When religion writer Jonathan Merritt moves from the Bible Belt to New York City, he runs into an unexpected language barrier. Whenever conversations turned to faith, his words became stilted. Words, both ancient and modern, that Jonathan had utilized for decades to describe matters of the soul no longer translated to those he encountered.
As America rapidly transitions culturally, modern believers struggle to talk about faith and their relationships with God in ways where understanding of terms like grace or gospel can no longer be assumed. Some words have become so negative they are nearly conversation-enders. The desire to help bridge this communication gap sends Jonathan on a quest to excavate anew some of the most meaningful words in a believer's dictionary.
In this groundbreaking work, one of America's most prolific religion writers breathes new life into ancient expressions through a combination of cultural commentary, vulnerable personal narratives and surprising Biblical insights."