Can You Read This - FYEO???

How many e-mails a day do your receive? Have you texted your friends today? Don't have an FB page, what's wrong with you? When are you going to blog - don't you have a blogspot?? No, then maybe you prefer Weebly. Have you checked out my Flickr pictures? Gigabytes, megahertz, Sim cards, twittering, IM, FB, blogging, LOL, biochip transponder, world phone, go phone, Ipod... The jargon goes on and on. And if you are not on the information highway, you are being left behind - hopeless, without a prayer! The rest of the world is leaving you far behind.

It is amazing how much of what we say is code, and only the insiders understand what you are saying. Recently I had the oportuntity (for a very brief period) to work for Edward Jones - the financial market has a huge amount of jargon that keeps the normal person guessing what they mean. Our job was to simplify this information for the average joe, and educate them on making wise financial decisions. Most of the time the work was getting people to understand what things were, how they worked, and where it would be best to put your money. When we began, I was lost - and after almost 6 months of hard work - I finally began to understand what I was talking about.

Most would not argue that computers and financial tools make our lives easier, especially when we understand what we are talking about. Online banking combines the two and makes handling your checking account very easy. However, you've got to know what you are doing, and what others are talking about when you enter these fields.

The Church should not be like this. "Sanctification", "justification", "in Jesus", "saved", "disciple" are just a few of the terms we use that "outsiders" just do not understand. "Washed in the blood", "redeemed from my sin" beautiful pictures of what Christ has done, but meaningless to others who do not understand.

This past Sunday I sat in the church and listened - trying to listen like an outsider. Songs were cryptic, preaching - although very good - still filled with concepts that a non-church goer might be confused by. One might argue that the church is a place for Christians to unite and worship - and I would agree, so maybe this "jargon" is okay in this setting. (And yet I might argue that without an "interpreter" the information might be wasted on those that are visiting).

I would say that our daily speech with those that do not know Jesus (again, jargon), needs to be devoid of as much "christianized" speaking as possible. People understand pain, sin, heartache, love, sacrifice, giving, receiving, substitutes, friendship, truth, etc. Use the words and ideas that they are familiar with to share the good news of the Gospel (one last shot at jargon). Love people enough to speak in a language they understand - and then share truth with them.