What Are You Talking About!?
A few weeks ago I was standing with a group of friends, each one focusing intently on every word from my mouth. I looked everyone in the eye and laid out the following plan. "Scott, spread out wide left and run a skinny post. If the safety jumps you, cut it up and I'll go underneath. John, you line up inside Scott and go across the middle, but watch the Mike-backer and take your depth from him. Sam, you line up right and run a hitch-and-go, he's bit the hitch all day and is set-up for the go."
Most people have probably figured out that I'm referring to a football huddle and am laying out the next play. A few of you might even know the play and can visualize it in your own mind. The beauty of playing with my friends is that each person understands their role in the play and also the big picture. We have been playing together for years, speak the same language, and can be on the same page immediately. If someone new were to join the group it would take them time to learn our "language." Each hobby, job, sport, or group has its own terminology and a learning curve associated with it. Over time we pick up more and more until we can all talk freely and quickly using the terms we are most familiar with.
When a new person joins the football team we must all realize the language barrier and take an extra moment to explain who the Mike-backer is and how to read him while running the route. If the team does not facilitate this learning curve then several things can happen - poor individual performance, poor team performance, and a loss of interest and satisfaction of the new person. The "religious" community is no different. We talk of salvation, discipleship, stewardship, and evangelism. Words not commonly used outside the walls of church. How enjoyable is the group if you are not able to participate as freely and effectively because of a language barrier? I have been in groups where I felt like an outsider because no one took the time to make me feel comfortable.
Jesus understood this. The religious culture of the time was dominated by the Pharisees. A select group of men who studied the law and acted as interpreters to the word of God. The problem is that they also acted as the gate keepers and controlled the masses with the information only they were privy to. The people had a very limited knowledge of God and the complex laws of the time. Jesus came in and kept it simple. Instead of speaking in complex laws as the Pharisees, he spoke in parables. Simple stories the people could relate to. He used analogies of farming and shepherding, reference points the people could understand.
Frequent church goers tend to speak and teach in a common language. It's not wrong, it's just what is easy, comfortable, and efficient. But we must learn to keep it simple and slowly bring along those new folks who might be a little lost and are not sure what we are talking about! Church can be pretty intimidating anyway and if you can't speak the language it's only one more barrier to a relationship with God.
Now the second part of the equation. I cannot expect to take on a new hobby or group, and fully understand the language immediately. I must take a certain degree of ownership and do my part to learn the language. Don't be afraid of church, because you can't learn the language if you don't try! We must all drop our fears and sit at the feet of Jesus to soak up whatever it is he is trying to teach that day.
Chris Jones
Director of Recreational Ministries
