So this page is to discuss some of the book ideas I have been toying with over the past few years. I am at the stage of having mapped out a couple of them and will probably begin writing over the next month. Unlike some of my other projects, these are not theoretical and do not deal with theological and historical issues. No, these conform to a personal philosophy I have that if something of this nature needs to be done, it should be done once, and properly, and be of value for everyone through all time. That is why I will not write on the areas that I have already found works which have attained to as close to perfection as is possible. These will be of a practical, devotional value to all Christians in a western world who wish to grow in their relationship with Jesus.
Christian-English Dictionary
I come from a background of a non-practicing Christian family. Like most typical Aussie's, there is an abstract belief in God, but He isn't a tangible reality. He is sort of a notion that there is a higher power that comes to mind in times of stress and distress as either a safety net or scapegoat (depending on how the situation pans out).
Christians, especially those brought up in a Christian environment, but also those who convert, don't seem to realise, but there is a huge linguistic barrier between the church and the world. This barrier has never been so wide as today. It has come to the place where most of even the basic, elementary words which are used to describe Christian belief and practice are barely even understood by the ones expressing them, let alone those outside.
Take "faith" (= active trust) for instance, or even "prayer" (= conversation with God). These words seem to carry such an abstract "reverence" (= respect) to them. An "elder" (= respected leader) might say from the pulpit, "let's pray", and then his own language becomes 17th century, King James English, as if God can only understand that archaic dialect. Now this is an extreme example, but why not say, "let's talk to God"? That's what we really mean, isn't it? Sometimes, words are not translated because they are venerated. Yet is there any reason to hold to an old translation of a concept that can be rendered much more simply today? Even the concept of an elder saying seems foreign, "let's talk to God," because, face it, don't they say that to the children in the creche? But then again, aren't we supposed to be like little children?
So this book will be written from my point of view as one who is fluent in both English and Christianese. I hope that this project will help "Christians" (= followers of Jesus) to see they can and must "witness" (= present the "gospel" (= good news)) in contemporary English. This might also help to stem the tide of young people vacating their beliefs - those who have grown up with English as their first language, and Christianese as their second and don't seem to understand the interchange of ideas correctly.
Jesus Only!
Synopsis coming soon...
