What Language Do You Speak?

So often we talk our own language, let’s call it Christianese today, that we forget that we use words and phrases that others don’t understand. I became aware of this years ago when the church I belonged to had a deaf ministry. I was so accustomed to the deaf being a part of our service and congregation that I didn’t realize the work it took. Later when we moved to another community and the sister of one of our deaf friends was a part of the church, I thought nothing of inviting a new deaf friend to church, promising someone could sign for her. It was then that I found out that someone who is not familiar with church or Christ must learn the “language” in order for the signing to work. We use words like Jesus, salvation, sin, etc. that are not a part of everyday signing to the unsaved world.

Today I was again reminded that I need to be clearer about what I mean, especially in this technological day and age, when words are all we see. I commented on a relative’s Facebook page about 9-11 bringing us to our knees. For a Christian, that would mean humbled before God in prayer. For a stranger reading the comment, they assumed it meant broken and beaten in war.

So again, I must think more carefully how I talk, and how others will interpret what I say. It’s important in our day to day conversations, but more important when we talk about spiritual things in a Godless world.