Languages are a gift to build the church.
Church window
I’m beginning this next series of gifts with languages because they formed the first gift given in early church history. Pentecost was God’s miraculous act of translation, undoing the incident at Babel. There, he confused the language of the world’s people. It stopped them from completing their self-centered, self-aggrandizing plan to build a tower that reached heaven.
Pentecost, by contrast, restored mutual understanding. God acted, triggering population growth for the New Jerusalem, and new Creation he would provide for those who trusted His promises, and the Son He sent. In other words, the Church.
Why languages are a gift to build the church.
I know that 1 Corinthians 13:1 begins with “If I speak with the languages of men and of angels…” but for the purposes of this blog post, the important languages are those of people, not angels. Jesus had ascended to heaven fifty days before the events of Pentecost. His last command to his disciples was: “…go and make disciples of all nations…and teaching them….” As native Galileans, the disciples weren’t equipped yet, to obey the command. The Holy Spirit changed that, allowing gathered pilgrims from many nations to understand Peter’s sermon in their native languages.
Miraculous translation doesn’t happen these days, but that doesn’t change the truth. Languages are a gift to build the church. Missionaries and Bible Translators work around the globe to this day. Learning, speaking and writing increasing numbers of languages as they work to complete The Great Commission.
Is there a language you speak, or are learning? Will you ask God for the courage to use that language to introduce others to Jesus, your Savior? The words don’t need to be complicated, just motivated by love.
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Ruth DeMaat
Heidi Kortman