Thu 9 Sep 2010
Evangelism in the 21st Century
Posted by Mathew Block under Linguistics, Main, Theological Musings
[2] Comments
As a Christian linguist*, one of the things that particularly irks me is the failure of the Church (myself included) to be vigilant in ensuring that our witness to the world is an intelligible one. In our desire to preach the Gospel, we’re not always careful to make sure the language we’re speaking is a language our non-Christian neighbours can understand. In other words, sometimes we need to speak in other words.
That concern lies behind my latest article for The Canadian Lutheran. In addressing the problem, I explore the story of Pentecost, Luther’s theology of translation, and the historical move from German to English in North American Lutheran churches. At the same time, I can only hope that my exploration of the subject speaks to readers where they are – that it speaks their language, as it were. (I’m sure someone in my congregation will be sure to let me know if I’ve failed on this point).
To read the article, visit The Canadian Lutheran website and select the article entitled “Can you hear me now?: Evangelism for the 21st century.” While you’re at it, check out the rest of the July-August issue. In addition to my article, there’s some insightful thoughts on engaging youth in the life of the Church now (as opposed to at some ill-defined point in the future), a story on the 2010 LCC National Youth Gathering, a discussion of C.F.W. Walther’s take on the Confessions, and other news and views of interest.
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* I use the term somewhat loosely. While I’m not employed as a linguist, I do have a linguistics degree.
Is it legitimate to view the frequency of terms used by an organization as evidence of its “true” mission, or principle focus? In looking into terms most commonly used on the ELCA website I’ve discovered the following, terms used followed by frequency of use:
Luther – 5,620
Salvation – 2,710
Evangelism – 6,180
Baptism – 4,880
Advocacy – 9,640
Justice – 11,300
Grace – 5,620
Witnessing – 1,790
Any thoughts as to what we might understand about this organization based upon the language they use?
Thanks
I think to some extent it is fair to say that what we say represents what we believe. The language we use changes how we view the world (that’s the whole idea behind the theory of linguistic relativity). If the ELCA talks about “justice” and “advocacy” twice as much it talks about “grace” and three times as much as it talk about “salvation”, then upcoming generations will certainly grow up considering that to be the norm.
I personally would be fascinated to see what frequency words like “sin” and “law” come up on the ELCA’s site. Any time a denomination talks solely about grace without reference to the law, it is very possible that same church may end up professing an almost antinomian theology (what Bonhoeffer calls “cheap grace”). I talk about that very concern in another article I wrote for The Canadian Lutheran back in October 2009 just after the ELCA’s Churchwide assembly. It’s called “More than straw: The importance of James to contemporary society” and, as you might guess, it focuses on the importance of understanding grace in relation to the law and sin.