Monday
Mar122007
The Verb Must Be Right
Monday, March 12, 2007 at 7:01AM
Last week one of my teachers was wearing a pin with a Mongolian flag and some writing on it. Being the typical nosey American that I am, I wanted very much to ask her what her pin said. While I haven’t made great strides in learning this language, I know enough to not ask that question. Why? Because according to Mongolians, her pin can’t “say� anything. I also know that I can’t say, “That sweater looks nice on you,� because of course, a sweater can’t “look.� So, in both cases I kept my mouth shut because I didn’t know the right verb to use.
I’ve thought about that a lot this week in light of the Mongolian church. In typical American church language, a non-Christian is encouraged to “accept Jesus into his heart.� This week I am thinking that we are not using the right verb. Several things have had me thinking along these lines:
• My Mongolian language study
• An article in Christianity Today
• Weaknesses in the Mongolian church
• Weaknesses in the American church
As I started to wrestle with this in my mind, my first question is, “Is this in the Bible?� I can’t find any instance in the New Testament where an individual is encouraged to “Accept Jesus.� Jesus and the disciples challenged people to repent, to believe, to follow, to become as little children. My husband who has spent more time (especially recent years) studying church history than I have tells me "accept Jesus" probably originated with D. L. Moody or his mentor, Charles Finney. Godly men, to be sure, but over the years, this terminology doesn’t seem to be bringing about a change in lives that reflects New Testament Christianity.
To me, the important thing isn’t whether or not we accept Jesus, but whether or not He accepts us. He accepts the ones who come to Him in repentance and faith.
So in my context, I have to ask, “When we ask a Mongolian to accept Jesus, how do they understand that question?� This is really critical when you factor in the fact that the religion they know most about is Buddhism, and this calls on them to accept just about everything. It would be possible to “accept Jesus� without rejecting false religion, idolatry and self-orientation. I’m afraid there are Americans in church pews every week who have “accepted Jesus� and not left behind their idolatries either.
The Waodoni (Auca Indians) seem to have a better understanding when the verb they use is to “become� a “God-follower.� Many Africans now “walk the Jesus road.� These verbs indicate a change of path, indicating an understanding of the difference between the straight and narrow as opposed to the broad way that leads to destruction (Matt. 7:13, 14). It is easy to “accept,� it is difficult to “follow.�
I think we have to get the verb right. Eternity depends on it.
For the record, I know that this is not my typical blog. It sounds much more like Bernie wrote it. He usually does the theology blogs and I do the ones about how I feel (think Venus and Mars). Let’s leave it with the fact that I feel very strongly about this theology and had to blog about it. Besides, a blog can’t sound anyway.
I’ve thought about that a lot this week in light of the Mongolian church. In typical American church language, a non-Christian is encouraged to “accept Jesus into his heart.� This week I am thinking that we are not using the right verb. Several things have had me thinking along these lines:
• My Mongolian language study
• An article in Christianity Today
• Weaknesses in the Mongolian church
• Weaknesses in the American church
As I started to wrestle with this in my mind, my first question is, “Is this in the Bible?� I can’t find any instance in the New Testament where an individual is encouraged to “Accept Jesus.� Jesus and the disciples challenged people to repent, to believe, to follow, to become as little children. My husband who has spent more time (especially recent years) studying church history than I have tells me "accept Jesus" probably originated with D. L. Moody or his mentor, Charles Finney. Godly men, to be sure, but over the years, this terminology doesn’t seem to be bringing about a change in lives that reflects New Testament Christianity.
To me, the important thing isn’t whether or not we accept Jesus, but whether or not He accepts us. He accepts the ones who come to Him in repentance and faith.
So in my context, I have to ask, “When we ask a Mongolian to accept Jesus, how do they understand that question?� This is really critical when you factor in the fact that the religion they know most about is Buddhism, and this calls on them to accept just about everything. It would be possible to “accept Jesus� without rejecting false religion, idolatry and self-orientation. I’m afraid there are Americans in church pews every week who have “accepted Jesus� and not left behind their idolatries either.
The Waodoni (Auca Indians) seem to have a better understanding when the verb they use is to “become� a “God-follower.� Many Africans now “walk the Jesus road.� These verbs indicate a change of path, indicating an understanding of the difference between the straight and narrow as opposed to the broad way that leads to destruction (Matt. 7:13, 14). It is easy to “accept,� it is difficult to “follow.�
I think we have to get the verb right. Eternity depends on it.
For the record, I know that this is not my typical blog. It sounds much more like Bernie wrote it. He usually does the theology blogs and I do the ones about how I feel (think Venus and Mars). Let’s leave it with the fact that I feel very strongly about this theology and had to blog about it. Besides, a blog can’t sound anyway.
Reader Comments (3)
What a thought-provoking and salient post! I remember when I was a fairly young Christian, I thought I had led a Hindu couple to faith in Christ. I had shared the gospel, invited them to receive the gift of eternal life, and they prayed to "accept" Jesus. The next time I saw them, I invited them to church. They said they didn't need to go to church because they worship at home. So I said, "But if you go to church, you can worship Jesus with other believers." They replied, "But we can worship Him at home when we pray to all our Hindu gods." They saw nothing incompatible with accepting Jesus and continuing to worship other gods.
I, too, prfer the concept of "following Jesus" to "accepting Him." I also think there is little emphasis in American Christianity on making disciples (which is really what Jesus commanded us to do). We focus so much on making converts yet neglect to disciple them. And all too often, our "gospel presentations" make Christianity seem like a ticket to a successful. trouble-free life rather than the road to the Cross.
Dang Renee, now I know where Bernie gets his gifts from . . . YOU! This is an excellent post . . . you could hold your own with anyone girl. Peace, D
Renee,
Excellent observation about the term, "accept Jesus". Wow. Think I'll lose that one from my vocabulary.
I laughed at your dilemma with verbs and shared them with Darren. And I really did think it the blog was written by Bernie until I got to the sentence, "my husband...", and then I thought, "what????"
Well, since your sweater can't look, and your blog can't sound, and the pin can't say anything, it would be real interesting to find out how you ever found out what was on that pin.
Reminded us of some instances of our (mis)understanding of African French.
Your are in our prayers. Blessings on you today!!!
Much love,
Mare