By MaryJane Pierce Norton

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God" (John 1:1, NRSV). If we ever needed a reminder about the importance of language this verse serves as that reminder. In this one verse we see the correlation between God and language. This isn't the only place in Scripture that reflects the importance of language. We see it in the story of Creation, in the naming of all that is in the earth, in the significance of the names of many biblical men and women, in Jesus' naming of the great commandments. Our language is a powerful expression of our faith, our view of God, and how we as humans respond to God. Words like grace, sin, salvation, and covenant are filled with meaning and give us a way of carrying on deeply thoughtfull conversations about faith.

But our language can also be a barrier. Are there times when people new to our churches and to faith see our faith language as a code for insiders? Does it feel that everyone else knows what is meant when we talk about grace, but we ourselves do not? And faith language can also be difficult for those who have grown up in the church. How many of us know what is meant by Christian perfection?

Faith language need not be a barrier, nor is it expendable. Think how many disciplines or vocations carry their own vocabulary. It would sound silly, for instance, for a carpenter to talk about that "long -handled banging thing." It's far easier and makes better sense to learn the name for a hammer. Yet, we should never assume that "everybody knows what that is!"

Just as we study Scripture, we can gain by studying the language of faith. Here are some ways to encourage all to learn more about faith language:

• Write down as many words as you can think of that say something about faith. Have a "word of the week" for your church newsletter. Print the word and its definition in the newsletter. 
• Ask Sunday school teachers to circle important words used during the current teaching quarter. As they cover each of the words, ask them to create word posters and display them in the Sunday school rooms.
• Check the resources in your church library. Let teachers and leaders know what Bible dictionaries are available for use in helping understand the words of faith.
• Give every teacher the booklet, What Every Teacher Needs to Know About Faith Language.

Consider these questions:

• Which hymns are dear to your congregation and what do they express about faith? How do you teach the sometimes-strange language in your hymnody?
• In what ways are we teaching the language of faith to our children, our youth, and those new to the faith?
• Where are words of faith used in the signs, banners, and posters in our church? How do we call attention to these words and help all know their meanings?

MaryJane Pierce Norton is Team Leader for Family, Life Span, & Latino Ministries at the General Board of Discipleship.

Dancing with Words: Storytelling as Legacy, Culture, and Faith, by Ray Buckley (Discipleship Resources: 2004).

The Upper Room Dictionary of Christian Spiritual Formation, edited by Keith Beasley-Topliffe (Upper Room Books: 2003).

What Every Teacher Needs to Know About Faith Language, edited by Debra D. Smith (Discipleship Resources: 2002).