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ARTICLE 1: CONTEMPORARY CHURCH CULTURE In recent times the Protestant church has been strongly focused on garnering a larger youth population. We're moving out of traditional church buildings and into halls and warehouses that double as ball courts and venues for live entertainment. The music's getting louder, services are more relaxed, and great measures are taken to ensure the church experience is "contemporary". Many churchgoers seem to like the direction the Church is taking. I myself do not. This article is concerned with the Church's appearance to the uninitiated and how it is detrimental to evangelism opportunities. The views expressed in here are formed from my own observations and where possible, as if I were an outsider. OBSCURE LANGUAGE My first point is in regards to the Christian language. I propose that we must eradicate many phrases that prove confusing. We have inherited phrases that no longer make sense, and I encourage you to identify some for yourself. For example: "...coming in the clouds..." "...pour out his spirit..." Once upon a time, sentences such as these, I assume, were commonplace. Nowadays though, if their meanings have been lost in society, they are of no use to us. Do away with them. Now I am not suggesting we do away with words such as sin and atonement or big words that aren't often used outside a Biblical context. Au contraire, a larger vocabulary ought to allow a deeper understanding of each particular word. Rather, I am concerned with idioms, not terms. The Bibles we read are full of locution. You may argue that these phrases are literal translations of the original Scriptures and should be retained. I do agree at this point - there is wisdom in that. However where an uncommon phrase is used, it should always be explained what is meant by it. Take the Yiddish phrase "Many thanks in your belly button". What?! Say that to somebody and observe the dazed look they give you. That is a literal translation of a Yiddish phrase into English, but if we are to say it, we would rather use the local equivalent "Thanks for nothing". A favourable reading is one that speaks in the current local dialect. A NOTE ON TRANSLATION When words are translated from Hebrew to English, those scholars take a word from within its context and agree on the corresponding English word. Various slight alterations occur, such as the rearranging of adjectives from after to before the noun, as you would in translating French to English. Biblical translators are adamant about producing an accurate rendering, using the earliest texts and comparing with previous versions. It is fair that literal translations are used in our Bible; it is only safe to do so. Close study of the original words, particularly in their original language and cultural context, can bring more insight to the subject. However, my concern is that speaking in phrases that are uncommon to the masses is not helpful unless clearly explained. I speak in regards to using these unusual idioms as catch phrases. It seems many churches will assume familiarity with them, and this poses a problem, most notably for non-Christians. Take "Rock of Ages" for example (taken from Isaiah 26:4). The most useful translation of this phrase that I know is found in the King James Version from 1611, which says "for in the LORD Jehovah is everlasting strength". In the Greek New Testament suggests the word for 'rock' is very similar to 'strong', so 'rock' may have been a common synonym at the time of Isaiah's writing, which is why it is still common in our Bibles. To most of us though, 'everlasting strength' is more appropriate than 'everlasting rock', and certainly make more sense than 'rock of ages'. To follow with this example, the phrase was probably coined early and preserved by the hymn of that name and popularised by the recent "contemporary" song of that name. I rather like the hymn, but if you are familiar with the new version, I sincerely hope you can recognise how lame it really is. As a churchie, one can become over-familiar with the oddities of Christian behaviour. But to an outsider, witnessing a congregation of folks singing that song is repelling. That is the main point of this article. I would hope that most Christians do know what phrases such as these actually mean, although I am sometimes doubtful. What I am more concerned about though is when non-churchies are confronted with these words. ' "Coming on the clouds" - what the hell does that mean!? ' The first thing that often turns me off dodgy '10 ways to change your life or whatever' books and seminars is their use [overuse] of their own brand of catchwords, which are usually of American origin, but have not been adopted by Australians, as they tend to sound ridiculous to us. THE ISSUE AT HAND What do you reckon a non-churchie would think when they walk into your church? Your language and behaviour may feel normal to you, but if they are unfamiliar with the surroundings, they may feel that church is synonymous with weirdness. I'm sure you'll agree it should not be. One would hope, if a non-churchie sits through your local church service, that he would have a lot of pressing questions to ask. This is good. This is one reason why I feel a sermon should be informative for the Christian, even at the risk of it going over the non-Christian's head. Although it is vitally important that the non-Christian does benefit from their experience. What better than for a newbie to enquire of you "What's Jesus all about?" or "Could you explain the Trinity to me?" - that is, if your church educates you about these things and you can give a sound answer. Instead, often even I, an accustomed churchgoer, feel like asking, as many a non-churchie would, had they the nerve, "Why do you jump around like idiots and sing lame songs that make no sense?" Why do we? Why not behave like the rest of the typically good, sane people in our society? Sure, the Lord calls us to be different - but to be holy is the aim, not to look like fools. The World should know we are Christians, and it should be shown by what we do and don't do, as directed in the Bible. There are unfortunately many Christian stereotypes that categorise us as fruit loops. And on the exterior, one could not be blamed for seeing us that way. As Jesus himself knew, his followers will be persecuted for their beliefs. But there is nothing in the Faith that says we should be mocked for acting like morons. Am I being a little harsh? Basically, my objection is in regard to mannerisms of the archetyp al 21st-century Christian. Take the music, specifically. Traditionally, hymns do not bring on the cringes, yet our attempts at modern songs do. For a start, the major-minor verse-chorus-verse movement usually employed is primitive. More of a concern though is the lyrical content. THE ROLE PLAYED BY MUSIC There is a lot to look at when considering a song's worth for use in worship. Songwriters are often guilty of writing songs that seem to be praising the singer rather than the Deity. And then there are songs that read along the lines of "Jesus is my boyfriend". These should also be avoided. Maybe I'm being picky, for even discerning congregations like my current church seem to fail in my eyes. It's getting back to these idioms, that to a non-churchie are not only confusing, but raise eyebrows. How so? A sharp-minded non-religious person, hearing a congregation of eighty singing "see him coming on the clouds of heaven", may become sceptical about the sanity of each person singing along. "Do they know what they're singing? I'm not sure they do... Don't they even realise this all sounds a little weird?" And then there's the mindless repetition. Immediately the congregation can be classed as a few fries short of a Happy Meal. (Now there's an idiom we all understand!) Of course, this ideal of mine extends past song, and to the words we use elsewhere. CONCLUSION In summary, there is a stereotype toward Christians that is not a reflection of the Faith - it mars the Christian's reputation as the intelligent individual he may be and thus, in many people's eyes, automatically negates the validity of their Faith. Society presumes this idea as being true, and if a person comes to church only to witness their misconceptions first-hand, we've fallen behind square one when it comes to evangelising to him. Consider the non-Christian as well as the believers in your congregation. Inform both parties in your sermons. Make both feel comfortable, as well as welcomed. Study the Christian stereotype and break the habits that are unhelpful. Show the secular world that Christians aren't deluded weirdoes. May we be judged for our beliefs, not mocked for our appearance. Lindsey Joel 2 March 2006 If you read this, please leave me your thoughts