Lost in translation

1. "Language barrier is a figurative phrase used primarily to indicate the difficulties faced when people who have no language in common attempt to communicate with each other."

2. "Typically, little communication occurs unless one or both parties learns a new language, which requires an investment of time and effort."

3. "Language barriers also influence migration. Emigrants from a country are far more likely to move to a destination country which speaks the same language as the emigrant's country."

The above quotes are from wikipedia. The purpose of them is to help explain the following idea that author Alan Hirsch puts forth in his book the forgotten ways.

"Perhaps the single most significant source of the malaise of leadership in our day comes from the way, and the context, in which we form leaders. For the most part, the would-be leader is withdrawn from the context of ordinary life and ministry in order to study in a somewhat cloistered environment, for up to seven years in some cases. during that period they are subjected to an immense amount of complex information relating to the biblical disciplines, theology, ethics, church history, pastoral theology, etc. And while the vast majority of this information is useful and correct, what is dangerous to discipleship in that setting is the actual socialization processes that the student undergoes along the way. In effect, he or she is socialized out of ordinary life and develops a kind of language and thinking that is seldom understood and expressed outside of the seminary. It's as if in order to learn about ministry and theology, we leave our places of habitation and take a flight into the wonderfully abstracted world of abstraction, we fly around there for along period of time, and then wonder why we have trouble landing again."

I have experienced both sides of this to some degree. I came into a christian environment that had it's own sort of language and after a period of years left speaking that language. I have had some trouble learning how to communicate within the context I now live in. I am familiar with bar life, that used to be my life, the problem is not talking the bar languag, but being able to translate what I have learned and seen in the available language.

Sometimes the language of christians irritates me so much. Jargon is very frustrating when you don't know it. Lauryn Hill says her songs can sound a little cryptic...(she gave her audience opportunity for explanation, but i wonder if it got edited out for the unplugged 2 CD).

I think that the definitions of language barrier give us some insight into these problems.
2. Both parties must be willing to learn. (Jesus certainly walked in our shoes.) Relationship requires an investment of time and effort.
3. Migration is more common to a place where language is similar. Perhaps the reason many of you chose MIU as your church.

(There is something about spacehog that people in Paris LOVE)me too.

I recommend reading Chapter 4 of hirch's forgotten ways. It is about discipleship and this is the chapter that I pulled the quote from. He has lots of other interesting things to say, but the thing that really strikes me is the differences he points out between hebraic concepts of knowledge and Greek concepts of knowledge. One he says is right acting leads to right thinking--while the other is right thinking leads to right acting. I think that both have merrit. And that both are limited. Positive thinking only goes so far, and doing dance steps without hearing the music only goes so far. It is precisely here that I realize that relationship with Jesus is necessary. YES act, Yes Think, but must know him.
I am still wondering how to know him since he is not here physically as with the disciples...and since he had to leave so that the spirit would come which seems pretty important, and what that can be like. I don't see how discipleship can look the same since Jesus is not here right now with me, but I think that he has made a provision that involves his people and the holy spirit.

gotta hit the hay.
matt.