Speak Plainly.
As an exercise, for a few months my old youth group and I kept track of all of the buzzwords and “Christians Only” language we heard on Sunday mornings. There was one girl who complained that not having grown up in the church, she didn’t even understand the sermons. She would often pass me notes that would say things like, “what is he talking about?” I would paraphrase the pastors words in plain English, and she would respond, “why doesn’t he just SAY that?”
I was never sure how to reply. Why doesn’t the pastor speak plain English? I don’t know. Perhaps it’s because after doing the scholarly end of studying the Bible, he wants to use the words he’s paid so much to learn. Perhaps it’s because the Church likes the country club feeling of the members being more at home than the guests, for whatever GOD-forsaken reason, and having language that only they know makes them feel powerful. Perhaps it’s because we all buy in to the idea that words mean more if you have to work harder to understand them. Perhaps it’s because as a former manager of a chain store, he was familiar with buzz and hype speak and was eager to use the Christian equivalent. Whatever the reason, one thing he failed to understand was the distance and confusion he was creating. It was all well and good for us who understood him, but for those who didn’t his language became yet another barrier between the seeker and belief and acceptance.
Language is about both meaning and the ability to convey meaning- if you’re using the word that is closest to the meaning you want to convey but farthest from the ability to convey the meaning, what you intend for the word to mean doesn’t matter. To put things plainly: you need to use words that people understand. I hate “Christian” speak because it is just another one of those things that makes those outside the fold feel like they will never belong within it. With all of the talk of making “seeker friendly”Sunday mornings and making our sanctuaries welcoming to guests, with all of the money and effort thrown at figuring out the best way to welcome guests, the best materials available for guests, the best classes for new believers, the most active and exciting worship- one thing that seems to have been forgotten or never looked at is the words we use. Christianity has it’s own language, it’s own meaning for common words, it’s own proprietary sentences and proverbs and jokes and everything else. We use them second nature, not really ever considering if they mean anything when we leave our Christian bubbles.
Here’s a hint: they mean nothing to others. They are incomprehensible and sometimes offensive. They create confusion and distance. They make people feel like we’re acting superior. They make the rest of the world feel like the wait staff at a huge resort, interacting with the clientele but having to go back home in the evenings.
Christianity is not a country club. While we may joke about “members only” and how we’re the ones with the inside line to God, that’s not the truth. God is Love, and love is for everyone. God is for everyone. We, as the body of Christ, should be for everyone. Our language should be, too.
hetta replied:
I am humbled by the idea that someone would be asking for an explanation from you about what is being said during a service. So many times I’ve been sitting in a church service and have looked around only to find that many people are doing anything but listening to the minister, regardless of any language being used.
I think the use of buzz language is part of the performance. It’s a performance that both the pastor and many club Christians need because they need to walk out of church on Sunday feeling euphoric and recharged.
I don’t know what to think because I’ve been in and transcribed services from the radio where the guy is saying all kinds of stuff that is apparently English(not scholarly) but is misinterpretation of the bible text. Sometimes the plain guy is a very similar babbling idiot passing info to the crowd of uninformed.
As time passes, I’m more inclined to hear God’s word as it is spoken. I have, as of late, become more attracted to liturgical services for that reason. However, I am more inclined to think that church should be a group of individuals working toward answers and finding solutions together in a community effort that really, doesn’t require a Sunday barker.
Of course, organizations need leaders, but does the primary leader need to be one guy who offers up a sermon every Sunday based on his interpretation of a passage in the bible? Couldn’t there be a Sunday gathering without that? I realize this is a controversial not well-thought-out idea because a lot of guys would be out of a job. But you know, Paul was a tent-maker. He didn’t require his bread and butter from the public, did he?
Christians rely too heavily on the pastor for interpretation. I don’t really understand this because many NIV bibles are pretty straightforward with notes and such. I used the Student NIV for a long time. Now, I’m very comfortable reading even the King James version, for its language, no doubt.
If people just read their bibles or at least become more familiar with them, those buzz words uttered by the pastor would be a little jam on da bread for some or for others, poo on snow. Either way, it would be harmless if people would just make their own effort.
Actually, Lindsey, I don’t know what I’m saying!
Like those you mentioned, I think people who are looking for truth will make the effort to find it. I think that’s what it’s all about. The stronger your need for truth, the closer you come to God, and the more inclined you will be to find answers. When I can’t understand the clown at the podium, I read it myself and look for answers and I usually do it with a partner like Dave or a close friend whom I trust.
Unfortunately, there are a lot of church leaders who haven’t made much effort to find the truth and yet they are the examples and the go-to guys for those coming into the “fold” for the first time.
All this to say, like you, I hate lisping and jigging.
February 21, 2008 at 3:58 pm. Permalink.
shellakers replied:
You just said what I’ve had on my mind for a long time. The church I go to now puts things plainly and clearly. I’ve been to so many other churches though, where I wanted to write a note (like the girl in your youth group) to someone to ask “what did he just say?”!
Thank you! Hopefully someone in authority will see this and take this to heart
February 21, 2008 at 4:00 pm. Permalink.
jaklumen replied:
Although our faith has a lay (unpaid) clergy, there is plenty of jargon in LDS meetinghouses. Not all of them are unintelligble, but some are fairly particular to us. Quite a few are said when members share their personal spiritual experiences, which might be confusing to investigators and other non-members:
“with every fiber of my being”
“bear my testimony” (most Christians tend to use “witness” these days instead)
“I know [fill in the blank] is true” (sometimes members aren’t specific enough on how they believe XYZ is true for them)
“touched by the Spirit” (this is obviously different for everyone– it might be a good, ‘right’ feeling about something, it might be a change of perspective, etc.)
…and so on.
We are somewhat unusual in that we don’t have pastors set aside to give a sermon– membership themselves take turns giving talks on subjects as assigned by clergy. And yet, some longtime members do indeed use language and terminology that might not be familiar to outsiders.
February 21, 2008 at 6:37 pm. Permalink.
shush replied:
Hetta: Oh, you open another can of worms entirely! I do think too much weight is often carried by pastors. Would you want 300 souls on your hands alone? I wouldn’t! There are some models that allow the pressure to be carried more evenly. My own church has a LEAD team that is comprised of one pastor, several teachers (who share Sunday duties, all preach sermons) elders, and then some artists and writers from the church who provide creative momentum. It’s a model I love, because while the Pastor is the fulcrum, we ALL work.
Shellakers: it’s so good you’ve found a church that suits you! Some people look, and look, and eventually give up. It’s heartbreaking.
Jaklumen: It is interesting how different faiths breed different language. There were some LDS missionaries in our area a while ago, and we met with them for a few months and went to a few church services, and it was all so surreal. I’ve been a churchgoer my entire life, and yet the language was so foreign! I have to say I left with a lot of respect for the LDS way of life, the focus on family and communal prosperity was really amazing. You people take CARE of each other, or at least the ward we live near really does. If I weren’t so committed to my own church… but I am.
February 21, 2008 at 7:47 pm. Permalink.
DM replied:
I was thinking about writing on this subject myself last week. My son goes out with a girl w/ no church background…she’s asked him about some of the “christianese” words…which is why I was thinking along these lines..SO, if I do get around to writing something…I will def. link back to this post.
February 22, 2008 at 12:17 pm. Permalink.
shush replied:
DM: Thank you so much!
February 22, 2008 at 1:11 pm. Permalink.