It is quite possible that I am the single poorest language student in the history of linguistics.
In Spanish I my freshman year of high school, the teacher moved me from a regular class, to the advanced class, to the “less than gifted” class – all in the first semester. It turned out she was friends with my English teacher, and they couldn’t understand why I was getting “A’s” in English and something quite less than an “A” (rhymes with “chef”) in Spanish. No matter what class I was in, I just couldn’t get español.
While studying in Salzburg, Austria my sophomore year of college, on the last day of the semester my German professor and the School’s Director pulled me aside at our goodbye party. “You don’t deserve it, but we will pass you because you tried hard,” offered the Director, “but please agree to never take German again.”
“You don’t deserve it, but we will pass you because you tried hard,” offered the Director, “but please agree to never take German again.”
My final struggles with language came in seminary. To be ordained in the Presbyterian Church, U.S.A., I had to demonstrate proficiency in Hebrew and Greek. Midway through my first Greek class I was doing so poorly that I actively explored changing to a denomination where I could be ordained without studying Greek or Hebrew.
It was only by the grace of God that I survived Hebrew, and only by the grace of an adjunct professor that I passed Greek. Her red-inked summary on my final exam, an exegesis of John 1 read, “Tom, you pass. This is one of the most creative translations I’ve ever seen.” In a Biblical Greek class, that was something less than a complement.
You get the point. Languages are not my thing – it’s just not how my brain is wired. I wish that were not the case, because uncovering a word’s origins makes them come alive.
Consider my favorite English word – enthusiasm. I love the word enthusiasm! Enthusiasm is your dog greeting you at the front door with a wildly wagging, out-of-control tail. Enthusiasm is a Little Leaguer attending their first big league ball game, sitting on the edge of their seat, pounding their mitt waiting for a foul ball. Enthusiasm is the result when our spirits are captured; enthusiasm begins within and carries us away.
Enthusiasm is the result when our spirits are captured; enthusiasm begins within and carries us away.
The origins of the word “enthusiasm?” It’s one of the few things I recall from Greek over 30 years ago. “En” in Greek means “in,“ and “theos” refers to God. To be enthusiastic means to be “in God.” How cool is that? When we are enthusiastic, when we feel most alive, we are “in God.”
ReFaith is all about enthusiasm. Yes, we are well aware that the American church faces challenges aplenty right now, and it appears that is not going to change anytime soon. Last summer’s Pew Charitable Trust report only confirmed what we in the church business already knew – that more and more people have less and less interest in organized religion. The number of “nones” who claim no religious affiliation has grown significantly. So, why our enthusiasm?
We’re enthusiastic about churches that take the time to understand and respond to contemporary culture. We’re enthusiastic about congregations that don’t have tall steeples or rock star preachers, yet are quietly changing lives in God’s name. We’re enthusiastic about church leaders who get their you-know-whats out of their church buildings and meet people where they are, as they are. We’re enthusiastic about all who recognize that the church can be something entirely different than what is has been. And, we’re especially enthusiastic about the people who everyone seems so concerned over – the spiritual but not religious.
If there’s one thing we hope ReFaith will do, it’s to help people gain a renewed sense of enthusiasm for the spiritual life. #ReFaith looks forward to helping you make those discoveries.