Language Audit

It's been a long time since I've posted anything here. It's been a storm of business, lack of creativity, and, well, blog-laziness on my part. I've got a long list of posts I want and hope to write, but I'm not sure what will come of it.

Two weeks ago MJ and I had a week of daddy-daughter time. Natalie was in Philadelphia for a short course for her graduate program, which meant that MJ got to spend her mornings with me at the office and I worked from home in the afternoons while she was napping. We had a wonderful week together, though we both missed mommy!

On the Wednesday night of that week, I was reminded of the importance of our language and it's shaping power over our lives. MJ and I braved the weather and headed to the LOCC building for a time of reading Scripture as a community of faith. As I was fumbling around to unlock the door, she looked up at me and said, "This is my church house! I want to go to my church house." Nothing like a little lesson on ecclesiology from your two-year old daughter! Simple. Powerful. Profound.

I have spent a lot of time reflecting on that statement over the past week and a half. Somewhere along the way MJ has made a connection that church is far more than just the building, that the location on 1080 Hemingway Road is just simply a “church house.” When we gather here as a body, it is a sacred place, but that is not because the building is sacred. This space becomes holy because we, the holy people of God, gather together in the name of the Father, Son, and Spirit; and when we gather, God promises to be present with us.

That night MJ reminded me of the power of how we say things. David Keller and I frequently talk about the importance of the language we use, how we choose to say things. My good friend Randy Harris says it this way: “Language is the only game in town.” Our language both reveals what we believe and also shapes how we think. Think about a very common phrase that many of us use regularly: “Let’s go to church.” Over time, that phrase has a powerful impact on what we think about God, about discipleship, and about the nature of the church. “God” becomes localized to a place and a time, rather than the God of the incarnation who is present and revealed in every moment of life. “Church” becomes a place or an event that happens once or twice a week, rather than the living people of God who are called to live into their baptism each and every day. Our focus becomes “getting church right” rather than thinking about how we are being transformed every moment of the day to be people who share and reveal Christ’s character. It’s important to audit our language periodically and think about how it shapes the things we believe and how we live.

Language really makes a difference... and on her own my little girl got her language right. She taught me an important lesson. I was both humbled and proud.