Learning a Foreign Language

When traveling to a foreign country, it's helpful to know the language, or travel with people who know the language.  Otherwise it's difficult to navigate.  

Language is a key component in understanding a culture other than our own.  The best way to do this is through an immersion experience alongside more formal classroom instruction.  

When it comes to communicating the ways of the Lord, it is important to be fluent in the language and culture of God's kingdom.  We could compare it to learning a foreign language and assimilating into another culture.  

The prophet Isaiah writes:

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
    neither are your ways my ways,"
      declares the LORD.

"As the heavens are higher than the earth,
    so are my ways higher than your ways
    and my thoughts than your thoughts.  ISAIAH 55:8-9

Standards for teaching a foreign language have been established by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages. This provides an interesting framework for considering the language in the Kingdom of God:

Communication enables people to engage in conversations, provide and obtain information, express feelings and emotions, and exchange opinions.  It allows us to understand and interpret written and spoken language on a variety of topics.And eventually the ability to present information, concepts, and ideas is gained.

Culture:  Language helps to create an understanding of the relationship between the practices and perspectives of the cultures studied.  

Connections:  Through cultural understanding, we can acquire information and recognize the distinctive viewpoints that are only available through a particular foreign language and its cultures.

Comparisons:  As connections are made, similarities and differences can be noted and comparisons to our native culture can be made.

Communities:  A new language allows one to become part of a new community and relate to the people in that community. 

Learning the language of the Kingdom of God 

involves gaining fluency in the Gospel

Mission, Jesus style calls for those who know Him to learn the language of His kingdom, to be fluent in His language of love.  God's love came down personally from heaven as Jesus Christ to live the Gospel and Speak the Gospel into our messy world for the purpose of redeeming and restoring our relationship with Him.  "F or God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.  JOHN 3:16-17

Mission, Jesus style recognizes that God has the highest value for His creation and especially people, the lovely and the detestable.  He wants those of his kingdom to be about His business...personally living and speaking His love language with those around us.  "...this is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men--the testimony given in its proper time."  1 TIMOTHY 2:3-6

How prepared are you to
LIVE the Gospel and SPEAK the Gospel
into any situation?  

Are you a beginner?  

Could you use more practice?  

Are you fluent and have the ability to teach others?  

This is a worthy calling!  Paul writes:

As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.  Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit-- just as you were called to one hope when you were called-- one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.  EPHESIANS 4:1-6