Names and Shapes

Recently I was challenged about the language I use.

I must confess, from time to time, to suit my particular sense of humour I can be rather pedantic about the semantics. Someone will say something and I will look for any opportunity to take what’s been said down a different avenue. The other person might be slightly confused at first, but after a while they will see how ludicrous I’m being, groan and then move on to something else.

The challenge came in, however, when a good friend of mine wondered aloud what if someone took me seriously. What if someone who might have heard that I could be a really serious, studious type, heard me and took me seriously. What if they got embarrassed or left confused. In as much as the language we use can shape conversations, they do so because of an unspoken agreement about certain conventions int eh context that steer that conversation. Not abiding by those conventions might disrupt the flow of the conversation.

Later on, I listened to someone else on a podcast talking about how we talk about certain things shapes our expectations of it. For example in certain church circles the prominent leader role in the gathering is that of a pastor. Such emphasis is placed on that role that church life tends to be shaped by it. Shaped by it to such a degree that it almost does not  fully acknowledge and realise other roles that illuminate how the church is the Body of Christ. Whether that’s prophetic or apostolic or the other elements highlighted throughout scripture.

If how we name things shapes it and there is a name give as a Christian, surely being like Christ should be the dominant shaping factor. Being like Christ is not something that can be completely left up to someone’s preference. There is an outline of who He is and what He does. It certainly includes the pastoral, but it is not limited to that at all. Is it any wonder, though, that that whole shepherd/sheep dynamic appears to be the dominant one in the places where the pastoral aspect is given preeminence.

What if we, however, went back to the name and saw again what shape we should take in the light of it? What if we didn’t go down our own avenue when this important word is given? What if we appreciated the power of the name and sought to let it shape us, rather than contorting the shape to fit our own agendas?

Meanwhile, let’s hope I learned my lesson about the language I use, in future conversations. (Pray on it.)

(Photo by LEMUR on Unsplash)

For His Name’s Sake

Shalom

C. L. J. Dryden