Watch/Listen
Translating The Message of Christ
Brian Mashburn
July 18, 2010
Audio Player
Could Somebody Translate Please?
The Bible was originally written in three languages that most of us do not know. We have access to the message contained in it, however, because there are people who learned those languages and translated it into ours.
Praise God for translators. Without them, “kazillions” would never hear the life giving message of Christ.
Now, as we continue our series entitled “Understanding the Times and Knowing What to Do”, it would be great if what we were dealing with was a simple matter of language. If everyone around us spoke German, then we would simply learn German and begin proclaiming Christ in German. It would be a bit more work if some spoke German, some Russian, and others Japanese. But we could still divide up, learn these three separate languages, and share Christ with those different people groups. But what if we discovered that most people speak some version that combines elements of ALL THREE languages? And not only that, what if each person had basically picked the words and grammar rules that they like from each language and created their own?
Starting to sound pretty impossible, huh?
In the old science fiction show Star Trek, scientists had an invention called the Universal Translator. It was important, because they met a new alien species every week, and without this technology, the humans and aliens would have to shrug their shoulders, go there separate ways, and the show would have been over before the plot could even begin.
For today, let’s learn a bit about three primary paradigms that people in our current culture live in and think. While some folks fit nicely into each one, you’ll find that most represent a unique convergence of all of them. What is the church to do?
In his book entitled The Tangible Kingdom Hugh Halter suggests that the church can create an atmosphere that can serve as a “universal translator” of the gospel of all three of the existing paradigms. If it is willing.
It’s worth considering. Because if we can’t translate the message of Christ in a way that people in our culture can understand, we will have to shrug our shoulders, go their separate ways, and the show will be over before the plot even begins.
Someone translated the gospel message so you could hear it in a language that you understand (Jn 1:14). It’s your turn to do the same for others (Jn 20:21).