In 2013, I had an opportunity to teach English to underprivileged kids in New Delhi, India. At one point, I needed to say “water” but in my struggle to find a word, I said “agua” which is a Spanish word, not Hindi. It was not helpful but mere desperation. Anyone who has travelled to a non-English speaking country can readily relate to the difficulty of communicating with those of a different language (without pulling out our translation app).
Even a single language or dialect evolves over time. I was born in Hong Kong and lived there till age 18, but I no longer speak like a native HK person. Anyone who is recently from HK can readily tell the difference from the moment I open my mouth. Yes, I have changed, but the way HK people speak has changed as well (expressions, slang, etc.).
At various times and in different ways, the Church has been guilty of losing people with its churchy language. Besides the antiquated “Thee” & “Thou” from the King James Bible, little used biblical expressions can also confuse the masses (for example: “… praying for a hedge of protection…”). I heard a true story about a non-Christian from a former Eastern Bloc country who, when he first heard Christians singing “Worthy is the Lamb,” was so confused. “These people worship sheep!” he thought.
Having said so, there is a spiritual language that cannot be replaced. When we ask, for example, “How are you doing?” what they might hear is, “How are you feeling?” or worse yet, “How are you performing?” A better question may be: “How’s your soul?”
Now, if we find ourselves at a loss for how to answer, it is not because we don’t know what our “soul” refers to. It is most likely that we don’t think much about the state or condition of our “soul.” And that would exactly be the point of this question, not the superficial conversation about weather or daily events, but where it matters most. Our soul is the seat of HOW we respond to the weather or daily events as well as all other major events of life!
By God’s grace, we must learn to ask deep, difficult questions of each other. Tough as it is, we must not skirt around truthful answers, which is also what God is most interested in for His children. Consider some of these first questions God ever asked us human beings:
- Genesis 3:9, “But the Lord God called to the man, ‘Where are you?’” (It was not a question of physical location.)
- Genesis 4:6, “Then the Lord said to Cain, ‘Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast?’ (These were not questions about feelings.)
If you have absolutely no idea how to begin asking these real questions, even as a believer, Celebrate Recovery (CR) can be a good place to start. I would not say that CR has mastered this, but that we are on a good path towards thinking and asking deep, difficult questions of ourselves. And having a group of kindred spirits to share similar discoveries encourages us to grow and mature as well.
“Soul Searching” should not be one of those rare occasions of life caught in a moment of despair or crisis. Let us honestly ask real questions as we walk on the path of discipleship.
Celebrate Recovery (CR) meets each Wednesday night at 6:30 PM in the Youth Room.
Peter Teng serves as a leader in Celebrate Recovery here at GRC.