Christy Tennant and Makoto Fujimura continue their conversation about the evolving “third language…” Here, they discuss five specific terms in the third language: rehumanize, creative catalyst, generative creativity, the world that ought to be and mediate.

CT: Let’s talk about the language itself. One of my favorite words in the third language is “rehumanize.” I find it really insightful that the word “dehumanize” is recognized by SpellCheck, but rehumanize is not. When I type “rehumanize” into Dictionary.com, I am told, “No results found for ‘rehumanize.’” So clearly, this concept is not common. How would you define “rehumanize?”

MF: “Re-humanize,” which I took from Jane Eyre, is, to me, rooted in the biblical theology of shalom found in Isaiah 61, which is also what Jesus quoted when began his public ministry. This passage is God’s re-humanizing vision for the world. It’s also in Romans 8. Creation itself is waiting for the re-humanization of humanity. God has frustrated creation so that it won’t be satisfied until humanity has been restored. I love the way Hans Rookmaaker put it – “Christ did not come to make us Christians; He came to make us fully human.”

CT: Another term we’ve used is “creative catalyst.” I wrote a piece for Comment exploring this idea a bit, but there is so much more we could say…

MF: Being a creative catalyst is like being leaven – yeast, rather than a violent tool. Creative catalysts create a context for the gospel, serving people whether they are Christians or not. Creative catalysts are entrepreneurial and creative with few resources.

CT: The title of the 2008 Encounter was “Generative Creativity.” What is that?

MF: Generative creativity is always creating new language, like a poet who gives others a way to express themselves. Irish poet Michael O’Siadhail recited his work at our ’08 Encounter, and he referred to “the irreversible tragedy of our time,” creating an expression of Ground Zero language, to talk about suffering in a new way. Not just in anger, but a thoughtful discussion. Not just criticism, but useful, constructive language, so you and I can talk.

An image we use for generative creativity is a river, full of pollution. You can stand downstream and try to pull the garbage and pollutants from the water. Or, you can go all the way upstream, to the river’s source, and transform it. That is what generative creativity is about.

CT: Part of IAM’s mission statement refers to “the world that ought to be…”

MF: Yes, this is third language. It’s not new… really, none of the language is new, but the application of the language is what makes it useful as a third language. The Quakers have been talking about the world that ought to be for ages. It’s a way to deal with the brokenness, while recognizing the hope that is there.

Another word in the third language is “mediate.” Ironically, “media” as we commonly know it does not mediate, so we need to find art – media – that can mediate.

The Holy Spirit is the “medium” of God – the presence of God for us. Like the glue in my paintings… the medium that makes the pigments stick to the paper or canvas. Media typically uses sensationalism to sell – it uses the language of fear. But true mediation uses language of love. Standing between two different, opposing sides, as a bridge in the conflicting world.

In the world that ought to be, God’s image-bearers stand apart as reconcilers – peacemakers – “media” for a broken, divided culture.