The attached ‘Prayer Minute’ touches on an area that many avoid recognizing it potential problems. Take time to listen to it, then consider the following:
Have we ever thought how common colloquial expressions we use, how they affect others? Let’s just take one area of their usage -- greeting people. Here are a few expressions that are used:
- You Guys
- Hey You
- Bud
I know many of us could list more.
These expressions may be OK where you learned them—probably your home area, but in other areas of the country—or with people from other areas of the country—they don’t communicate what you probably really wanted to say—particularly in a way that shows courtesy, honor, and respect to the other person. The result is, that those expressions may cause what we say not to be received by the one we are addressing.
The use of these expressions may be so ingrained in us, that we do not realize how those expressions may be received by others. To us there is no problem with them, but there is a problem we need to be aware of.
Maybe someone may want to share with us, what meaning these expressions can convey—or share how they responded when someone approached them using those expressions—especially when they are from a different area.
A wise church district leader recognized in his district, 7 subcultures. Yet we talk with others as if they are all the same culture.
How do we overcome this problem?
Does their use reflect a heart issue? If so, how could prayer help?
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Hey, good i=insights, you guys --
I mean, people ... ah, persons ... those who responded ... Y'all!
One more thought.. As a pastor, I strive to make sure our church bulletin has names spelled correctly, and I make an effort to ask for correct spelling of their name if I don't know the person. I believe it is vitally important to respect people in that area. It's not a cultural issue per se, but it matters to the one it affects.
Blessings,
Sometimes the best way to find out what is offensive or preferred by other cultures is to simply ask that person. To ask reveals my ignorance but is always taken as a sign of respect and a desire to learn from their culture.
I've always been put off by waiters/waitresses who address a table of men and women as "you guys". In my thinking and upbringing, guys were men, and to use the term in this way seems to me to be disrespectful to the ladies. I try very hard to consider these kinds of things in my thinking and speaking.