Nothing Lost in Translation
Not too long ago, we owned a camper with an air conditioner in it. Think about that. We purchased a vehicle so we could sleep in the woods. It had beds, hot running water, a little refrigerator, a floor still specked with s'mores remnants, and an air conditioner. This is to be sure that when we were communing with nature, we could always escape to cool, comfortable, crispness. I don’t mind roughing it. In fact, I am something of an outdoorsman, as long as I can keep my food cold, my equipment sanitary, my back comfy and my air perfectly pleasantly conditioned. There is nothing wrong with this. Although I’m sure some find it silly. Our family has had a lot of fun camping. The problem comes when you consider what it means to be a disciple of Christ. Jesus didn’t have air conditioning. Peter didn’t have hot running water. Paul didn’t have a refrigerator. So much of our faith is grounded in the first century, or, more specifically, between about 4 B.C., when our Lord was probably born, until about 95 A.D. when the last book of the New Testament was probably written. Our faith is, and always will be, grounded in that time. A markedly different time. They didn’t even have cable, let alone cheese out of a spray can. So how do we connect with such a different day? How do we bridge the 2000-year gap so that we live Biblically in an age that is so different? More importantly, how do we translate the life-saving, freedom-making Truth found in an age of dust and camels to a generation of lost people living with Dasani and Camry's?
The answer, or at least the beginning of the answer I think, is found in three ideas:
Idea #1: The Bible, no matter its historical context, is God’s Living Word, still to be cherished, sought, understood as it stands. Not because it is a great book, although it is, but because God chose it as the way to communicate to people everywhere, whether they lived in the second or 22nd century.
Idea #2: We have the ministry of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:19). It is our call to serve as the bridge between hopelessness and Hope. Sometimes that means translating ancient truths to a very contemporary world. Living a genuine walk of faith is about making connections, especially connecting people to God. Which brings me to the third idea…
Idea #3: To make a connection between people and God, we must know both. We must know God first, loving Him with passion. And we must know people, particularly people who haven’t met Him yet. What do they care about? What are they worried about? What is it about 2010 and beyond that scares them? I suppose I’m saying that the problem isn’t necessarily that we don’t understand first century culture, it’s that, often, we don’t understand 21st century culture – where our lost friends live, and work, and die, every day. I think this is one thing I have always appreciated about my friend Brad Huddleston and his ministry. Brad brings his love for Jesus, grounded in the first century, but translated into the language of the twenty-first. Just one example that explains what I mean is Brad’s teaching on social networking, in the context of Biblical faith. Brad’s model of staying culturally-connected without leaving the moorings of God’s Word is powerful. And it’s one I hope you’ll support – with your prayer and your dollars – and one I hope we’ll all follow. When we really reach out to the people of this generation, God makes sure nothing is lost in translation. Now, anyone know where I can get one of those artificial, self-starting campfires?
Dr. Brian Charette serves as Assistant Vice President for HR, Training, & Performance at James Madison University and is a long-time member of Harrisonburg First Church of the Nazarene in Harrisonburg, Virginia. Brian’s undergraduate degree is in Management, his Master’s Degree is in Theology and his Doctorate is in leadership development. Brian and his wife live with their two daughters in Rockingham County, Virginia.
