Language Can Be Tricky

Ask any woman and she will tell you the one thing she does to pamper herself.
Perhaps it is a luxurious bubble bath.
Maybe it is going shopping with a friend.
Maybe it is a much needed vacation.

My one thing is actually something started by my daughters.
In fact, it is something I have done with each of them one on one.
It is something that makes me feel more feminine.
Even in the middle of winter, I will be a bit extravagant and allow myself this little luxury.

My one simple pleasure is a pedicure.
It does not matter if it is not the season for sandals.
For me, a pedicure adds that needed feminine touch.
A much needed feminine touch even though my oldest daughter teases me.

She and I went to the salon a few months ago and sat side by side in the comfortable chairs.
Before sitting down, you have to choose the nail polish you would like them to use.
My daughter is adventurous, trying new colors each time.
I am a bit more subdued; I go to the rose colors or the burgundy shades.

Mom, you have to try something different, she said, That’s the fun part.
Not to me.
I like to look down at my toes and see the familiar color I love.
When I went the other day, I chose exactly the same shade.

If my daughter only knew.
I had taught Bible study that morning and did not have time to check my email or messages.
I don’t usually pull out my phone for an extended time but that day it was a necessity.
I actually apologized to the girl who was taking care of me; I did not want to seem rude.

I had more messages and emails than usual.
I was able to answer quite a few.
I could see her looking up at me.
She seemed to want to talk.

I put my phone away and we began our conversation.
She had a beautiful accent.
I had to pay close attention as she spoke to make sure I was hearing every word correctly.
It was quite foggy that day since the warmer weather was evaporating the snow.

We talked about the fog and the traffic and a few other things she asked me about.
Finally, I was able to tell her what a beautiful accent she had.
She smiled warmly and seemed genuinely thrilled that I thought so.
Where are you from? I asked her not wanting to pry too much.

Vietnam, she replied.
I have only been here one year and I live with my aunt and uncle, she continued.
I go to school and study…what do you say, ESL? she said in very good English.
I told her again that she was speaking amazingly well.

I spoke no English when I came here, she volunteered.
I had heard her speak to another girl in Vietnamese before she continued.
But here, I want to speak only English so I can get practice, she told me with a smile.
I remembered that she asked me about the weather and the traffic.

I am sure it is very difficult to learn English, I said.
We have so many different words, expressions, and idioms for things.
She seemed to understand what I was saying.
It is the…she hesitated thinking of the word, grammar, she said more as a question.

She looked at me as if to ask, Is that the right word?
Yes, Grammar; it is tricky, I admitted.
Tricky? She asked confused.
Tricky: hard, difficult, confusing, I said clarifying.

You change so many words, she said with a bit of frustration.
Run and ran, went and gone; my language is not that TRICKY, she said emphasizing the word.
I can only imagine; we are so used to speaking English, I admitted.
I don’t even think about all the things you are learning, I said truthfully.

Then Jesus’ disciples said, “Now You are speaking clearly and without figures of speech. Now we can see that you know all things and that You do not even need to have anyone ask you questions. This makes us believe that You came from God. (John 16:29,30)

There is a huge language divide that separates people despite the best intentions.
The divide is between people who are grounded in their faith and those who are new believers.
It is a language known as “Christian-ese.”
It hinders more than it helps.

Seasoned Christians use words like justification, sanctification, and salvation.
They assume the people they are talking to understand sin and understand the Gospel.
Often they assume wrong.
Like my Vietnamese friend, we cannot assume that what we say is understood.

We use phrases, idioms, and words that need their own dictionary in order to define.
We assume the people we are talking to understand what we are saying.
Often, they do not understand but they are too embarrassed to admit it.
Especially if they are around other Christians, they just go along in confusion.

We cannot assume anything.
We have to go back to Gospel 101 in order to help others understand.
We must have our own version of ESL: Early Salvation Lessons so we begin at the beginning.
The language divide is not permanent.

We can help bridge the Christian-ese divide by explaining and translating terms.
We can explain the word another way by putting the meaning in simpler terms.
We want to point people to Jesus in the best way possible.
We want to use the simplest terms to convey profound Truth.

We need God’s help to do that.
We need the Holy Spirit to guide us.
We need to begin at the beginning without ever condescending.
We need to remember that we were once in that same starting place.

I never dreamed that I would have an evangelism lesson as I got a pedicure.
I was more blessed by our conversation that the young woman who was practicing her English.
I learned far more than she did.
Early Salvation Lessons would benefit all of us as we share the Gospel with others.