Do Better Theology and Preaching by Learning from IM Slang

Instant messenger users use a whole variety of acronyms and shorthand. For example, IMHO is "In My Humble Opinion" and ROFL is "Rolling On the Floor Laughing." To learn more, listen to the 5 minute report on NPR here and better yet see the exhaustive list of lingo on Netlingo.com

Asked whether Shakespeare would approve of this affront to traditional English, professor David Crystal says this: "He would have loved it. I have no doubt. The IM people extend the range of the language, the expressiveness of the language, the richness of the language and they infuse it with play."

How to Do Better Theology and Preaching by Learning from IM Slang

1. IM slang reminds us that stating things in fresh ways is delightful for both writer and reader, preacher and listener. (In addition to Shakespeare, this reminds me of Mark Twain and Winston Churchill and their fun with words. See my post here about the Mark Twain Ken Burns DVD). The apostle Paul also made up words a bit (e.g the "super-apostles" in 2 Cor 11:5 and 12:11). Germans are well known for making up their own words to try to capture new trends in theology: think Heilsgeschichte = "salvation history." Stating things in fresh ways in theology is supposed be fun and enlightening – not the bane of generations who follow you. (Ever read any poetry? It is supposed to be fun and enlightening too.) As a professor, I encourage my students to put what they’re learning in their own words. We should not be immediately fearful of people who don’t use the categories and terms that everyone has always used. Maybe they are orthodox in their theology but we just don’t recognize it because they are doing theology and having fun! What a concept! Or maybe they are sharp and seeing things we didn’t. Either way, let’s encourage them forward. Sure, it would be nice if they could sometimes "translate" or "approximate" what they are saying into traditional language so the old-timers could understand them but let’s not make them do this too soon. This is like making a poet explain their poetry in prose.

2. We can be inspired by the style of these IM slang writers. The phrases put into slang by these young people are cutting in their clarity and brevity (e.g. GUD Geographically UnDesirable; ESO Equipment Smarter than Operator; RTBS Reason To Be Single; POS Parent Over Shoulder). They are also exuberant in their emotions from anger (as can be seen by lots of swear word shorthand) to hilarity (e.g. AWGTHTGTTA; Are We Going To Have To Go Through This Again; GD&R Grinning, Ducking and Running; LLTA Lots And Lots Of Thunderous Applause). They also tend to be humble and self-deprecating (e.g. GIWIST Gee, I Wish I’d Said That; IIRC If I Remember Correctly; WIT Wordsmith In Training). IM words tend to be relational because of all forms of written communication, this one gets the fastest feedback (LYLAS Love You Like A Sister). If we can ever do theology and preaching with forthrightness, brevity, exuberance, humility and relationality we will be doing a whole lot right.