Editors note: When sharing the gospel, even our best intentions fall short if people don't understand what we're talking about. Learn how to choose everyday language that communicates our need for Christ without confusing the listener.

n college, I took a translation course in which half the class were French-Canadian students sharpening their English skills and half were English-speaking students working on their French. The subtle nuances in both languages were tough for all of us to grasp. Our frequent goofs kept us humble.

My personal lesson in humility came when I translated a magazine article in which the author described biting into "a hot, crusty loaf of bread." Although my dictionary provided several French words that meant "crusty," the one I selected evoked horrified laughter from my French-speaking comrades.

It seems the term I'd used for "crusty" referred to a bloody scab.

Translation is tricky work. Becoming fluent in another language takes time, patience, effort. It doesn't appeal to everyone. Yet, as we are called to share the faith that undergirds our lives, we're required to become translators.

The post-Christian era in which we live is teeming with assorted belief systems and subcultures. We can't assume our lexicon of Christian terms is meaningful to or viewed positively by non-Christians.

Because Christian terminology may confuse or alienate seekers, we begin by checking some of our Christian lingo at the door. In expressing important spiritual concepts, we need to use words that express meaning and value to the other person.

The challenge is to share the gospel clearly without diluting the message.

Here are some suggestions to keep spiritual discussions fresh and relevant.

Here's an exercise you might use to recognize "Christianese" in your communication and develop creative alternatives using terms people will identify with.

• Begin by writing out your testimony.

• Take another sheet of paper and draw two columns.

• In one column write down every Christian or otherwise religious word or phrase used in your testimony.

• In the second column redefine the terms using fresh vocabulary.

Whether it's at Starbucks, an investment club or the Cosmic Bowling Alley, you'll need to spend time where you can listen and observe people you're trying to reach.

Learning a new language requires developing an ear for it. Study the vocabulary of the people you're trying to reach by spending time with them or hanging out where they hang out. Be quick to listen and slow to speak—at least until you're able to communicate clearly in terms others identify with.

Jesus was a master at this. When He called the disciples to follow Him, He told them He would make them "fishers of men." As Rick Melick, a church planter in Marin County, California, points out, in Jesus' time "fishers ..." was a new phrase, but it resonated with these Galilean fishermen. With Zacchaeus, Jesus used business terms; with Pilate, political language. Jesus' examples and language are full of imagery familiar to the people He addressed.

The concern about the environment, a continuing interest in spirituality, the popularity of Celtic music and symbols and the increasingly mainstream Goth movement are examples of popular trends. Do your homework to get a sense of words, images and philosophies important to their adherents. Research belief systems. [Free "Belief Bulletins" are available from the North American Mission Board at www.4truth.net] How you discuss Christ with a Buddhist may be very different from how you discuss Him with a Mormon.

Without research you may unintentionally offend the people you are trying to reach. For example, teens and adults in the Goth movement consider themselves pacifists and nonreligious, although some may be drawn to Christian ritual if it's laden with romantic or Gothic imagery. They'll be offended at an assumption they are Satanists or are drawn to violence. Because they believe the world is a dark, tragic place, Isaiah 53's depiction of a tragic Savior who came to shoulder mankinds sorrows may resonate with them.

This is a matter not so much of vocabulary as it is attitude. Be respectful and practice love. Your ability to discuss spiritual issues on non-Christian terms may not be perfected, but if you can convey a genuine interest in the other person, you'll bridge cultural gaps better than if you ace the language exam and flunk Compassion 101.

Ask people about their spiritual journey before you offer your own story. Make it clear you respect their quests and perhaps even that Christians are on a continued quest for truth.

People shy away from Christians whose superior attitude and speech make it clear they view non-Christians as projects.

Weave scripture into the discussion naturally, using appropriate passages to illustrate points you're making. Don't simply quote verses, since that may be perceived negatively by folks who are sensitive to feeling they're being proselytized; rather, include the context of a Bible story when sharing scripture.

Some seekers and new Christians prefer to hear scripture quoted from the King James Version rather than from a contemporary translation. Although their knowledge of the Bible may be shaky or nonexistent, they may have the sense of how the Bible is supposed to sound—steeped in history and language.

However, others may feel more comfortable with a contemporary Bible translation such as the Contemporary English Version and the New Living Translation. These Bibles—and others geared to non-traditional readers or seekers—are culturally sensitive without changing the biblical message. If you're unsure what version to use, ask your pastor or someone at your local Christian bookstore for suggestions.

If there were just one subculture to reach, learning a new vocabulary would be easier. But it's a cultural tower of Babel out there, giving us the exciting, rich opportunity to reach people from many subcultures. As we explore another person's world, language and interests, and if we're persistent, respectful and caring in our approach, we can learn to be world-class linguists in sharing what it means to be a follower of Christ.

Lynn Waalkes is a journalist and writer living in Hoisington, Kansas.

Avoid mentioning church denominations. Many seekers become confused at the number of denominations with conflicting doctrines. They relate denominationalism with Christians' inability to be at peace with one another. Rather than talking about "sin," discuss the nature of broken relationships with God and the need for healing. Offer to tell your "story." Terms like "witness" and "testimony" often sound impersonal to the unbeliever and, worse, may conjure up legal images like courtrooms and witness stands. Use nonverbal cues. Body language, eye contact, a handshake or a smile can bridge culture and language gaps. Address the cost of commitment in your message. Some seekers respond better to being challenged to accept a belief system that requires total commitment than they do to one that requires little commitment. And some seekers whose spiritual journeys have taken them through Buddhism or Hinduism usually have fewer problems understanding God as "Lord," perhaps because they are already familiar with the word and concept.

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