Search
Search

Why Our Churches Should Care More about Teaching Languages Than Our Schools Do

October 20, 2019

Acts 22:1-5

“Brothers and fathers, listen now to my defense.”

When they heard him speak to them in Aramaic, they became very quiet.

Then Paul said: “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city. I studied under Gamaliel and was thoroughly trained in the law of our ancestors. I was just as zealous for God as any of you are today. I persecuted the followers of this Way to their death, arresting both men and women and throwing them into prison, as the high priest and all the Council can themselves testify. I even obtained letters from them to their associates in Damascus, and went there to bring these people as prisoners to Jerusalem to be punished.

CONSIDER THIS

Paul’s apostolic mojo just keeps getting better. Did you pick up in yesterday’s reading where Paul seemingly surprised the Roman soldier by speaking to him in Greek? Then he turns and addresses the Jewish rioters in Aramaic. Did you notice that in both instances he immediately captured the attention of his hearers?

I never cease to be surprised by people who speak multiple languages. It’s impressive. What impresses me most is to observe the other person being spoken to in their own language. It often visibly impacts them. When it comes to languages, I am a hack at best. Over the years I’ve managed to learn a few words and phrases from several different languages. I use them every chance I get and without fail, it delights the hearer. Their face usually lights up with a smile, conveying a feeling they have been respected.

This was the great surprise of Pentecost. “Utterly amazed, they asked: ‘Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language?'” (Acts 2:7-8)

According to the Bible, the gospel will not stop until it is spoken in every language on the planet. Every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.

Given all of this, it seems like the church would be more interested in and committed to the teaching and learning of multiple languages than the schools. Doesn’t it? Why aren’t our churches centers of learning languages? It’s probably the most apostolic move we could make.

It’s one of my great regrets—never learning to speak another language. It makes me wonder, what if I had thought of it as an act of discipleship rather than an optional elective in high school? Even better, what if I approached learning another language as an act of love for God and for all who speak it?

We have it on good evidence that the Holy Spirit will help you.

THE PRAYER

COME HOLY SPIRIT!

THE QUESTION

How about you? Do you speak any other languages than your native one? Have you ever considered learning another language an act of discipleship to Jesus?

For the Awakening,
J.D. Walt
Sower-in-Chief
seedbed.com

Join the Daily Text Facebook group here. Subscribe to get this email in your inbox here.

Share today's Wake-Up Call!

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn

WHAT IS THIS? Wake-Up Call is a daily encouragement to shake off the slumber of our busy lives and turn our eyes toward Jesus. Each morning our community gathers around a Scripture, a reflection, a prayer, and a few short questions, inviting us to reorient our lives around the love of Jesus that transforms our hearts, homes, churches, and cities.

Comments and Discussion