Scroll down and use the “older posts” link to read the first six “Dumb Statements.”
And now, the final dumb statement of this seven part series (though there are infinitely more dumb things we Christians often say!)
“Where There’s Smoke, There’s Fire!”
Maybe, but often where there’s smoke, there’s mirrors.
“Huh? Um, pastor Rob, haven’t you ever heard this saying? Everyone says it, It means—“
I know what it means, and of course I’ve heard it. I hear it all the time and sometimes it’s true—thus the rise to the, “Sayings Hall of Fame.” But just because a saying gets used and reused over and over doesn’t mean it always applies. There’s another saying people use when someone seems to be trying to get others to believe something that’s—how shall I say this, gently…a pile of BUNK! They’ll say, “He’s just using smoke and mirrors.”
Hmm, I’m confused. I thought smoke only went with fire. Now I’m hearing it goes with mirrors too. Which is it?!
Well, not to add to the confusion, but it can be either or.
Several phrase dictionaries have its meaning something like the following…
Meaning
Trickery or deception, often in a political context.
Origin
This expression alludes to the performances of stage conjurers who use actual smoke and mirrors to deceive the audience. The figurative use that is now more common refers to the obscuring or embellishing of the truth that is employed by spin doctors and the like in order to deceive the general public.
No one knows for sure where it all started, but anyone who has been to see even an average magician perform has seen it used literally. The fact is, magicians aren’t really employing magic, they’re really creating illusion. And that illusion depends heavily on the magicians use of smoke and of course mirrors to hide the reality of their illusions.
So, the next time you see what appears to be smoke from a religious, political or churchy fire, check for mirrors before calling in the piety police. Otherwise, you might just be throwing gasoline on the fire.