My Second Language

My husband enjoyed confusing the waitresses when we ate out. He liked to confound his order (and the waitress!) with diner slang.

He’d order things like Adam and Eve on a raft, or a pig between the bed sheets. (Poached eggs on toast or a ham sandwich) 

Other favorites were to make him cry (hamburger with onions) or Adam’s ale and cow feed on the side. (Water and a salad) 

A new server would stand still in confusion, till I translated. (I can honestly say that I speak a second language!)

New believers need to learn a second language if we don’t translate for them. Washed in the blood, communion and baptized are confusing until we get the hang of Christianese.

Terms like justification, and redemption scare them away. There is one truth you can share in any language and it holds up.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)

Be sure that our words encourage, not frighten or mystify our listeners. After all, Christ died so that we would all believe.