In 1998, President Clinton attracted a lot of attention when he answered a question about his relationship with Monica Lewinski by saying "It depends on what the meaning of the word 'is' is..." Slate magazine said the answer goes "way beyond slick." The answer was certainly seen as a contortion by many. But I want to suggest that President Clinton had it exactly right.
Grammarians know that "is" is the third person singular form of the verb "to be." (I am, You are, S/He is...) In the Book of Exodus, when God talked to Moses in the burning bush, God identified Himself as "I am" Exodus 3:14 says: God replied, "I am who am." Then he added, "This is what you shall tell the Israelites: I AM send me to you."
So President Clinton, who was answering a question about his own character, was saying that one's character depends upon who his God is. And that is absolutely correct. If God is calling you to replace your weaknesses with virtue, and you are trying to live by the will of God, that is one thing. But it is quite another thing if you see God as someone who doesn't care how you act, as someone who doesn't expect you to change.
The New Testament explains that Jesus calls on us to repent. That means He calls on us to change. He is calling us to leave behind our weaknesses, to leave behind our old, selfish ways. Once we repent -- that is, resolve to change -- we can begin to replace weakness with virtue, build personal character and grow closer to God. It all depends you your understanding of "is."
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