Speaking with a Different Tongue

Though it may not be typical to put it this way, often I feel as if Lutherans speak with a different tongue when we talk to people from generic Protestantism.  When we talk of faith, when we speak of confession (of faith), when we speak of grace, when we talk of the Sacraments, even when we speak about God's Word -- more often than not we speak a different vocabulary than those who come out of non-sacramental, non-liturgical, and non-confessional backgrounds.  Often I think it is easier to speak to those who have to learn these words and concepts anew than it is to get those who learned them differently to discern what we as Lutherans mean by them.

Over and over again we must remind folks that faith is trust and not the general Protestant definition of knowledge, understanding, and consent.  Over and over again when we speak of God's Word, we must distinguish a Word who is a living voice from one that spoke once a set of propositions to be believed or behavioral rules to be followed.  Over and over again when we speak of the Church, we must distinguish a group of people who came to the same conclusions on the basis of their reading of Scripture from those who see the people of God gathered around His Word, Table, and Water. In some respects I find it almost easier to speak with those who come without any history (even though we must often break through false and misleading perceptions).  Am I wrong in this?

I know that there are many who desire to learn the new (to them) vocabulary of confession, efficacious Word, Eucharistic center, and grace accessible where God has placed it... and it is thrilling to see and hear people grasp hold of these and let them ruminate a while inside of them....   In the end I wonder if this is not what really divides us from other churches -- our words are the same but they mean different things.

Which reminds me that faith is not some quick and simple conversation but the ongoing dialog of God's people, gathered around His Word and Table.  We cannot afford to presume that everyone who uses the same words means the same thing but neither can we dwell only on this aspect of prolegomena in our witness and instruction of those not yet a part of us...

Sometimes I think that the radical disconnect means that the people often do not become comfortable with Lutheran identity until they learn the difference in our vocabulary.  But this is the daily struggle of the Church, isn't it?!  We speak and speak again, state clearly and clarify, speak out and speak winsomely of the hope that is within us -- not because we see things changing but because this is the cross-shaped pattern of our Christian lives and the means by which we make known our living hope to those around us...

What a blessing to speak God's Word to six folks new to the Lutheran faith...WOW...