Stumble it!
There’s been so much talk about…well…talk lately. It’s interesting how our culture mistrusts words so much. “Talk is cheap” or “It’s only words…” seem to permeate a lot of conversations around town these days. And I think I get it. For one thing words are losing precise meaning as culturally we are losing culture. The melting pot has severed the identity from countless social identities. As cultural values and understandings dissapear so will their unique contributions to language. The words they’ve donated to the language will remain but the definitions will become more and more negotiable. I suspect that the negotiability of words has created an inherent mistrust for them. Add to this a post-enlightenment Romanticism philosophical hangover which mistrusts intellectualism and you have people deeply disliking the idea of persistent and consistent definition (especially when someone, usually authoritative figures, tells us what those definitions are). I like Matt Pond PA’s lyric: “it’s modern to be stupid, you don’t need to talk to look good”…and there you have it. Pleading the 5th is all the rage. It’s far more convenient and acceptable to “not know” than it is to know….this translates into almost every element of our life. Certainty is abhorred and uncertainty is praised. I apply this thought to language. Words (according to most people) do not have precise meaning and therefore we can toss them around as carelessly as we care to. TRANSLATION: We are no longer accountable to what we say. “Don’t hold me to this”. “I might not think this tomorrow”. “This isn’t going to come out right”.
And I am all for humility when we speak…but please…can we at least try to find new and more fully expressive ways to articulate the realities that truly do define us?
So…my vote is for talk not to be so cheap. My vote is for words to be carriers of reality. I suspect that The Word would appreciate that. I suspect that Talk is not cheap to him and he would rather not have it be to me either.
(I’m writing this in response to a great article over at my friend Mike’s blog www.zoecarnate.wordpress.com
Filed under: language, praxis, statement of faith, talk | Tagged: christianese, language, statement of faith, talk is cheap, words
Hi Brittian,
Wow.
I’m not sure if your comment about ‘anti-intellectualism’ was in reference to me or not.
Either way, just so you know, I’m all for the intellect, just as I am ‘for’ any redeemed faculty of God’s creation.
Just clarifying.
Regardless, I agree with your comment about cheap talk.
We have been exhorted to ‘walk’ in the Spirit, not merely ‘talk’ in it.
Wrestling with James is fun, but he’s a helluva brute.
Peace.
Nah Bro,
it wasn’t about you at all (i don’t think). Part of the thoughts behind this post comes from a thesis paper I just wrote for my learning theory class where I proposed that a teacher needed to be a good communicator–the statement led me to think about the importance of words…of course there have been so many anti-theology or anti-thought or anti-intellectual tid bits floating around on my side of the tracks for a while now (and I think that anti is a really strong word for it because I don’t think they would categorize themselves as anti intellectual at all)…but I think that evangelical spiritualists are embarrased of intellect. I can’t tell you how many incredibly brilliant people are ashamed that they are brilliant as Christians…and I’ve just wondered where a lot of that came from. Paul Metzger, in his great book Consuming Jesus, addresses some of this and traces it to a twin dragon–Romantacism and Dwight L. Moody. This notion that there must be a clear deliniation between thought and spirit. I’m just not so sure any more…I’m beginning to suspect that all we have are thoughts…I mean, even things in my spirit by the time they get to my cognitive experience are processed through my thought life…therefore if I’m honest and not arrogant, I claim that God works through my thought life but ultimately all I’ve got are my thoughts on God–my theology.
I know all that has a lot more to do with theology but I apply it to the use of words as well…
On my best days I realize that there is a balance. Jesus certainly did a lot but he also said a lot. isaiah says “Blessed are the feet that proclaim (or annouce) the good news”…and I like the blended metaphore of word and of deed. It’s about holistic faith I think. Head, heart, and hands. And I know exactly what you’re saying with the need for action–Lord knows you won’t find me disagreeing with that. So much more of that…so much more.
Peace out brother…thanks for always leaving your notes…I appreciate them.