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If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
-I Corinthians 13:1
Churchy language/ Christianese
A local priest and a pastor were fishing on the side of the road. They thoughtfully made a sign saying, "The end is near! Turn yourself around now before it's too late!" and showed it to each passing car.
One driver who drove by didn't appreciate the sign and shouted at them, "Leave us alone, you religious nuts!"
All of a sudden they heard a big splash, looked at each other, and the priest said to the pastor, "You think maybe we should have just said 'Bridge Out' instead?"
There's a temptation among Christians, and especially Presbyterians, to use lots of insider language and lingo. Sometimes in prayer, sometimes in signage, in acronyms, or group names. If you've ever belonged to an organization you refer to as two letters followed by PC or Prez, have any clue what a PNC, the CPM or COM or an EP or the GA, you're definitely Presby. Such lingo is hard for outsiders who want to join. So, maybe for Lent, one spiritual practice would be to practice saying things in plain English. "I go to a Presbyterian church in Johns Creek, neighbor. We go to a class between worship services that the pastors teach and our kids go with the the teenagers downstairs to their hangout for a class." Tell me your story of speaking NOT in tongues this week.
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