Neal Pollard
In the Christian Science Monitor, Nancy M. Kendall, drawing on other etymology (i.e., word origin) resources such as Hendrickson, Morris, and Barnhart, writes, “Due to poor equipment and the scarcity of precious metals, metal workers of the Middle Ages were not able to produce coins that were uniform in appearance and weight. This situation gave criminals an opportunity they couldn’t resist. Thus, when in doubt over a coin’s validity, a tradesman would drop it on a stone slab to “sound it.” If phony, it’d make a shrill or dull, flat tone in contrast to the clear ring of a true coin. By extension, a story tested and found acceptable is said to ring true, and its opposite, to ring false or hollow.”
How interesting! From that origination, the phrase has been applied to people’s statements, characters, and beliefs. We ask, “Does he/she/this ring true?” By saying this, we are looking for authenticity, for genuineness. What an awesome opportunity we have to put our Christian lives on display! Others look at it and us and by doing so can determine, to a degree, if Christianity rings true. Certainly, they can compare our lives to what a Christian life should be and see if our individual lives ring true to authentic Christian behavior.
Live before your coworkers, school mates, neighbors, fellow-Christians, and people you encounter daily in such a way that you show the validity of living for Jesus. In this way, you are allowing the truth of Jesus to be put to test as it is observed in at least one sample. There are poor imitations and substitutions out there. You have the opportunity to show them the genuine article! Let your life ring true!
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