I can’t pinpoint exactly when it happened, but at some point in my work in the church world I developed a distaste for “church words.” It has nothing to do with the meaning behind the words themselves, but purely with the opportunity to present biblical concepts to a world that has built knee-jerk defenses to certain key words.
For example, I rarely used the word “saved” when I’m sharing my faith (note that I don’t call this “witnessing”) with someone because it conjures up visions of hysterical street preachers and televangelists (in my mind at least). In its place, I try to use the term “believer” to give a segway into what it means to be a Christ-follower. I also tend to stray away from the word “gospel” because of the association with so much negative junk in the “Christian Marketplace” today. Whenever possible, I use “good news” in its place because it seems more accessible and straight forward to me.
For those of us who live in the world of vocational ministry, I think it’s easy to forget how foreign some of these words can sound to the seekers in your community and even many members in your audience every Sunday. Because of this, I’ve tried to make a conscious effort to use accessible terminology in all of our communications materials.
I know what you might be thinking right now… “This guy is saying we should water down God’s Word to be more marketable!” I assure you, that’s not at all what I’m recommending. There’s absolutely a need to disciple believers and move them from milk to the meat and potatoes of the faith. What I am saying is that your visitors shouldn’t need a seminary degree to decipher the content on your website, Sunday bulletin and other promotional materials. If your home page includes words like “Godhead” and “eschatology,” you’ve probably got a problem.
With all of the incredible technology at our disposal today, let’s not forget to tailor the message to the audiences that we’re trying to reach. We’re not impressing anybody with our fancy terminology and 5-syllable words. Let’s make an effort to be real.
I’ve been going to a church that has evangelism as it’s core for about 10 years. I grew up in a church that used “church words”, but now I’m so used to regular words that I have to think to translate back.
I wish churches would only use regular English. Try these out: parable = metaphor; baptism = washing; evangelism = good news sharing; testimony = story; savior = hero or rescuer.
Paul
Sorry, guys, but I respectfully disagree. Well, to be accurate, I agree AND disagree. I agree that we should not hide behind a vocabulary that is unnecessary. However, every group, profession, culture, etc. has built into it certain technical language that is good and necessary for understanding that culture or profession or whatever. I don’t want to abandon terms that are technical terms just because they’re not easily understood. We need to help create language and categories of thinking for people. Yes, we don’t want to use our language as a way to screen out people who aren’t like us. But we need our people to understand certain vocabulary and concepts that they don’t already have in their mental database. Let’s not throw out the baby with the bath water.
For the sake of discussion, what makes words like “saved, witnessing and gospel” any more powerful than “believer, sharing your faith, and the good news?”
What I’m suggesting is that many times we can communicate essential doctrine just as effectively, but without using the lingo that the church world has developed for itself over the years. Many seekers I know will immediately throw up their defenses if I start talking about “being saved” and “spreading the Gospel”, but are more than happy to discuss what it means to be a Christ follower and why Christians want to spread the good news. It’s the “church word” terminology that triggers their defenses.
I’m not saying that our “church words” are wrong or evil by any means, but just that we can do a better job communicating these truths. More and more, I understand why Jesus taught so often through so many different parables… everyone learns in a different way.