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.