Articles
Our Duty to Other-Language Brethren
In each of the four full-time congregations where I have preached, we have had multiple members and visitors who spoke another language in our assembly (Spanish and ASL). As both members and visitors come into our midst, it is important for us to consider Biblical principles for our assemblies when these opportunities arise. Please consider…
From the beginning of the church, the gospel was for people of all languages (Acts 2). Just after the resurrection of Jesus, He delivers the Great Commission which includes the charge to “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature…” (Mark16:15). The church gets off to a good start obeying this commission when the apostles miraculously “began to speak with other tongues” and “devout men from every nation under heaven...heard them speak in his own language” on Pentecost (cf. Acts 2:1-6). From the very first time the gospel was preached it was translated into the language of its hearers. Should we not make attempts to communicate the gospel clearly, even if it means putting in the work of translation, for interested hearers today? The early church did.
Christians should make sure we avoid partiality (James 2; Acts 6; Galatians 2). In James 2, partiality existed on the basis of economic status (James 2:1-9). In Acts 6:1, partiality was claimed on the basis of heritage and language as the Hebrews (Hebrew speaking Jews) were thought to be favored over the Hellenist widows (Greek-speaking Jews). In Galatians 2, Paul rebukes Peter and Barnabas for their partiality on the basis of religious tradition as they favored Jews over Gentiles (Galatians 2:11-14). We must make a conscious, intentional effort to break down the very appearance of partiality and the boundaries which so often divide us as we seek to be united in Jesus Christ (Galatians 3:28). Racism, ageism, and nationalism are the symptoms of partiality.
A God-pleasing assembly must be understood by all (1 Corinthians 14). In 1 Corinthians 14, Paul seeks to regulate the worship assembly of the first-century church. As he references speaking in unknown languages, he writes, “...unless you utter by the tongue words easy to understand, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be speaking into the air” (14:9). He goes on to say, “...if I do not know the meaning of the language, I shall be a foreigner to him who speaks, and he who speaks will be a foreigner to me” (14:11). He requires, “Therefore let him who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret” (14:13). Clearly, this “interpretation” was a miraculous spiritual gift in the first-century church (see 1 Corinthians 12:10). Yet, even without such gifts, should a church not strive to interpret every word spoken or sung in its assemblies for its hearers? The undergirding principle of the assembly is “Let all things be done for edification” (1 Corinthians 14:26). To be truly edified, one must “pray with understanding” and “sing with understanding” (see 1 Corinthians 12:15). This implies making efforts to translate the teachings, prayers, and songs into an understood language for all. Bilingual members are valuable edification agents in the kingdom for this reason.
Treat others the way you would like to be treated (Matthew 7:12). Jesus once stated, “Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets” (NKJV). This statement is often referred to as The Golden Rule and it comes from the Sermon on the Mount. Consider this text from the perspective of one who spoke a foreign language, perhaps from another nation, who entered the doors of another assembly. If this were you, would you want to be greeted as you walked in the door? Would it be nice to be able to have a bulletin that is translated into your language so you might also be edified by it? Would you appreciate it if efforts were made to translate the announcements, the prayers, the songs, the teachings? The answer, of course, is yes. We all must understand there will be a special patience involved as we work through a language barrier. Yet, there are so many tools available today (timekettle, google translate, etc) that there is no excuse for just being too lazy to translate for our brethren who speak other languages. It will take more time and preparation. Yet, it is negligent to make no effort at all.
Go the extra mile (Matthew 5:41-42). The “extra mile” mentality is explained by Jesus when He says, “And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two” (Matthew 5:41, NKJV). In the Roman world, a soldier had the right to “compel” the citizenry to do certain things on behalf of the empire. Matthew 27:32, for example, says that “Simon” was “compelled to bear His cross.” Jesus was, likely, too weak to carry His cross and Simon was called upon to do the job. Interestingly, Jesus says we must be willing to perform such tasks when “compelled” and, in fact, should voluntarily do more than compelled to do. People can tell when we go above and beyond. Such “extra mile” Christians make a powerful impact to the world as they watch. How can we go the “extra mile” for visitors in our midst who may come from different backgrounds, different nationalities, and different languages?
