Words Matter

I’m excited to introduce a new series here on ChoGBlog!

As a movement with particular history, beliefs, practices, and self-identity the Church of God also expresses itself in unique ways through its language. There are words and phrases we use that distinguish us, both internally among ourselves and externally to the larger Christian community. In the coming weeks I will examine some of these terms and ideas that help define who we are, and who we are not.

Language is inextricably linked with culture. On the one hand, the way we function together as a people creates and sustains words and phrases that express what we stand for and value. On the other hand, such language, used consistently, perpetuates and reinforces our culture. Our language, therefore, reflects our culture, but also creates it. Sharing common stories and nomenclature is vital for any organization, the Church of God included.

Of course, our culture expresses itself in many other ways as well. For example, organizational structure, music, events, and symbols all represent who we are as a movement and contribute to shaping our future.

Awareness of the elements that make up our culture is essential if we are to better understand our past and present. This is especially the case for those of us steeped in Church of God life. We are familiar and comfortable with our cultural artifacts and practices, and often take them for granted. This applies to the language we use. In our internal conversations, preaching, and written communications we frequently utilize certain expressions. When the audience is made up of others who speak the same “language” these words and phrases resonate, both intellectually and emotionally. They powerfully convey meaning and affirm the relational bonds we have with each other.

Problems arise, however, when our language is used with outsiders, both Christian and those outside of the church. Unless we are careful to translate our ideas using common conceptions and definitions, our unique language can be a barrier for effective communication.

Take a word like “membership” for example. As I will explore in a future post, we approach this word uniquely among most Christians. We have our own understanding of what it means in the context of belonging to the church, and therefore are resistant to the term as it is commonly used and practiced in Christian congregations outside of our movement. This can lead to all kinds of misunderstandings, humorous exchanges, and/or even awkward encounters when we use it as a well-intentioned teaching moment to correct others on their “wrong” way of applying membership within the church.

So, in the coming weeks I will explore a range of words that have distinctive usage and understanding within the Church of God. While most of these are terms we use in our own unique way, there are some that we actually avoid using since they carry all kinds of negative connotations for us.

I already have a list of words that I have been noting for this series. So as not to prejudice the ideas you have, I will not share that list at this time. Instead, I would love to hear your suggestions of words or phrases that have their own Church of God flavor. Please pass them on to me in the comments below or send me a message. I will try to address as many of these as possible.

I trust this will be both a thought-provoking and fun exercise to uncover a little more about who we are as the Church of God.