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Jesus Speak: A Narrative Exploration of the Relationship between the Language of Jesus and the Language of an A eri!an "hristian Spee!h "o $% &# $ntrodu!tion to the "hristian Spee!h "o unit# unit#
Bless your heart; Ill be praying for you. Will you hold me accountable? Im trying to guard my heart. Last night was an amazing time of Spirit filled worship and fellowshipping. 'hese are a few state ents $ have both said and heard said a ong the "hristian !o $(ll be honest) $ use words like edif#) hallelu*ah) Spirit) and revival both and without regard to who $ a# be talking to% 'o unit#%
experien!e) though $ understand that for other people) whether !onfessed "hristians or not) these words !an appear e pt#) ar!hai!) and disorienting% 'hough $ was born the daughter of "hristian issionaries to Afri!a) it was not until filled spee!h !o # faith be!a e # own and $ entered a vibrant) faith+ ore
unit# several #ears ago that $ reali,ed that the "hristian diale!t !ould be unit# and sustain a !ulture of spiritual revival%
$n the fall of /010) $ was a part of a s all group that experien!ed a revival out of the book of A!ts% 'he fier# !olors of autu n leaves were s# boli! of the growing passion of the group% We shared our one# and opened our ho es) wel!o ed drug addi!ts fro the streets) and
experien!ed an outpour of spiritual gifts% At the group(s peak) we had nearl# 10 people pa!ked into a tin# living roo on S% 'a#lor Street% 'he guitar usi! bellowed) and our legs a!hed fro
standing so long be!ause there was no pla!e to sit% 'he interesting thing about the group was that none of us !a e fro a !haris ati!
ba!kground or anti!ipated the revival events to o!!ur% We were si pl# a rag+tag handful of /0+
Waller / so ethings fro an arra# of lo!al Non+deno inational !hur!hes who were looking for deeper
wa#s to experien!e Jesus% Even as the revival events were unfolding) $ didn(t have the language to des!ribe what the group was experien!ing% 'hough $ had grown up in !hur!h) $ was !o pletel# unfa iliar with the verna!ular of revival% 2"haris ati!3 had been a pe*orative word in $a # household% $t has onl# been in re!ent #ears through a !loser stud# of the book of A!ts that able to express what # s all group experien!ed%
Looking ba!k) $ !an see how we were using language to shape our realit# and !reate a !o unit#% 'he s all group leader insisted we refer to the group as 2Revival group3 instead of
si pl# a 2s all group3 4or) the 2'alking 5onke#s)3 as we originall# !alled ourselves6 be!ause he didn(t want others to get the i pression that this was *ust another !hur!h+# event where people !a e to talk about their feelings or !he!k the box of their weekl# "hristian to+do list% $ re e ber the rea!tion tri!kle into #i ediate fa il# had when the newl# a!7uired religious dis!ourse began to # dad asked 29ou
"hristian sub!ulture3 4Randag6% 'hough it has been exhilarating to have dis!overed words that a!!uratel# define # spiritual experien!es and allow e to arti!ulate these experien!es with # language
others) $ !annot help but wonder about the i pli!ations of using "hristianese% $s
in!lusive and edif#ing to people8 <r is it ex!lusive and rude8 And) here !o es the big 7uestion: does my language a!tuall# sound like Jesus8 'hese 7uestions are deepl# personal) but $ feel the# are ne!essar# to broa!h in order to dis!over the i pa!t that "hristianese has on both the lo!al faith !o unit# and the non+religious !o unit# at large% =# presenting a surve# of spee!h
Waller > !o unit# theor# followed b# a language variet# anal#sis !o paring the language of Jesus and
the language of #oung+adult) Non+deno inational A eri!an "hristians) this paper will seek to answer the following resear!h 7uestions: 1% $s "hristianese good) bad) or si pl# a natural o!!urren!e8 /% What is the i pa!t or i pression it leaves on others8 >% 5id Jesus Speak "hristianese8 ?% @ow !an "hristians toda# learn fro 1% What does it look like to talk like a $$% Jesus( exa ple of in!lusive language8 odern+da# Jesus8 unit#
2Ever#one speaks a diale!t)3 @arve# A% 5aniels states as the fourth of his nine ideas about language 45aniels A6% With the definition of diale!t as 2a variet# of language whi!h has a !ertain set of lexi!al) phonologi!al) and gra ati!al rules that distinguish it fro other diale!ts3
45aniels A6) it should not !o e as a surprise that #oung adult) non+deno inational A eri!an "hristians have established a diale!t of their own) !o plete with words) phrases) intonations) and s#nta!ti! strategies% Lee Bederson explains how we !an tra!e the roots of new diale!ts fro the
drawing and re+drawing of !ultural boundaries: 2Wherever !lear !ut+boundaries of !ulture !an be re!onstru!ted on the basis of histori!al infor ation fro ar!heolog#) usi!) graphi! arts) or the
so!ial s!ien!es) diale!t differen!es !an be predi!ted3 4>?16% 5aniels elaborates) 2=esides having a range of spee!h st#les) ea!h speaker also uses a nu ber of *argons based upon his or her affiliation with !ertain groups3 45aniels 116% 'his pheno enon of "hristianese is exa!tl# what happened to # s all group when we atte pted to des!ribe what we were seeing and
experien!ing% $n the words of Nan!# Lord) our diale!t was helping us 2extend our sense of
Waller ? !o unit#3 4Lord ?CD6% <ut of our 2spe!iali,ed !onversations3 we were atte pting to reinfor!e
group identit# and develop private !odes 4Bederson >1/6% <ur diale!t not onl# extended our sense of !o "hristians we had never re!entl# unit# a ong ourselves) but even to
et% <ne ,ealous !ouple attended our group for the first ti e after Eansas "it#% We instantl# !onne!ted over the words house et this !ouple) it was obvious we
were speaking the sa e language% 'here was the i pli!it understanding that we would have helped the ove their possessions fro the .+haul to their new apart ent if the# had asked%
# friend Eli,a in another state 4whose s all group was # own6) we ran into a friend of iddle of the !ereal aisle) we
experien!ing a revival that paralleled the pa!e and events of hers fro
pro!eeded to have an hour+long !onversation on our personal experien!e with the @ol# Spirit% Eli,a) @arrison) and $ shared !onversion stories) struggles) and doubts like we were !lose friends% After the !onversation was over) we even planned a pra#er and worship night for the next evening% A handful of good folks;though so e of who even Eli,a did not know;showed up e bers)
at Eli,a(s apart ent the next evening and we sang and pra#ed together like fa il#
raising our hands) hu bl# asking for pra#er) and boldl# sharing words% <ur parting words fro that evening were so ething along the lines of) 2See #ou in the !louds) if not before%3 'he a a,ing thing about the pheno enon of diale!t is that though our spee!h !o to !o unities allow us to !reate to our own realities and per!eptions of the world) we are still able uni!ate and e pathi,e with individuals and ideas outside of our spee!h !o unit#%
5aniels explains: 2Fhu an adaptabilit# enables us to trans!end the li itations of a language; to learn to see the world in new wa#s and voi!e new !on!epts;when we ust3 45aniels 1D6% $t(s
Waller 1 true% <ne o ent $ !ould be on the phone in # !ar) *abbering awa# in "hristianese with #
best friend Eli,a) telling her about the profound event of ra!ial re!on!iliation we had experien!ed that night at group 42Eli,a) Seth started weeping and asking Luther to forgive hi for the sins of
white A eri!a- the# both e bra!ed) pra#ed against ra!is ) and blessed ea!h other36) and the next o ent when $ would leave # !ar and !al l# enter the front door to # house) $ would
!ode swit!h so as not to stir up !on!ern a ong !ertain fa il# group were the beginnings of a !ult% When
sa# so ething bland) al ost to the point of an untruth) 2<h) group was fine% Sa e Gole) sa e GoleF3 'hough spee!h !o !lose+knit !o unities are natural o!!urren!es that serve a useful purpose of !reating
re inis!ent of :ou!ault(s ideolog# of 2othering)3 Ronald &a!aula# re arks: 2Languages and diale!ts have both a unif#ing fun!tion and a separatist fun!tion% 'he# help a group of people see what the# have in !o on with ea!h other and how the# differ fro Gothers(3 4&a!aula# >C16% unit#:
keep so e people in and others out) $ wonder if it is possible then to at least have a gate on the fen!e that lets people gra,e fro a new territor# if the# should so please8 <r is the onl# other
alternative to ex!lusivit# a frightful teetering on the fen!e(s ledge before a great fall8 Berhaps an appropriate pla!e to start for an#one who wants to pra!ti!e !ons!ious) in!lusive spee!h is with the odel of Jesus( language%
1% Jesus( Spee!h: the Stor#teller =ehind the Little Red Letters $(ve stared at those red) 'i es New Ro an letters so !o pel e as the# should% 'hough an# ti es the words often fail to essage) so eti es the fa iliarit# so overwhel ed at the
of the Hospel stor# invokes passivit# instead of passion% <ther ti es) $ a s!ope of dense !ultural histor#)
# e#es blur in !onfusion% $ don(t alwa#s understand or even like e% So eti es) it helps e
the words in that book% Even still) Jesus( words !hanged histor#) and
to refle!t on who the histori!al Jesus was in order to grasp the perspe!tive of his language% Jesus of Na,areth was born of a virgin other in a anager in =ethlehe ) in approxi atel#
in 1 =%" 42Jesus3 11?D6% @e lived a hu ble !hildhood) as son of a !arpenter% At age >0) after his baptis and te ptation) Jesus began a inistr#% Jesus !alled 1/ en to be his dis!iples and
*ourne# with hi
level of so!iet# and was often !riti!i,ed for being a friend to the poor) sinners) and out!asts 42Jesus3 11?D6% When he was >>) he was betra#ed b# one of his own dis!iples and senten!ed to death on a !ross for his !lai to be the Son of Hod% =# his death) it is said that Jesus atoned for the
the world(s sin on!e for all ti e% 'hree da#s after his death) he was said to have risen fro dead and lived for ?0 ore da#s before he as!ended to heaven%
dating s#ste s to the reverberating the e of self+sa!rifi!e that o!!urs in al ost ever# great work of literature written sin!e the ti e he walked the earth% Regardless of whether one believes he was ps#!hoti! or the Son of Hod) however) the one thing it appears Jesus was not was a h#po!rite% A thorough exa ination of the s!riptures reveals a nu ber of !onsistent parallels between Jesus( words and a!tions% Even near the end of his life) when he !hallenged those who
Waller A knew hi ?1?6% $n her arti!le 2What would Jesus Write83 Sher#l Anderson ponders Jesus as a stor#teller: 2@e knew the audien!e he was tr#ing to rea!h) he(d defined his de ographi!s) and he tailored his stories a!!ordingl#FAnd the wa# he handled spe!ial effe!tsJ @e(d do great in @oll#wood3 41>K6% $ndeed) Jesus was a aster stor#teller and !o uni!ator- he was in the world 4and it% Berhaps one of the ost striking best to !all out an# h#po!riti!al wa#s) his dis!iples were silent 4&!5owell and Stewart
differen!es between Jesus( spee!h and the diale!t of A eri!an "hristians toda# is that Jesus taught in parables;2earthl# stories with a heavenl# Were Jesus in A eri!a toda#) it is far easier for the base ent of a bar) than it is for e to see hi eaning3;not propaganda 4Barha 1D+1A6%
e to i agine hi
on the front lines of a politi!al rall#% eaning to an#one who wanted to u!h to learn
learn% @e had a wa# with words) even when he did not use the ) and we have as fro his o ents of silen!e as we do fro his
etaphor) a !olle!tion of fort# parables) and even instan!es of harsh language) Jesus wove together !o pelling narratives) usuall# !entering on far ) food) and fa il# in wa# that Hospel a!!essible to an#one who wanted to listen% Jesus pra!ti!ed a !o of a on Jewish tea!hing te!hni7ue of the era !onsisting of the presentation ade the
the parable) or ni shal) however) !ould usuall# onl# be dis!overed through a dis!ipleship) or deep personal pursuit of Jesus 4"urr#6% 'he fa!t that Jesus intentionall# did not alwa#s provide a ni shal right awa# is the reason wh# the parables have !onfounded people throughout the ages%
in parables83
11
And he answered the ) 2'o #ou it has been given to know the se!rets of the kingdo it has not been given% 1/ :or to the one who has) ore will be
given) and he will have an abundan!e) but fro will be taken awa#% 1> 'his is wh# $ speak to the
the one who has not) even what he has in parables) be!ause seeing the# do not
see) and hearing the# do not hear) nor do the# understand% 4!nglish Standard "ersion Bible &att% 1>%10+1>6 'hough the following passage ight initiall# appear !ontradi!tor# to the assertion in this
paper that Jesus( spee!h was in!lusive) the knowledge that Jesus was si pl# pra!ti!ing a !onte porar# tea!hing te!hni7ue to draw in dis!iples illustrates that his language was indeed in!lusive% Hrasping the eaning of the parables was not based on intelle!t) but on dis!ipline or the religious s!holars) not
earnest desire to learn% Jesus used parables to separate the seekers fro and the trul# expe!tant fro
the entertain ent *unkies% Jesus led people into the Eingdo etaphor and
with a dra ati! show of fire and bri stone but through
4and still is6 2seek and #ou will find3 4&att% A%A6% :urther eviden!e that Jesus( language was in!lusive is observed in the fa!t that his followers in!luded a host of unedu!ated people% 'he following !hart provides an anal#sis Jesus( language based on what he spoke 4in!luding etaphor) parables) and literal language6) conte#t for his spee!h 4how he spoke and who he spoke to6) and the significance of his spee!h% isfits) out!asts) and
Waller K
Significance
Waller 10
Significance
9ou have heard that it was said) G9ou shall love #our neighbor and hate #our ene #%( ?? =ut $ sa# to #ou) Love #our ene ies and pra# for those who perse!ute #ou%
'he ser on on the ount takes pla!e on a hillside with a brilliant view of the Sea of Halilee 4Wilkins 1C/A6% Jesus is surrounded b# both a large !rowd !o posed of !urious) but un!o itted followers) and his dis!iples) or !o itted learners 4Wilkins 1C/A6% $n this portion of one of his ost e orable tea!hings) he !larifies a is!on!eption people had about the tea!hings of the <ld 'esta ent !on!erning the treat ent of ene ies 4Wilkins 1C>06%
Jesus( essage in the ser on on the ount is signifi!ant be!ause he explains a new standard of living% 'he iron# is) however) that the people would never be able to a!hieve this standard% $n &att% 1%?C Jesus instru!ts) 29ou therefore ust be perfe!t) as #our heavenl# :ather is perfe!t3;an i possible feat if there ever was one% $n this wa#) Jesus de onstrates his identit# as the perfe!t fulfill ent of the law and shows that sin has ore to do with otive than expressed a!tion%
Waller 11
Significance
Jesus wept%
'his passage de onstrates Jesus( ournful response when he arrives at the ho e of two of his !losest friends) &ar# and &artha) who have lost their brother four da#s earlier% &ar#) &artha) and La,arus were followers of Jesus and s!ripture not onl# indi!ates that Jesus felt wel!o e in their ho e) but that their verbal ex!hanges were si ilar to that of fa il# e bers 4Luke 10%>C6% At &ar#(s bold state ent) 2Lord) if #ou had been here) # brother would not have died3 4John 11:>/6) Jesus is oved to the point of spee!hlessness%
Jesus shows us here that so eti es it is better to keep 7uiet% @e e bodies the exhortation to) 2weep with those who weep and re*oi!e with those who re*oi!e3 @owever) Jesus was not si pl# weeping for s# path#(s sake) but be!ause 2he was deepl# oved in his spirit and greatl# troubled b# his friend(s death3 4John 11%>>6% Jesus( displa# of e otions does not show his la!k of faith;he raises La,arus fro the dead a little while later;but rather de onstrates his broken heart towards the realit# of suffering and death) the ver# but the things he would over!o e upon his i inent death 4ELstenberger /0?D6%
Waller 1/
Significance
Waller 1> /6 Language of Non+deno inational) 9oung Adult "hristians .nfortunatel#) all too often) the present da# language of "hristians sounds nothing like Jesus% An a!7uaintan!e on!e re!ounted a !onversation she had had with her professor of religion) after she had des!ribed her dis!ontents with the institution of the "hur!h% 2'he "hur!h has hurt e)3 # friend la ented% issing a beat% 2Who hasnt been hurt b# the
&# a!7uaintan!e des!ribed her initial !onte pt) but later a!!eptan!e of her professor(s frank response% @er stor# resonates with fro # own% $(ve !ried # fair share of tears after !o ing ho e # 2fa il#%3 $(ve
!hur!h and feeling unloved b# the ver# people who were supposed to be
felt the nu b sho!k of silen!e and the !old shoulder fro !onvi!tion different fro their own or told the
'he "hur!h has a pe!uliar wa# of hurting its own% 'his should not be% $f) $) as a e ber of the bod#) have felt this u!h hurt fro the words of the people in the
"hur!h) $ !an onl# i agine how people outside the "hur!h "hristianese is interpreted as ex!lusive or alienating) but how per!eived as an insult or atta!k8 While $ do not feel that
world b# speaking "hristianese) we were probabl# guilt# of !onfusing a few people with ter s su!h as discipleship) multiply) and treasure hunt% $t took ter s as well% 'he following se!tion will define and provide insight into so e of the words and phrases that were used in # for er s all group) of whose deno inational stan!e $ now know enough e a while to war up to these new
Waller 1? "hristianese to dee 2=apti!ostal%3 'his glossar# is b# no eans exhaustive and alternative unities) but this
definitions and !onnotations are sure to exist a ong other "hristian spee!h !o is the language that sparked and sustained a revival in # s all group%
Waller 11
Exa ple: 2@ave #ou talked to #our a!!ountabilit# partner this week83 )nointed for healing: relates to a person who was been delivered fro a !ertain struggle or
si!kness and is now able to i part powerful pra#ers on behalf of those dealing with the sa e struggles Exa ple: 2After over!o ing his drug addi!tion) Sa areas of addi!tion%3 (ac+,sliding: relating to the pro!ess of falling awa# fro "hristian !o to withdraw fro Exa ple: 2$( the faitha# be noted in was anointed for healing in the
unities b# a person who attends a liberal !ollege) i bibes al!ohol) or begins "hristian !o unit# ight be ba!k+sliding% Ever sin!e he started attending
Reed last fall) $ noti!ed he is going to bars all the ti e and has 7uit going to his life group%3 Discipleship -relationship.: an intentional relationship whi!h fosters a!!ountabilit# between two people) and in whi!h one is usuall# en!ourage or exhort the less ore spirituall# ature than the other and seeks to
si ultaneous dis!ipleship relationships) one in whi!h the# are being dis!ipled) and another in whi!h the# are dis!ipling so eone else Exa ple: 2$( dis!ipling &eredith) and Ra!hel is dis!ipling e%3
Exa ple: 2Wanna get together for so e :risbee golf and fellowship later this week83 /ruit: a referen!e to the s!ripture) 2the tree is known b# its fruit3 4&att% 1/%>>6) and relates a person(s a!tions in life to the fruits of the spirit 4love) *o#) pea!e) et!%%%6 Exa ple: 2@e professes to follow Jesus) but $ honestl# don(t see the fruit%3 &od thing: an a!t of unexplainable good fortune that the providential hand of Hod Exa ple: 2$ ended up getting a *ob 10 Hod thingJ3 H1$: a!ron# for the ter @ealing in Bro!ess) or a healing that takes pla!e over a period of inutes awa# fro # apart ent% $t was a total a# be interpreted as a blessing fro
ti e) as opposed to instantaneousl# Exa ple: 2'hough $ re!eived instant healing fro relationships is a @$B%3 La' hands: the a!t of pla!ing hands on another person during pra#er Exa ple: 2Ever#bod#) let(s gather Ground Austin and la# hands as we pra# for his trip to 'hailand%3 Life verse: a !hosen =ible verse that resonates deepl# with a person andIor a!ts as a for their life Exa ple: 2$n the idst of this loss) $( *ust tr#ing to hold onto # life verse Ro ans: antra ba!k pain) # past of broken
C:/C) GAnd we know that in all things Hod works for the good of those who love hi ) who have been !alled a!!ording to his purpose%(3
Waller 1A Multipl': pertains to the expansion of the !hur!h or a s all group Exa ple: 2<ur s all group is up to >0 people now) so we(re going to have to out next week%3 Secular: relates to the world or an# for Exa ple: 2$ used to listen to se!ular usi!%3 See+er: pertains to sensitivit# for rea!hing the lost- the !onnation is watered+down or not a pra!ti!al for established in their faith% Exa ple: 2'he K:00 a% % servi!e is the traditional one) and the 11:00 a% % one is seeker%3 She+inah: the anifest presen!e of Hod- this ter was re!entl# populari,ed in "hristian a# ean that the !hur!h ore of worldliness- the anton# of sa!red ultipl#
!ir!les b# "or# Asbur#(s worship song She$inah Exa ple: 2<ur group longs to see the Shekinah Hlor#%3 Spirit,filled: pertains to the essen!e of being filled with the @ol# Spirit Exa ple: 2She is a Spirit+filled wo an of Hod%3 Spiritual Disciplines: relates to the pra!ti!ed a!tivities of pra#er) reading the s!riptures) and fasting) a ong others Exa ple: 2Bra!ti!ing spiritual dis!iplines !an help bring into fo!us the existen!e%3 %reasure hunt: relates to the a!tivit# of pra#ing for a divine inistr# appoint ent and then eaning of our
seeking out that appoint ent based on the details revealed in the pra#er(s response Exa ple: 2We went treasure hunting downtown last night and pra#ed for a broken leg%3 an with a
Waller 1C Word: a# refer to the literal s!riptures or a personal propheti! word fro orning%3 the Lord
Exa ple: 25ann# reall# brought the word this Exa ple: 2$ feel like $ got a word that $( another #ear%3 $N%
'herefore) to address the first resear!h 7uestion regarding if "hristianese is good) bad) or si pl# a natural pheno enon) it is eas# to see that it is ost !ertainl# a natural pheno enon%
Whether it is 2good3 4!onstru!tive) in!lusive) or edif#ing6) or 2bad3 4destru!tive) ex!lusive) or rude6 depends on the !ontext and audien!e of the spee!h% So) for those who ight be read# to
write off "hristianese as a !o pletel# waste) a thoughtful pause is in order% "hristianese is a legiti ate diale!t with potential benefits to both those inside and outside the "hristian spee!h !o unit#% 'he potential benefit of "hristianese is that it gives expression to the "hristian arketpla!e of ideas% otive
'he i pa!t or i pression that "hristianese leaves on others depends on the tone and
behind the spee!h% Beople have an in!redible radar to dete!t love and sin!erit# behind spee!h and will be able to dis!ern the differen!e between an arti!ulate) but se!retl# snobbish) instan!e of "hristianese) and an instan!e of awkward) but obviousl# genuine) "hristianese% $f love reall# does !over a ultitude of sins) it is best to dispense it in spee!h liberall#% inister to his audien!e and purpose) whether this eant si pl# weeping along with those eant des!ribing sin to a group of enstrual rags%
Waller 1K "hristians !an learn fro use vivid and relevant talk like a Jesus( exa ple in that we should learn to tell !o pelling stories)
etaphors) and !onsider our audien!e and purpose above all% @ow do we
odern+da# Jesus8 'hat(s a 7uestion with a wide variet# of !orre!t answers) but if we e83 we are probabl#
!an answer yes to the 7uestion 2$s this how $ would like so eone to talk to on the right tra!k% N% $ pli!ations
$n the !hapter 2@ow to Reall# Love Beople3 of his book Blue Li$e %azz) 5onald &iller des!ribes his experien!e of finding ore love and a!!eptan!e in a hippie !o unit# than he ever
found in the !hur!h) and explains what he sees as the heart of the proble : 'he real issue in the "hristian !o unit# was that it was !onditional% 9ou were loved)
but if #ou had 7uestions) 7uestions about whether the =ible was true or whether A eri!a was a good !ountr# or whether last week(s ser on was good) #ou were not so lovedFif #ou wanted to be loved) #ou be!a e a !lone 4/1?6% &iller goes on to des!ribe how he sees that the language of the !hur!h in A eri!a is based on the !o etaphor of e!ono i!s% 2'he proble odit#% We use it PloveQ like with "hristian !ulture is we think of love as a
!onsu ed with accountability efforts) and !o pelled b# the desire to multiply the rea!h of the !hur!h% &iller is 7ui!k to point out that the proble does not fall on the shoulders of the
!orporate "hur!h) but that the responsibilit# to love without !ondition is an individual one% N$% "on!lusion
$ do not speak the =apti!ostal diale!t as fre7uentl# an# ore% $ know the "hristian language well;!o plete with the appropriate register and a!!o pan#ing hand gestures;but $ do not
Waller /0 have an# one to speak it to% Nearl# a #ear ago) the glor# da#s of awa#% So e people # s all group began to fade
oved out of state) a !ouple others had babies) and the final blow that ended arried and started edi!al s!hool% :or a while) oved on fro the group)
there was a profound sadness be!ause it felt like ever#one else had ex!ept e% $t was hard for e to fatho
revival !ulture that we had experien!ed together% What !ould be better than :rida# night worship8 $ saw one of still # friends fro the group several weeks ago and it tou!hed e to know that he
issed the group as well% 2$t was al ost like the 5onke#s)3 he said of another s all group he had re!entl# attended%
2=ut not 7uite%3 $(ve tried # best to be genuine and honest in this paper be!ause $ feel that authenti!it# and unit# is la!king% $ believe the institution of the
!hur!h is !o posed individuals and the onl# wa# to fix the flaws of the !hur!h is to fix the individuals% After all) what is the !hur!h !o posed of) if not individuals8 "hange starts with "hange starts e aking a !o it ent to love people b# # words and a!tions% outh but do not love the e%
in our heart) we are like a !langing s# bol;a loud) *arring) and e pt# noise% 'o be understood and relevant) "hristians should follow Jesus( exa ple of in!lusive language% At all ti es) we should speak love% "hristianese is appropriate if) and onl# if) it is in!lusive and edif#ing- it should not be spoken if its intent is to be ex!lusive or destru!tive% 'he value of pra!ti!ing in!lusive) genuine spee!h as en!ouraged in this paper is not *ust for "hristians) but for an#one who hopes to !reate pea!e in the world through their spee!h% =#
Waller /1 en!ouraging people to pra!ti!e in!lusive language) $ do not wish to endorse a world without diale!t% =# the !ontrar#) diale!t !reated within spee!h !o a ne!essar# ele ent to establishing and aintaining a unities is a profound) beautiful) and
sa e reason $ support the preservation of Appala!hian English) $ support the preservation of the =apti!ostal diale!t% $ si pl# sub it that we !onsidering others
'
So now faith( hope( and lo&e abide( these three; but the greatest of these is lo&e.) *+att. ,-.,-/
Waller // Works "ited Anderson) Sher#l% 2What Would Jesus Write83 Behind the Screen. 0ollywood Insiders on 1aith( 1ilm( and 2ulture. Ed% Spen!er Leweren, and =arbara Ni!olosi% Hrand Rapids: =aker=ooks) /001% 1>>+1?1% Brint% =enware) Baul N% 3he Sur&ey of the 4ew 3estament% "hi!ago: &ood# Bublishers) /00>% Brint% "lear#) John% 2Jesus "alls @is 5is!iples%3 Renos%org% Renos "hristian :ellowship) /001% Web% / &a# /01>% "urr#) Jeffre# L% 2.nderstanding the Barables) the An!ient @ebrew Wa#%3 theparabledis!over#%!o % 'he Barable 5is!over#) n%d% Web% /A April /01>% 5aniels) @arve# A% 2Nine $deas about Language%3 Language. Introductory 5eadings% Ed% Nirginia "lark) Baul Es!hhol,) Alfred Rosa) and =eth Lee Si on% =oston: =edfordISt% &artin(s) /00C% >+/0% Brint% !nglish Standard "ersion Bible. /001% Bible 6ateway% Web% /A April /01>% 2Jesus%3 6ood 4ews 3ranslation Starting 7oint Study Bible. Ed% Luis Balau Evangelisti! Asso!iation% Hrand Rapids: Sondervan) /00/% Brint% Eeener) "raig S% 8 commentary on the 6ospel of +atthew. Hrand Rapids: W % =% Eerd ans Bublishing) 1KKK% Brint% ELstenberger) Andreas J% 2John Annotations%3 !nglish Standard "ersion Study Bible% Ed% Lane '% 5ennis and Wa#ne Hrude % Wheaton: "rosswa#) /00C% /01K+/0A/% Brint% Lord) Nan!#% TNative 'ongues%TLanguage. Introductory 5eadings% Ed% Nirginia "lark) Baul Es!hhol,) Alfred Rosa) =eth Lee Si on% =oston: =edfordISt% &artin(s) /00C% ?C0+?CD% Brint%
Waller /> &!5owell) Josh and 5on Stewart% 2What About all the @#po!rites in the "hur!h83 3he Best of %osh +c9owell. 8 5eady 9efense. Ed% =ill Wilson% Nashville: 'ho as Nelson Bublishers) 1KK>% ?1?+?11% &a!aula#) Ronald E%S% 2Regional 5iale!ts and So!ial "lass%3 Ed% Nirginia "lark) Baul Es!hhol,) Alfred Rosa) =eth Lee Si on% =oston: =edfordISt% &artin(s) /00C% >C>+>KA% Brint% &iller) 5onald% Blue Li$e %azz. 4onreligious 3hought on 2hristian Spirituality% Nashville: 'ho as Nelson Bublishers) /00>% Brint% Barha ) 'ho % 2Wh# do @eathens &ake the =est "hristian :il s83 Behind the Screen. 0ollywood Insiders on 1aith( 1ilm( and 2ulture. Ed% Spen!er Leweren, and =arbara Ni!olosi% Hrand Rapids: =aker=ooks) /001%1>+D?% Brint% Bederson) Lee% 25iale!ts%3 Language. Introductory 5eadings% Ed% Nirginia "lark) Baul Es!hhol,) Alfred Rosa) =eth Lee Si on% =oston: =edfordISt% &artin(s) /00C% >?1+>1?% Brint% Randag% T"hristianese%T :rbandictionary. .rban 5i!tionar#% 1A &ar% /001% Web% / April /01>% Wilkins) &i!hael J% 2&atthew Annotations%3 !nglish Standard "ersion Study Bible% Ed% Lane '% 5ennis and Wa#ne Hrude % Wheaton: "rosswa#) /00C% 1C/0+1CCC% Brint%
Waller /? Works Referen!ed =lake) John% 25o #ou Speak "hristian83 Belief Blog% "NN) >1 Jul# /011% Web% > &ar% /01>% =org) &ar!us J% Spea$ing 2hristian. Why 2hristian Words 0a&e Lost 3heir +eaning and 7ower ;and 0ow 3hey 2an Be 5estored% New 9ork: @arper"ollins) /011% Brint% :erguson) Eirb#% 2'he Language of "hristianit#%3 Nideo "lip% 244 Belief Blog% 'urner =road!asting S#ste $n!%) >1 Jul# /011% Web% / &ar% /01>%
@ill) &egan% 2$t(s <E to 'alk Like a "hristian%3 0ermeneutics% "hristianit# 'oda# &aga,ine) 1 &ar% /01>% Web% > &ar% /01>% <sborn) Robert '% 2"onte porar# "riti!is s of "hristian Language3 %ournal of Bible and 5eligion ) >0%1 41KD/6) pp% /D+>1% %S3<5% Web% > &ar% /01>%