Talking About God

I like to stretch. I don’t mean physically, although I could certainly stand a yoga class. I seek out opportunities to experience something new, to learn about something I didn’t know before. I’m a sucker for a lecture hall and have about a 50/50 success rate on new recipes (my husband may disagree with that figure). One of the things that is challenging me at U City Family Church is the language I use to talk about God.

Growing up, I didn’t have much practice talking about God. We said our prayers, sang “Jesus Loves Me, This I Know” – and I did know. I learned about Catholicism and the stories of the Bible in catechism class. But I never really knew how to talk about God. 

Evangelicals talk about God and Jesus as if they all sat down for coffee that morning. Catholics are generally more comfortable in their ritual and hymnals. Neither is better or worse - just different. And honestly, I am finding that I like a good mix of both. But it is curious to me how some people are just more comfortable talking about their faith. Sometimes, when I talk about God, it feels affected to me, like something I’m putting on, as if I’m faking an accent. The funny thing is, I talk for a living! But in this context, I struggle.

My interest in learning is one of the things that keeps me coming back to U City Family Church. Each sermon delivers not only a message, but a historical and political context for the scripture. I enjoy knowing what was happening in the lives of the people that Jesus was preaching to and how their perspective influenced how they heard His teachings. It helps me hear the message better. And like any good student, I’m excited to talk about what I’m learning. It is no trouble for me to read Mark 4:35 and discuss how Jesus calmed the sea for His frightened disciples. But ask me to talk about how He makes still the waters of my own life and I get a little nervous. I’m not exactly sure why. Upbringing maybe, cultural forces, worry that I won’t get it right or that I’ll sound insincere. 

I do realize, however, that talking about one’s faith is an important part of growth and building community. To that end, I’ve joined one of U City Family Church’s “Life Groups.”  I’ll be meeting twice a month with a small group of church members to discuss scripture, share how what we read relates to our lives and pray with each other. I wonder how I’ll do…

How do you talk about God? Are you comfortable talking about your faith with others? If you are, have you always been?