Like many of you, I am the product of a monolingual American culture. I have never spoken a word of my great grandmother’s Greek, my great great grandparent’s German, or the Irish and Hungarian of ancestors further back. I learned from school that English was the only necessary language– after all, French, Spanish, and Italian were elective courses. This message is reinforced by corporations and governments, and even by the church.

When I came to Parkview, I noted the unique practice of reading the Bible in Japanese and English. It was beautiful to me. I regret not making more of an effort to learn a greater vocabulary of Japanese words. Still, I remember trying to follow along, finding the words I could: “watashi” (I), “kami” (God), and cognate names like Jesus and Abraham. It was an important discipline to listen more intentionally to the word of God, even when I could not understand every word.

Similarly, I attended bilingual services in Indonesian and English with GKI Sacramento. Week in and week out, I was steeped in a language which became more and more familiar. As I listened to the scripture readings, I would recognize words. Often, I leaned over in the pew to ask Greg what a word meant.

My sister Phoebe has a very fun habit of learning languages. When she wants to learn a new language, she finds a copy of the first Harry Potter book translated in the language she is interested in learning. By using a familiar subject, she tells me, she can ensure she will already be able to discern some of the vocabulary for herself. Translation dictionaries can do the rest.

What if we applied this logic to the Bible? How could the old, old story come alive in new ways if we read them in another language? Consider reading a favorite scripture passage or verse this way. It will cause you to read slowly. The video below is one example– Psalm 23 in English and American Sign Language. I recommend watching it once with the sound on and then again with the sound off. Pay attention to what you see and feel as scripture is expressed in another language. May God be glorified in every language!