Speaking the language

Frederick Buechner:

“English-speaking tourists abroad are inclined to believe that if only they speak English loudly and distinctly and slowly enough, the natives will know what’s being said even though they don’t understand a single word of the language. Preachers often make the same mistake. They believe that if only they speak the ancient verities loudly and distinctly and slowly enough, their congregations will understand them. Unfortunately, the only language people really understand is their own language, and unless preachers are prepared to translate the ancient verities into it, they might as well save their breath.” 

This quotation was originally published in The Hungering Dark, and is one of the daily Buechner quotes re-published by the good people at www.frederickbuechner.com. (Sign up for the daily quotations at https://www.frederickbuechner.com/my-buechner).