This concept has often been used as an argument for changing the U.S. Constitution.
A similar idea has been used to justify re-interpreting the Bible. Indeed, language does change over time, and some words no longer mean exactly what they meant in the past. Perhaps the French have a better idea: Don't allow the language to change so readily. But it's just too hard to keep it under the control of academics. So it's a losing proposition.
Today (Jan 17, 2019) Judge Andrew Napolitano spoke thus on a Fox program:
"My late wonderful friend Justice Scalia argued that if the Constitution is the supreme law of the land, then it means the same thing today as it meant when it was ratified, and we should look to the original understanding of the constitution. Because if the Constitution changes with the times, then it is not the supreme law of the land, the political winds become the supreme law of the land."
What Christians believe is that the Bible is the Supreme Law of ALL lands. By treating God's word as a "living" document, which grows and "evolves" (don't get me started!), we have made the very practice of law itself impossible. Why? If the most supreme law isn't unchangeable, then that of any country is even less unchangeable. Thus no constitution is absolute and universal, no law is universal, and no standard can ever be equally applied to all men.
We Christians are the ones who believe this about the Bible. We are the ones who founded this country. We must go back to an unchangeable view of God and of His word, one that doesn't look for a newer translation every decade, and one which has older, deeper roots. I cannot say enough for the New King James version, which relies on the same texts as the great translations that came out of the Reformation. Therefore I cannot deride the NIV enough, which has from its beginning sought to be a "living" document which is under constant revision.
More importantly, what shall we do? If we have undermined the very philosophical foundation of our nation---the unchangeable principles, God-given rights, limited government---if the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do? Shall we go into hiding? I think not. Shall we migrate elsewhere? Maybe. Should we preach the gospel? Absolutely, positively, publicly, aggressively at every opportunity! May God embolden us to stand up for His unchanging word and preach it in the power of the Holy Ghost!
