The Narrow Path Ministries

Hello, friends. A thought recently occured to me and I wanted to share it with you and get some opinions. The thought was this: Did Jesus come to save religious scholars or to save the common person?

The correct answer would be both - with an emphasis on the latter, being that most people aren't scholars. The reason I pose this question to you (and myself) is due to the nature of our conversations with common folk. It boils down to us Christians using scholarly (and mostly antiquated) language to share the gospel.

How many of those Joe and Jane Commonfolk even know what "lord" or "repentance" means? Most of them only have a vague notion of their meaning so why do we Christians always use these words when speaking to common people? Many times, it seems, we are talking past them and then faulting them for not possessing our level of vocabulary and Greek/Hebrew scholarship. How egotistical of us. A widowed mother with five children who works two jobs to support her family may not have time for deep lexical work. Yet it's our job, as the body of Christ, to communicate the gospel message properly to such a person - especially such a person!

My point here is really this: are we using biblical language because we're upholding tradition and thus missing the point of truly communicating with others?

It is sometimes argued that we should always use biblical language because it's the safest way to go while insuring that we communicate the gospel of the kingdom accurately. I would argue that this no different than the televangelist who prays in King James english. Maybe it's time for us Christians to speak the truth using terms and phrases that common people will actually understand. Call me radical.

i dont disagree with what you are saying, but at the same time the biblical texts have to be presented. unfortunately the biblical texts use biblical language. our duty is to explain what the biblical text means in language that can be understood. i assume that this is what you are getting at, and if so i certainly agree. some of the concepts, though, such as being "born again" and the costs of discipleship are not easy to convey.

TK

Hi JC,

This may be the clip for you

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hreDZsFlBx8

. A widowed mother with five children who works two jobs to support her family may not have time for deep lexical work. Yet it's our job, as the body of Christ, to communicate the gospel message properly to such a person - especially such a person!


My 16 yr old daughter likes to grap some of her friends to have a God talk when she can and at some point she likes to call me in. From my experience with teens it seems to me they are primarily interested in knowing God but they have no idea how. So if i bring in theology or more then a couple of bible verses i sense i'm starting to lose them because they want to know God in their heart especially at the beginning. So then i take the opportunity to explain that the best way to know God, is to know Jesus and the best way to know Jesus is to read what he said.

Christopher wrote:Hi JC,

This may be the clip for you

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hreDZsFlBx8

Has anyone ever heard of Clarence Jordan, who started a Christian community (Koinonia Farm) in Georgia? There were a large number of blacks in the community, and so the community was persecuted back in that day for "mixing the colours". The community helped poorer people build houses for themselves, and one visitor was so inpired that he founded "Habitats for Humanity".

Clarence, was an expert in Greek, but wrote "The Cottonpatch Version" of the New Testament, so that ordinary people in his community and those to whom they witnessed could understand it. Here is a sample from Happenings chapter 2 (that's Acts for you "scholarly people who use mostly antiquated language")

...David... did say, "The Boss said to my boss, "Be my right hand man while I put even your opponents under your control." Therefore let all Americans know beyond any doubt that God made this same Jesus, whom you lynched, both President and Leader."

Upon hearing this they were cut to the quick, and they said to Rock and the other officers, "Will you please tell us, brothers, what we can do about it?"

Rock said to them, "Reshape your lives, and let each of you be initiated into the family of Jesus Christ so you sins can be dealt with; and you will receive the free gift of the Holy Spirit. For the guarantee is to you and your relatives, as well as to all outsiders whom the Lord our God shall invite." Rock was going down the line on other matters, too, and kept urging them on. "Save yourselves," he was telling them, "from this goofed-up society." Happenings 2:34-40

JC,

I totally agree with what you are saying.

I have one little nit-picky, off-topic, personal question. You said:

A widowed mother with five children who works two jobs to support her family may not have time for deep lexical work. Yet it's our job, as the body of Christ, to communicate the gospel message properly to such a person - especially such a person!

What would it be about hard-working widows that make them especially in need of the properly communicated gospel message? (Frankly, I think they [we] are more in need of pure religion [James 1:27.] They [we] are just as smart as anyone else.)

Edited to add: JC, I got to thinking that maybe you were referring to a widow's lack of time and were not meaning to cast aspersions on her intellect. Sorry.


Christopher,

This may be the clip for you

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hreDZsFlBx8

That made my day!

Christopher wrote:Hi JC,

This may be the clip for you

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hreDZsFlBx8

I love it Chris. thanks.

Hmmmmm......

Christopher linked to, and wrote:This may be the clip for you

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hreDZsFlBx8

I watched it but: What is Christian ease? Does it mean if I become a Christian I will have things easier? If this is some kind of special Christian language, is it easier to learn than most? What were they talking about in that video? (I'm being satirical).

Paidion wrote:Upon hearing this they were cut to the quick, and they said to Rock and the other officers, "Will you please tell us, brothers, what we can do about it?"

What were they cut with? And who cut them? How badly were they hurt? I know where my appendix is, (I think?). But where's my quick at? (satire continuing, although King Jimmy lingo should be outlawed, imo, lol)

and JC wrote:My point here is really this: are we using biblical language because we're upholding tradition and thus missing the point of truly communicating with others?

It is sometimes argued that we should always use biblical language because it's the safest way to go while insuring that we communicate the gospel of the kingdom accurately. I would argue that this no different than the televangelist who prays in King James english. Maybe it's time for us Christians to speak the truth using terms and phrases that common people will actually understand. Call me radical.

I think it's radical to even consider this stuff, JC. So, Yer Rad! (meant as a compliment). I mean, "MDR Christians" (who meet the minimum daily requirements, if such people exist, prolly do, thru ignorance for one reason or another): They don't seem to think this far...keeping in mind Steve Gregg's definition that: "Radical Christians" are people who "live the normative Christian life". So, in a way, well, I'm not saying you are only average or just normal, Well, you know, um, OK, um, nm, j/k

Leaving satire (and Christianese) behind; Christianity is a historical religion, "In the fullness of the times, God sent His Son." This being so, I don't see how anyone who seriously considers Christianity can avoid this historical aspect. This means anyone (all) who think about Jesus pretty well much have to also study the differences in language and culture between us and them, then and now. In short, there is an intellectual -- and historical -- content in the Gospel that is very much like if, say, someone wanted to know all about American history. They'd have to go back and study it....

Wanna know about Abe Lincoln? Go back to his historical context and culture and: Study
(How many days were "fourscore"?)
Wanna know about Jesus? Do the same stuff.
(What was a "Messiah"?)......etc., etc.

When I first heard someone say "Christianese" I had no idea what they were talking about, lol. Oh......like "Chinese," OK. The translation of biblical languages and theological terminology into modern English.

Ok............let's do that!
Thanks,
Rick

Christopher, that clip is exactly what I'm talking about. Good one!

Michelle, you are correct. I was referring to the lack of time that person would have avilable for intensive study. The example was certainly not meant as an insult on anyone's intelligence. I'd be the last one to cast that stone!

Friends, I'm not arguing that we shouldn't teach the bible. I'm picking on the methods by which we Christians share the gospel. If we know that "repent" in the original Greek means to "change one's mind" then why not just say, "You are saved by changing your mind and following Christ?" Sounds more accurate than "repent ye sinner of all thine terrible works, lest ye be cast into outer darkness." Means the same thing, but one certainly conveys the message more accurately to people in my cultural setting. And yes, I've heard modern people use King James english to share the gospel.

I guess the seed of this irritation was planted during a recent bible study as I was looking up Greek words for common salvation lingo. I read mostly from the NIV and NKJ and even modern translations use words and phrases that are not easily understood by Joe and Jane Average (close friends of the Commonfolks..hehe). If you look up the word "repent" in the Greek lexicon and the definition sounds clear... just use that instead. By doing so, you may even be sticking CLOSER to biblical language.

Example: A teenage girl sees me reading a bible in the park. She approaches me and asks, "I see that you're a Christian... well, I want to know God. How can I do that?"

Possible responses from me (all of which are accurate):

1) "Just read the bible. It's all in there."
-- Poor girl probably quits after reading up to Numbers.

2) "Repent and be baptised for the remission of your sins. Then take up your cross daily and follow Christ."
-- She walks away thinking you're not a native English-speaker and would be better off asking that New Age chick down the hall at her dorm.

3) "You see.. there were these ancient prophecies about someone who would come down from God himself and teach us the right way. His name was Jesus and here are some of the things he said...."
-- If not offended, the girl will probably listen for a while and actually comprehend these words.

There are probably better examples but these, while all accurately stated, would not all have the same effect on the teenage girl's perception of the gospel. Number 2 would probably have the LEAST effect on her, yet it's the most common way of preaching.