Vox populi | adages

Are we minting new clichés?

I

’m as happy as a pig in… well, you get the idea. There are all kinds of witty or pithy adages that we have historically used to describe things that happen in life. But what are some modern day adages? I’m as happy as a lead salesman in China, or how about a uranium broker in Iran. Here’s one - I’m as happy as an arm’s dealer in Nebraska. How about for the church? What are the adages people use to speak of us?

The church used to be a focal point in community, but in the absence of absolutism, it has become decentralized as the scripts and narratives it posits have become untrusted by a skeptical generation. How will the words ‘pastor’, ‘evangelist’ or, shudder the thought, ‘corps officer’ be used in an adage? Will they be used? It’s something I’d be curious to test. What would be the outcome? As passionate as a preacher? As loving as a pastor? As empathetic as an evangelist?

It’s possible, but unfortunately it is totally dependant on the representation of those who shaped the viewers perceptions. If they met an ‘evangelist’ who yelled at them with a bullhorn from a streetcorner, then their perception of ‘evangelists’ will be coloured. Thus you might get - as aggravating as an evangelist? The next evangelist to meet them is unfortunately stuck with the label the first created until they can break it down.

It comes to my next thought… we can’t live in silos as if we only represent ourselves. The church is represented by all who have gone before us, and those who are still to come. It is what makes us the church universal, in all places and all times. I represent you. And lest you get too puffed up by your own merits, you also represent me. We need to represent each other well, as we represent Christ to the waiting world.

Peace,
Rick

Vox populi appears every Friday on theRubicon. Find past Vox populi posts and a bio of Capt. Rick Zelinsky here.

1 Comment to Vox populi | adages

1. Thanks for this timely word, Rick.
   Given our tendency to ‘misrepresent’ God, it amazes me that God took the huge risk of entrusting us with sharing the gospel.
   At this Christmas season, it would be good if we all paid more attention to how we are ‘representing’the Word made flesh - both personally and corporately.
Cathie Harris on December 10th, 2007

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