Marcus Borg, in the 2011 book "Speaking Christian", contends that Christian words have lost their meaning and power but that restoration is possible.
His arguments ring true with many clergy who have found that parishioners wish to have the pastor mean certain things by words that are in conflict with clergy training and education.
Seminary training is usually rigorous exposure to original texts of the Bible coupled with analysis of words used about two thousand years ago in a culture radically different from today's global and instant communication culture.
To stand in front of people and used Christian language while realizing that every person in the congregation has a slightly different meaning for those words is to experience a motion sickness sensation - nausea, in other words.
One way to handle the situation is to tell stories that carry the listener along and then let them draw their own conclusions.
Another response is to educate persons in the meaning that the pastor wishes to give. This can become academic and the attention of people will wander off - and often they follow their attention and do not return to the congregation.
Yet another response is listen carefully and then tell the people just what they want to hear. One Seminary friend was proud of the fact that he wrote two papers on every assigned topic. One paper was on what the teacher wished to hear. The other paper was what the friend thought and was not about to change.
These words are to open the subject for further reflection. I invite the reader to consider how they would handle this matter if they were to deal with a congregation.
Delton
His arguments ring true with many clergy who have found that parishioners wish to have the pastor mean certain things by words that are in conflict with clergy training and education.
Seminary training is usually rigorous exposure to original texts of the Bible coupled with analysis of words used about two thousand years ago in a culture radically different from today's global and instant communication culture.
To stand in front of people and used Christian language while realizing that every person in the congregation has a slightly different meaning for those words is to experience a motion sickness sensation - nausea, in other words.
One way to handle the situation is to tell stories that carry the listener along and then let them draw their own conclusions.
Another response is to educate persons in the meaning that the pastor wishes to give. This can become academic and the attention of people will wander off - and often they follow their attention and do not return to the congregation.
Yet another response is listen carefully and then tell the people just what they want to hear. One Seminary friend was proud of the fact that he wrote two papers on every assigned topic. One paper was on what the teacher wished to hear. The other paper was what the friend thought and was not about to change.
These words are to open the subject for further reflection. I invite the reader to consider how they would handle this matter if they were to deal with a congregation.
Delton
