: casual visits, a casual labourer
Etymology: 14th Century: from Late Latin cāsuālis happening by chance, from Latin cāsus event, from cadere to fall; see case1
CASUALLY / CASUALNESS
Forum discussions with the word(s) “casual” in the title:
“a casual sort of way” or “a sort of casual way”?
“immediately” less “casual”?
a casual glance
a casual kick
a casual love story
a casual lover
casual
casual link
casual relationship
casual work, worker
Inversion in indirect questions – only in casual language?
Is “or so” casual?
Just act casual
odd jobs vs casual jobs
offhand and casual
plain/casual clothes
small talk or casual talk
They are casual friends
********** CASUALTY**********
This can occur as a result of being CASUAL or UNTHINKING. How often has something occurred when you least expected it, simply because we were UNAWARE. There is a remedy for this, and it involves our being aware at all times ….. HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE????
Isaiah_26:3 You will guard him and keep him in PERFECT AND CONSTANT PEACE whose mind [both its inclination and its character] (I read this as CORRELATION – the intention and the effect) is stayed on You, because he commits himself to You, leans on You, and hopes confidently in YOU.
DEPENDS ON WHERE YOU PLACE THE “U”!!!!!!!
I am sure there is more to follow.
Ross Smith 