Scripture: “Do you understand what you are reading?”
Phillip asked.
“How can I,” he said, “unless
someone explains it to me?”
Acts 8:30b-31a., NIV
It’s time for a pop quiz.
Hey!! Come back here. You won’t be graded; it is only a means to
make a point.
How many of these ‘churchy’ terms are you familiar with?
1. Acolytes
2. Psalter
3. Pentecost
4. Communion
5. Sanctification
6. Eucharist
7. Host
8. Narthex
9. Apse
10. Sexton
Started out
with things you are familiar with, and went downhill from there, didn't it?
1. Acolyte - One who assists the clergyman in a liturgical service
by performing minor duties; one who attends or assists : FOLLOWER
2. Psalter - The Book of Psalms; also, a collection of Psalms
for liturgical or devotional use.
3. Pentecost - Literally, fiftieth day; a Christian feast on the
seventh Sunday after Easter commemorating the descent of the Holy Spirit on
the apostles (called also Whitsunday.)
4. Communion - A Christian sacrament in which consecrated bread
and wine are consumed as memorials of Christ's death or as symbols for the
realization of a spiritual union between Christ and communicant or as the
body and blood of Christ.
5. Sanctification - The state of growing in divine grace as a result
of Christian commitment after baptism or conversion.
6. Eucharist - Communion
7. Host - the eucharistic bread.
8. Narthex - a vestibule leading to the nave (the main part
of the interior) of a church.
9. Apse - a projecting part of a building (as a church) that
is usually semicircular in plan and vaulted.
10. Sexton - a church officer or employee who takes care of
the church property and performs related minor duties (as ringing the bell
for services and digging graves).
These are all commonly used ‘churchy’ words or
terms. I found them in various church bulletins and news articles.
(Definitions from Merriam-Webster Dictionary)
However, not all terms are used in all churches. It
seems that the higher you go up the Ecclesiastical ladder, the
higher-falutin’ the words become! (You look up Ecclesiastical).
Now, the point! . . . If we, who have been
‘churchy’ folk for years, couldn’t define many of these words, we should
not expect people without a church background to understand these, and many
other terms with which we are familiar.
So!
Become Knowledgeable.
Teach/help others.
