From After Class Podcast
Sponsor: Welcome, everyone, to this weekโs meeting of Greekaholics Anonymous. The purpose of this support group is to help those of us who are helplessly addicted to using biblical languages in our sermonsโeven though we really donโt know what we are saying and most listeners have no idea what weโre talking about. Letโs begin with our GA preamble.
Everyone: Preachers who donโt know Greek shouldnโt use Greek in their sermons.
Sponsor: Would someone like to be the first to share with the group?
Pastor Strong: Hello, my name is Jim and Iโm a Greekaholic.
Everyone: Hello, Jim.
Pastor Strong: Iโm so ashamed of my habit. I know itโs wrong, but I just canโt shake it. Iโve tried leaving Greek out of my sermons, but when I do, I donโt quite feel like myself. Itโs so hard to get my sermon going, but once I get a little Greek in there, things really get rolling.
Sponsor: We understand, Jim.
Pastor Strong: It didnโt seem so bad at the beginning, just a little word study here or there. But it jazzed up the sermon so much and seemed to impress my audience, so I just kept going. Over time, I needed more and more Greek to keep the high alive. Now itโs out of control. Itโs like I donโt even know myself anymore.
Sponsor: Weโre here for you, Jim. Who would like to go next?
Pastor Vine: Hello, my name is Bill, and Iโm a Greekaholic.
Everyone: Hello, Bill.
Pastor Vine: For me, the worst part is coming down afterward. In the moment, itโs such a rush. As soon as you say the words, โIn the original Greek,โ you can feel the electricity pulsating through the pews. Everyone knows whatโs coming! Itโs exciting! Sometimes I pause a beat or two just to sustain the moment a bit longer. But then, afterward, when Iโm home alone, thatโs when the doubts come, that sense that Iโm an imposter. Itโs not a sustainable high.
Sponsor: Weโve all been there, Bill.
Pastor Vine: At this point, I think my biggest struggle is fear. Iโm so used to having Greek there for me, I donโt know if I can preach without it.
Sponsor: You can do it, Bill. . . . Anyone else?
Pastor Thayer: Hello, my name is Joe, but I donโt think Iโm a Greekaholic. Iโm only here because my elders think I have a problem.
Sponsor: Do you think youโre able to use Greek in moderation, Joe?
Pastor Thayer: Absolutely. As Jim said, it adds so much color and flair to my sermons, why shouldnโt I? Itโs not as though anyone is getting hurt. No one else even knows Greek, so itโs not like theyโll know if I make a mistake. Isnโt a moving, intellectually stimulating sermon the ultimate good? If you take away our Greek, youโll hamstring all of our efforts. I just donโt see the problem.
Sponsor: Now Joe, the first step toward recovery is admitting you have a problem. Our goal is to help each other recognize our weaknesses so we can achieve health.
Pastor Thayer: Yeah, I guess youโre right.
Sponsor: Great! Well, I think weโve made real progress here tonight, so why donโt we wrap up with our closing statement. Letโs say it together.
Everyone: If you canโt use the language right, donโt use it at all.
The After Class Podcast guys are Bible and theology professors at Great Lakes Christian College; from left to right in the logo, they are Samuel C. Long, Ronald D. Peters, and John C. Nugent. They strive to engage provocative contemporary topics with wit and careful biblical scholarship.
Author: Christian Standard
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