FOUR-LETTER WORDS
“I’m a word guy.
Lyrics are important.
Story, conversation, linguistics, language.
I’m so intrigued by all of it.
I work hard to find a non-cliché way
to make a point. I do that so that
my work will make sense to
everybody—not just people
who are like me.”--Chris
*******
I have a friend who serves tables at a local restaurant. She’s really honest. We don’t believe the same things, and we talk about it. We have great conversations. There are often some four-letter words mixed in.
She hates serving the Sunday “after church” tables. They leave the biggest “%$#&” messes. They leave the smallest tips. And they always have a cute phrase like “Have a blessed day!” for her when they’re walking out. Sometimes they leave her a tract. You know, one of those fake $20 bills that have the “gospel message” on the other side.
Clever? Witness? No, just alienating.
“Blessed?” She says. “If they wanted me to be ‘blessed’ (whatever that means), wouldn’t they have a genuine conversation as if I’m a real person, or compliment me without that fake Christian smile, and leave me a tip that means something? I don’t think THEY even know what ‘blessed’ means.”
What ‘blessed’ means?
I have a challenge for all of us. It’s about our choice of words and our use of language. But I think you might be surprised by what I mean by that. Here’s where the twist comes. Let’s take a break for a little while from words like “bless,” “ministry,” “anointed,” “secular,” and “Christ-like.”
What? What’s wrong with these words? Absolutely nothing. They are just overused by one group of people. Everyone in the group knows what they mean, but anyone outside the club doesn’t really understand. And we need practice using different words to communicate the same truth.
Prepare for a sweeping generalization. It’s just a theory. I realize this doesn’t apply to everybody, but enough of us to make a difference. And please don’t be insulted. No insult is intended. Just consider.
Here’s the deal:
We’ve gotten so used to talking only to each other, that we have forgotten that our usual choice of words makes no sense outside of our circles. So, in order to practice using language that will communicate outside of our circles (just in case we ever talk to someone who isn’t like us), we should learn to use different words with each other too. Just for practice. Just in case.
Have you ever been watching a movie and thought, “They could have made that same point without using all that bad language!” Have you ever thought that the overuse of bad language is a sign of weak, lousy dialogue? Is it possible that the overuse of ANY words, including good words, might be a sign of the same? Maybe WE, too, settle for ‘default’ language instead of being specific and meaningful.
Maybe WE could make the same point using different language, so that we don’t alienate anyone. Maybe WE’re too afraid of ‘outsiders.’ Maybe WE’d rather not have to mingle or make sense in their world. That mentality sadly misses the whole purpose of living.
We versus Them. No such thing. There’s only We. “We” includes every messed up human on the planet (and if there happen to be any on the space station or in a space shuttle, they’re included too.) Every human who needs to be connected to God. That’s ALL of us! So, some are further along than others. Big deal. There’s no Them. We are Them. Humans. Needy humans.
For the sake of communication, we need to start thinking this way. No more code language.
Sorry, I’m a word guy. Lyrics are important. Story, conversation, linguistics, language. I’m so intrigued by all of it. I work hard to find a non-cliché way to make a point. I do that so that my work will make sense to everybody—not just people who are like me.
That takes work. It will take a little extra thought for all of us. We may have to be more creative. But it will be good for us.
Need examples? Suppose my friend Jennifer bakes me a cake and brings it over when I’m sick. I could default to, “Jennifer, you’re such a blessing to me.” Or, I could say, “Jennifer, my tastebuds and I really enjoyed the cake. Thanks. It meant a lot to me.” That would be a little more specific, and creative, and human.
What do you actually mean specifically when you compliment someone’s ‘ministry?’ What other words would you use to describe something you feel is ‘anointed?’ Do radio stations in the real world call themselves ‘secular?’ Thought provoking, I hope.
Please don’t get me wrong. I’m not trying to eliminate certain words from our vocabulary. I’m just compelled by my concern for ‘outsiders’ that we all use more appropriate language so that nobody misses out on a connection or communication because ‘we’ didn’t realize ‘they’ don’t know ‘our’ terminology.
I’m just hoping people will be more aware of their choice of words. By the way, I like all those words. I understand them, and I use them. I just want to be hopefully more sensitive about it. That’s why I’m even bringing it up, so we’ll be more aware and sensitive.
Just stuff to think about. Talk to your friends about it. Hope it generates good discussions.
Oh yeah, one more thing…
Have a blessed day!
Lyrics are important.
Story, conversation, linguistics, language.
I’m so intrigued by all of it.
I work hard to find a non-cliché way
to make a point. I do that so that
my work will make sense to
everybody—not just people
who are like me.”--Chris
*******
I have a friend who serves tables at a local restaurant. She’s really honest. We don’t believe the same things, and we talk about it. We have great conversations. There are often some four-letter words mixed in.She hates serving the Sunday “after church” tables. They leave the biggest “%$#&” messes. They leave the smallest tips. And they always have a cute phrase like “Have a blessed day!” for her when they’re walking out. Sometimes they leave her a tract. You know, one of those fake $20 bills that have the “gospel message” on the other side.
Clever? Witness? No, just alienating.
“Blessed?” She says. “If they wanted me to be ‘blessed’ (whatever that means), wouldn’t they have a genuine conversation as if I’m a real person, or compliment me without that fake Christian smile, and leave me a tip that means something? I don’t think THEY even know what ‘blessed’ means.”
What ‘blessed’ means?
I have a challenge for all of us. It’s about our choice of words and our use of language. But I think you might be surprised by what I mean by that. Here’s where the twist comes. Let’s take a break for a little while from words like “bless,” “ministry,” “anointed,” “secular,” and “Christ-like.”
What? What’s wrong with these words? Absolutely nothing. They are just overused by one group of people. Everyone in the group knows what they mean, but anyone outside the club doesn’t really understand. And we need practice using different words to communicate the same truth.
Prepare for a sweeping generalization. It’s just a theory. I realize this doesn’t apply to everybody, but enough of us to make a difference. And please don’t be insulted. No insult is intended. Just consider.
Here’s the deal:
We’ve gotten so used to talking only to each other, that we have forgotten that our usual choice of words makes no sense outside of our circles. So, in order to practice using language that will communicate outside of our circles (just in case we ever talk to someone who isn’t like us), we should learn to use different words with each other too. Just for practice. Just in case.
Have you ever been watching a movie and thought, “They could have made that same point without using all that bad language!” Have you ever thought that the overuse of bad language is a sign of weak, lousy dialogue? Is it possible that the overuse of ANY words, including good words, might be a sign of the same? Maybe WE, too, settle for ‘default’ language instead of being specific and meaningful.
Maybe WE could make the same point using different language, so that we don’t alienate anyone. Maybe WE’re too afraid of ‘outsiders.’ Maybe WE’d rather not have to mingle or make sense in their world. That mentality sadly misses the whole purpose of living.
We versus Them. No such thing. There’s only We. “We” includes every messed up human on the planet (and if there happen to be any on the space station or in a space shuttle, they’re included too.) Every human who needs to be connected to God. That’s ALL of us! So, some are further along than others. Big deal. There’s no Them. We are Them. Humans. Needy humans.
For the sake of communication, we need to start thinking this way. No more code language.
Sorry, I’m a word guy. Lyrics are important. Story, conversation, linguistics, language. I’m so intrigued by all of it. I work hard to find a non-cliché way to make a point. I do that so that my work will make sense to everybody—not just people who are like me.
That takes work. It will take a little extra thought for all of us. We may have to be more creative. But it will be good for us.
Need examples? Suppose my friend Jennifer bakes me a cake and brings it over when I’m sick. I could default to, “Jennifer, you’re such a blessing to me.” Or, I could say, “Jennifer, my tastebuds and I really enjoyed the cake. Thanks. It meant a lot to me.” That would be a little more specific, and creative, and human.
What do you actually mean specifically when you compliment someone’s ‘ministry?’ What other words would you use to describe something you feel is ‘anointed?’ Do radio stations in the real world call themselves ‘secular?’ Thought provoking, I hope.
Please don’t get me wrong. I’m not trying to eliminate certain words from our vocabulary. I’m just compelled by my concern for ‘outsiders’ that we all use more appropriate language so that nobody misses out on a connection or communication because ‘we’ didn’t realize ‘they’ don’t know ‘our’ terminology.
I’m just hoping people will be more aware of their choice of words. By the way, I like all those words. I understand them, and I use them. I just want to be hopefully more sensitive about it. That’s why I’m even bringing it up, so we’ll be more aware and sensitive.
Just stuff to think about. Talk to your friends about it. Hope it generates good discussions.
Oh yeah, one more thing…
Have a blessed day!
posted by Christopher at
11:02 AM
