The chicken said "Cluck, cluck!" and the duck, puzzled, asked, "Quack?" How can they communicate?
Hmmm. The folks during the building of the Tower of Babel got the shock of their lifetime; very confused language. There was no longer a universal language; what a horrendous breakdown that must have left them all rather speechless at first take. (Read about it in Genesis 11.)
So then, when the dust settled, imagine how the people must have rounded themselves up into respective language groups and scattered to the four winds to get on with life in this new mind-boggling way.
Numerous languages and dialects continue to exist to this day. Over the years various languages have emerged as a more universal one during various times of civilizations; phasing in and out depending largely on the dominate governing power of the time.
For example, Greek and Latin were in favor in early civilizations and boiled down to the present day global language, English. Close seconds are Spanish, French and even Mandarin.
Many people have their own mother tongue and are fluent in two or more other languages and/or dialects of the area in which they live, and yet top those off with the ubiquitous English. So it would be safe to conclude that large portions of South East Asian (SEAn) urban dwellers would be of this caliber despite English NOT being their mother tongue.
Let's bring this , then, into the urban church setting. More specifically into those who regularly attend the English congregations for Sunday service, prayer meetings, Bible studies, and etc.
Brothers and sisters-in-Christ who come under this classification are not necessarily all of the same mother tongue. Rather, it is their "adopted" language that has brought them together to that particular congregation of God's children.
There could be Language (Lg) A, Lg B., Lg C, even Lg D and so on with the unifying lg as in this scenario, English. Therefore, we can assume that that is predominately why they've come---to hear preaching, teaching, praying, etc, in the English medium.
Granted there may be a majority of Lg A or Lg B, etc but again the unifying lg is English. This is where the point needs to be taken: let NOT the majority dominate over the minority (James 2:1-7).
There should be extra effort made by the majority to be sensitive to the others. In all aspects of the teaching and preaching and praying and in the fellowship times afterwards. Use English and discipline self not to lapse into sayings and proverbs of Lg A or B as those of Lg C or D do NOT understand.
What is it that the Apostle Paul said, "I'd rather speak 5 words and be understood than 10,000 in an unknown tongue." (1 Corinthians 14:18). Also "everything is permissible but not everything is beneficial." "Nobody should seek his own good but the good of others." (1 Corinthians 10"23, 24; 14:1-25)
Do NOT say, "Oh, but to use Lg A is so meaningful!" To YOU, maybe, but not to Lg B, C and D! If you want meaningful, go to Lg A congregation. Yes, tough words.
Another example of godliness, of being sensitive to another's feelings; of avoiding misunderstandings and offense aimed at fostering and continuing unity among brothers and sisters in Christ can be seen as follows:
A Canadian missionary friend had been serving the Lord in Hong Kong for more than 20 years. His mother tongue is English yet he knew Cantonese extremely fluently. In fact, it was said of him that if he was in another room speaking with others in Cantonese and you happened to be in an adjacent room unable to see the speaker, you'd believe that the Canadian was actually a Cantonese mother-tongue speaker.
Yet when two Cantonese sisters were speaking privately to each other within this friend's earshot they made it a point to speak English while in his presence! He told them, "No. It is ok for you to speak Cantonese." They insisted on English; why?
They had wanted to absolutely avoid any misunderstanding as to what they were saying; to let it be known they were not discussing him or his methods. They were looking out for the interests of others (Philippians 2:4)
They were making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit (Ephesians 4:3). Oh, that others from which ever lg group would realize this and take it to heart. To see how others feel from lg groups not their own; eg. when Lg A lapses into Lg A when the universal Lg C (of the whole) is well known to the speaker and hearers alike.
Let us think before we speak, not just of what we say, or how it is said BUT in which lg it is said and in whose company it is uttered. Again, "Let us keep the unity of the Spirit in this facet as well as in others (Eph 4:3).
Bridge the gaps, and show respect for and sensitivity to others among us who do not know your lg but do know the universal one in your particular congregation. May our Father in Heaven make us one and bless our unity in Him. Amen.
~ERC~
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