The Exact Same Thing, But Different

Did you know that the word “Motel” was invented by a sign painter?  The sign board was not big enough for the typical “Motor Hotel” and still be read by motorists going by at 60mph. So he combined the two words into one and it became Motel.  That’s a challenge sign painters like myself face all the time.  We don’t need the whole menu, just the name and something simple to draw in the customers.  There is a saying, “Why use a $20 word when a $2 word will do?”

In the northeast part of the US, there are large communities of Amish, and their “cousins”, Mennonites.

In our area, Mennonites are the prominent group. They are not as strict as the Amish (they drive cars), but still, very religious.  They will not stray far from the King James Version (KJV), though they might enjoy the New King James.

There is this one Mennonite who puts out a sign in his front yard with a scripture or thought from scripture.  It is not one of those ugly signs some well meaning Christians scrawl on walls with a bad paint brush. 
This is done professionally, on a nice 12”x18” sign board (a professional guess), both sides, easily readable from the road.  As a professional sign painter, I’m impressed.  I’m also impressed with his consistency, every two months, a new saying or verse. Always up to date, always clean. Very Mennonite of him.

And also very typical “Christian Speak”.

Sayings like “Repent and be converted” or something like that.

What do they mean? How are the people driving by being affected?  Who gets the message?  And do they understand the Language of The Church?  Our “Inspeak”?

The most recent hot bible on the market that is gaining popularity, to the point where Bible Gateway (website) even has a copy of it, is The Message. To King James Version enthusiasts, The Message Bible is blasphemous.  But to modern young people, it’s a life line, an opportunity, a relief, a book they can finally understand.

I’ll admit, I am not a big fan of it myself, and probably because to me, it over simplified it or feel some usages are over done (I like the New International Version or The Living Bible). I may read a simple 8 word line in the KJV or NIV, and read a whole “blog” in that same verse in The Message. Without citing samples, I’ll just say, I’m not comfortable with it. That does not mean it is incorrect, but if I were to talk to a KJV enthusiast, I would probably not use it.

However, do we over use some Christian language when we talk to people, either verbally, on blogs like this or on a road side sign?  Are we getting the message across where they can understand it? What does “Repent” mean and “be converted” mean?  To engineers, mechanics and sign artists, conversion is part of their language. How would I convert from US standard to Metric? If I can’t find my half inch wrench, I’ll use a 12mm instead. But I learned that by experience and necessity. I get put off watching science shows that insist that we understand their language and units of measurement.  Maybe I’m lazy, but when they say its twenty five kilometers, I have no idea how far that is.  So I have to miss half the show figuring it out, or just ignore that comment and assume it’s a long way.  That is conversion. But is that what God is talking about? Is it “the exact same thing, but different”?

What about repent?  That’s a nice archaic word to mean turn around or change your direction or mind (in a simplistic way).

How about if we just say:
 

“We need to change the way we think about God and our relationship with him, and as a result, be changed into a whole new person”

That would help a lot more than just “repent and be converted”. And that is basically what it means.  Unfortunately, it’s also too wordy for a 12”x18” sign to be read by people driving by at 60mph.

Maybe we Christians are the ones who need to repent and convert our language.