One of my favorite bands, Switchfoot, released a new project in August entitled “Interrobang.” In the hype leading up to the release, I avoided any press weighing in about the recording and even steered clear of what the band had written about this fresh batch of songs. I wanted to listen without any expectations.
It is good, very good, but after listening through the whole recording several times, I still had to ask myself, “What is an interrobang?” I had no clue.
Interrobang /inˈterəˌbang/ Noun - a non-standard punctuation mark (‽) indicating a question expressed in an exclamatory manner, as in what are you doing‽.
I don't recall learning this word in an English class, but if I were able to read the transcript of my early parenting days, it would be filled with interrobangs. “What are you doing‽,” “Are you crazy‽,” “Are you trying to hurt yourself‽,” “Did you hear me‽,” and “Are you ready for dinner‽” would play over and over in rapid succession. I was asking a question, but there were also overtones of exclamation, frustration, and urgency.
Punctuation wasn’t included in the original Greek manuscripts of the New Testament, so we can’t know the phrasing and intonations in Bible passages, but I imagine that some of Jesus’ questions would have included an interrobang, if that was a thing in the Ancient Near East First century world.
“Why do you worry about clothes‽” (Matthew 6:28)
“Why do you notice the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the wooden beam in your own eye‽” (Matthew 7:2)
“Do you have eyes and still not see? Ears and not hear‽” (Mark 8:18)
“If you do not believe Moses’ writings how will you believe me‽” (John 5:46-47)
Time and time again, Jesus addressed the people he loved with urgent rhetorical questions, hoping to evoke an emotional and sometimes physical response.
Small children are often frustrated when they want to tell us something, but haven’t developed the linguistic skills, yet. So what happens? A tantrum filled with stomping, screaming, crying or otherwise ensues. As they grow and those moments come, a loving adult might say, “Use your words.” (I’ve found myself saying that to teenagers, frustrated adults, and even myself in moments of anger and frustration - “Use your words, Lowell.”)
These are urgent and exclamatory days. As I read the morning news of a devastating tornado in New Jersey and flash floods killing people in New York City, I want to ask/scream/cry/pray, “What is going on‽” I am looking for some words.
Thankfully, God continues to expand our vocabulary. All day, every day, the Holy Spirit teaches us and reminds us about trust, compassion, empathy, solidarity, faith, forgiveness, love, and hope. We need to embrace and use these words. These are God’s words. These are our words.
Living in trust and hope,
Pastor Lowell
Image by Tim Foreman ©2021