words, words, words.

It's 1 am and i'm a little dreary. But here's a thought -

Well, to get to the point quickest, how about a little stage setting:

In a 2005 interview, Eugene Peterson says this:

"It's very dangerous to use the language of the culture to interpret the gospel. Our vocabulary has to be chastened and tested by revelation, by the Scriptures. We've got a pretty good vocabulary and syntax, and we'd better start paying attention to it because the way we grab words here and there to appeal to unbelievers is not very good."

In that vein - I was thinking about the word 'saved', as in 'salvation', and the array of other meanings this word has elsewhere in our western culture. Following the idea that the meaning we attach to any word as we hear or read it comes directly from our amalgamation of all the previous times we have heard that word used, I think we might need to re-think the use of this word as it pertains to God's actions towards us, his children, because I reckon his works have very little in common with the way we 'save' a document on a computer, save something by keeping it in the fridge, a goal-keeper saving a shot, or my savings account at my bank. I fear the polysemous nature of the word might detract from the meaning it is supposed to have when used in evangelism. Especially if the audience is unfamiliar with 'church language'.

So, for clarity's sake, i reckon we should probably replace it with something closer to the target. Like 'rescued' or 'restored', or better yet - a good, long story about what God has done and is doing through his son and through his people in the world.

I am certain dozens of theologians have already banged a very similiar drum, but this specific instance of how different the meanings of 'saved' are struck me the other day.

Ok, off to bed.