Communicating the Gospel with Sensitivity
When you hear the word “water,” what is the first thing that comes to mind?
If you’re outside on a sunny day and the temperature is in the eighties, “water” might immediately make you think of a refreshing, ice-cold drink. However, for someone who experienced a near-drowning incident as a child, the sound of “water” can trigger unpleasant memories of fear and panic.
Just as “water” may sound appealing to someone who is hot and thirsty but frightening to someone who nearly drowned as a child, you might find that Christian terms sound very different in the ears of a Jewish person. It’s important to be aware that, to a Jewish person, overtly Christian terminology may be meaningless, off-putting, or even offensive.
Below are some terms we can substitute when sharing the gospel with Jewish people, though it’s by no means an exhaustive list. While it might seem awkward and unnatural at first, keep in mind that the primary reason we use different terminology is to communicate the gospel more effectively. God’s purpose and power won’t be limited by the words we use (or don’t use). Regarding our vocabulary choices, “each one should be fully convinced in his own mind” (Romans 14:5).
Sensitive Terms to Avoid
Christ: For centuries, Jewish people have been persecuted in the name of Christ by those who believe that the guilt of Jesus’ crucifixion rests solely on the Jewish people. Instead of referring to Jesus as “Christ,” try substituting the term “Messiah” – the Hebrew equivalent of the Greek word Christos, meaning “anointed.” The term “Messiah” is not only free of the historical baggage attached to the term “Christ,” but it is a concept that Jewish people are familiar with.
Christian: Many Jewish people understand a “Christian” as someone who was born to into a Christian family. It’s seen as an inherited religion (like Judaism or Islam). Identifying yourself as a “believer in Jesus” (or Yeshua, Jesus’ name in Hebrew) creates differentiation and communicates more about our faith than the term “Christian.”
Church: A Jewish person will most likely think of church as a place where exclusively Gentiles worship on Sundays, whereas when we say “church,” we are referring to a local congregation of believers in Jesus. If our Jewish friends see church as something only for Gentiles, that automatically creates a sense of alienation. We can help bridge the gap by using the term “congregation,” which is how many Jewish people refer to their place of worship.
Convert: For Jewish people, the word “convert” is commonly associated with the forced conversions Jewish communities underwent at various times throughout history. We should avoid saying “convert” and instead use “repent” or “turn to faith in God,” which communicates the same concept without carrying the undertone of a threat.
Jew: Perhaps one of the most important changes we can make in our vocabulary is in our use of the word “Jew.” The vast majority of Jewish people are aware of the suffering previous generations have experienced at the hands of Gentile “Christians.” “Jew” has often been spat out as an insult or spoken in a demeaning way, typically with a degrading adjective such as “dirty Jew” or “cheap Jew.” As a Gentile, saying “Jewish people” and “Jewish community” instead of “Jews” shows sensitivity and will help your Jewish friend not to feel like they must put their guard up.
Old Testament: Referring to the first portion of the Bible as the “Old Testament” can convey, wrongly, that we believe it is obsolete, or even that it has been replaced by the New Testament. Saying “the Hebrew Bible” or “the Tanakh” puts the Scriptures in a Jewish context and can help prevent this misunderstanding.
Conclusion
Once again, it’s important to remember that the reason for substituting these words is to better communicate the Good News to a Jewish audience, not to sound “more Jewish” or purely to avoid offense. As Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 9:22-23, “I have become all things to all people, so that I may by all means save some. I do all things for the sake of the gospel, that I may become a fellow partaker of it.” As you seek to engage Jewish people in gospel conversations, you might be surprised at the difference a change in terminology can make.
Further Reading:
