Preaching the Word!

On yesterday morning's Sunday programme (BBC Radio 4) excerpts from a debate on the subject of Faith, between Dr Rowan Williams, the current Archbishop of Canterbury, and the well-known 'stand-up' comedian, Frank Skinner, were played.  I don't now who chose the particular excerpts that were broadcast but, in my opinion, they certainly showed Frank Skinner as being the better communicator - and I speak as one who has little time for 'stand-up comedians'!

It made me wonder (not for the first time!) if it is possible to be too academic when sharing the Gospel of the Lord Jesus.  We need, surely, to speak in language that 'ordinary' people understand.  That, indeed, is the basic purpose behind the book that I am currently writing, and that is nearing completion. :-)

As some will know, the Greek in which the New Testament was written is different from classical Greek.  It was once believed that this was because N.T. Greek was a special 'divine' Greek used for the preservation of the written Word of God.  However, archaeological discoveries eventually confirmed that, far from being a 'special' form of the Greek language, N.T. Greek was in fact common, everyday, Greek.  It was the Greek used on the street-corner; in the home; while out shopping.  Classical Greek, it turned out, was the 'rarified' version!

Surely there is a message here for the church of the 21st century.  We need to speak in language that doesn't require a post-graduate degree in theology to be understood.  The message never changes - the method of presentation must be contemporary!

By the way, if you want to listen to the whole of that debate (and I recommend it!), then a recording is available at

www.archbishopofcanterbury.org   (please copy and paste!)