Do you savvy Christianese?
Well, the Christian Buzzword Bingo page keeps getting new words added to it. It started with about 30 words from Tom and as of right now is over 180210. I've been adding more words almost every day. Reading a post-modern theology book right now helps - I have to keep a pad and pen by the bed while I read and add about five to ten words a day just from that one source alone. Blogs (most definitely including my own) help, too.
My criteria have settled on the following two simple "rules":
- I leave terms for God out of it - God, Jesus, Christ, Lord, LORD, Yahweh, YHWH, Jehovah, Holy Spirit and Holy Ghost are all sacrosanct, both out of my own personal respect for my heavenly Father and to avoid being called a heretic. However, Tetragrammaton and triune are in there.
- My daughter Morgann thought the card should be split into two - one for the professional theologians and one for the laity. However, I've decided one page should contain all the codewords. Not just those used by the clergy but also those used by "normal" Christians that confuse the unchurched (I know they do - some have told me just that) by being inscrutable or used differently than in non-Christian speech. I also include words that Christ-followers argue about among themselves.
If you want to know the state of the list at any time simply press the "About" button on the page. If you want me to add a specific word or phrase leave a comment here. And if you disagree or think I'm being evil, first ask yourself whether you can explain all the words to the uncatechized ("Bingo!" :o) without spending the next week at it.
Me? I think it has a purpose as an exercise, if only for myself, and that is to try and write less in "code". What do you think?
6 comments:
"Sacramental" on the list yet? (I can't seem to view the entire list). As in "All of life is sacramental."
Sam,
It's in there now. :o)
What do you think?
I think it's just fine and dandy. I know I use many of these words quite routinely. It's kind of difficult not to use some of them, even when talking to "unchurched" people, because they express unique thoughts, ideas, or concepts that cannot be expressed otherwise -- at least, not without lengthy explanation.
Do you feel that a case can be made that we should be using these words less, or are you simply having a little fun with it?
CH,
I struggle with it and have been struggling with it. For example, check out this blog post (and the comments).
I think as time goes on I am more and more leaning toward trying to use less and less code words. I just don't think they're necessary. For example, Jesus was able to talk about "salvation" without ever mentioning "soteriology". So I am not so sure the concepts in the Bible need 2000 years of theology to explain them - otherwise the people to whom they were originally spoken/written wouldn't have gotten them, either, eh? If one can't preach Christ crucified and have someone understand without resorting to theological language, then the messenger is wrong, not the Message. At least that's how I see it.
And all that said, yes, I am having fun with it! :o)
"Sacramental"... that's in California isn't it?
Loved the Buzzword Bingo! Thanks.
Dave,
Glad you liked it. It was fun to write. Thanks for stopping by!
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