Words Mean Things, Post #302 and
Emergent Post #12
I really believe that language affects world view. The signifiers we use to communicate both develop from, create, and keep us within certain bounds. As I wrestle with my own language, it is interesting how often my choice of words are from a controlling context. On Sunday I had invited a friend to our Monday night meeting. He expressed interest but was unable to attend. When I ran into him on Tuesday, he asked me how it went. I responded by saying, "It was good...You should have come. [emphasis added]" But then I caught myself. I realized that neither of us would have typically thought much about it, but "should" is a control word. Legally it implies something that is mandatory. So I corrected myself (and I think he understood) and said, "No...it's not that you should come. I enjoyed it, and you might too. And I would have liked to hear your thoughts."

Emergent
There's been some talk lately about Emergent entering a new phase (Andrew does a good job of making his own comments about a new season and providing other references here and here. Ryan Bolger blogs about it here. Richard Passmore speaks of redefining church. ) I whole heartedly believe that if Emergent is going to have lasting impact...if it is going to be revolutionary...it is going to have to effect changes in the way we talk. Every great revolution in history rejects and redefines certain types of language. In the American revolution, the mutinous patriots rejected the word rebellion and countered with revolution. For Jesus death becomes life. The symbol of death, the cross, both in word and image becomes a symbol for life--it was a radical redefinition. The Emergent movement (if it is truly a movement) will have to affect language in the same way.

It seems like a few years ago, when the conversation (that for some became Emergent) was just beginning at places like theOoze, the Young Leaders Network, and others, there was this creativity with language taking place. There was an active openness towards redefinition...sometimes artsy, others times pushing the limits, but living. Lately it seems there has been a settling. That the "revolution" has become the new old before it's time. The new re-formation may simply be a re-arrangement. I think we've allowed ourselves to stay within the old frameworks because we still use the language of the old frameworks: ministry, worship service, church, pastor, and a whole list of others. It's not that these words are bad or even incorrect, it's that they are taken. For change to happen, I believe they must be either cast aside or newly symbolized. It's not that we change language simply for change sake, but that these symbols may need to be re-defined.

Language is a wineskin. New language for new things.
posted by Jimmy at 6:43 AM | |