Brothers and sisters, don’t be like children in the way you think. Well, be babies when it comes to evil, but be adults in your thinking. In the Law it is written: I will speak to this people with foreign languages and foreigners’ lips, but they will not even listen to me this way, says the Lord. So then, tongues are a sign for those who don’t believe, not for those who believe. But prophecy is a sign for believers, not for those who don’t believe. So suppose that the whole church is meeting and everyone is speaking in tongues. If people come in who are outsiders or unbelievers, won’t they say that you are out of your minds? But if everyone is prophesying when an unbeliever or outsider comes in, they are tested by all and called to account by all. The secrets of their hearts are brought to light. When that happens, they will fall on their faces and worship God, proclaiming out loud that truly God is among you! (1 Corinthians 14:20-25, CEB)
I read this and thought of a recent conversation I had with a fellow member of one of the classes I am taking to get my Doctor of Ministry Degree. She said something about WELCA, and then asked if I was a Lutheran. Because WELCA is an insider ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America) term. I said yes I know what WELCA means and she continued on. WELCA is Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America for those reading who may not be ELCA.
But we all do this, no matter what denomination we are in, we use insider language that people who are not churched or part of our denomination may not know. The ministry I serve is housed at an Episcopalian Ministry site and their leadership team is called the vestry. Not a term I usually use, but need to know it when talking with people from that ministry.
We need to use words and phrases that make sense to outsiders so they can hear God’s love.
How do we communicate with the world, to share grace and mercy?
How do you talk to the world to show forth love?
Loving People. Loving God.
aSacredRebel 