Names and Forms

The church has through the years come up with special names for its various people, places, programs, events, etc. These names fall into the "church-ese" language that most Christians speak almost fluently and without thought. New converts are expected to master these terms relatively quickly or they will have no idea what's going on.

One problem with Christian terms is that they frequently cover up, well, problems. This happens because the special names do not match what they actually describe. Simply put, the names do not match their form. They do not describe what's really going on.

What would happen if we replaced the "church-ese" names with terms that describe the forms? What if we called them what they actually are? Let's do so:

Church-ese Name:                                          Actual Form:
Church Building                                                Temple
Sanctuary/Worship Center                                 Auditorium
Platform                                                         Stage
Pulpit                                                             Lectern
Altar                                                              Railing/Steps
Pews                                                              Seats
Pastor(s)                                                         Priest(s)
Deacon(s)                                                        Levite(s)
Sermon                                                           Lecture/Speech
Bulletin                                                           Order of Events
Worship Service                                                Ceremony/Ritual
Lord's Supper                                                    Lord's Snack
Tithes/Offerings                                               Income to Meet the Budget
Youth Group                                                    Christian Entertainment
Sunday                                                            Sabbath

I admit that some of these forms do not line up perfectly with the names. For example, today's deacons do not help with the Jerusalem temple. However, many deacons are exceedingly concerned with their own church buildings, which are usually thought of as "God's house."

My purpose in this post is to point out that "church-ese" names often camouflage problems in the church. When we peel off these names and call things by their forms, the problems become much clearer. For example, when we refer to a sermon as what it is (a lecture or speech), we begin to see the difficulties inherent in the practice.

Let's watch out for ways we use "church-ese" language to cover up practices in our own lives that need further examination. Special language does not mean a practice is valid. It's just a name. When we put form with name, we see the reality.