Christianese that just needs to stop

[Misty77]

Phrases that I can no longer handle hearing/reading:

"In God's eyes" Like He's some sort of creature incapable of comprehending human
language or thought. Define words as what they mean. I've seen too
many warped definitions "validated" this way.

"Biblical reason" You either have a reason or you don't. Too many people prop up an
out-of-context verse to support their point of view and further wound
a hurting person.

"Save the marriage" At what cost? That means that BOTH spouses need to be healthy
and willing to work on it. One cannot save a marriage all by herself.
Otherwise, you've just glued two adults and their kids in a toxic
environment. That hurts everyone and prevents healing.


Instead:

Define your terms clearly with historical/linguistic basis.

Use logic, but make sure it's all in context and that you are using ALL applicable (not cherry-picked) scripture.

Strive to "Heal the family," and sometimes effective treatment involves amputation (aka. divorce).


What phrases do you want to seen stricken from Christian conversation?

 

[breno785au]

BS phrases Iwould like to see stricken are as follows:

"You have scales over your eyes"

"Your mind is darkened"

"The Truth is not in you" (Yes with a capital T)

"God bless" I mean that is thrown around so much without meaning

And anything else that you can throw at a brother or sister in the faith that makes you look like a pompous arse.

P.s. That includes trying to speak like a Jew.

 

[Misty77]

BS phrases Iwould like to see stricken are as follows:

"You have scales over your eyes"

"Your mind is darkened"

"The Truth is not in you" (Yes with a capital T)

"God bless" I mean that is thrown around so much without meaning

And anything else that you can throw at a brother or sister in the faith that makes you look like a pompous arse.

P.s. That includes trying to speak like a Jew.

I agree. I think the commonality of the phrases you used is that they seem to come from a place of judgment or arrogance. We would all do well to mind the "law of kindness" in our speech.

 

[breno785au]

I agree. I think the commonality of the phrases you used is that they seem to come from a place of judgment or arrogance. We would all do well to mind the "law of kindness" in our speech.

Yes I agree, although there was not much law of kindness in my post, a hint of dry humour perhaps

 

[Misty77]

"Heckles, no!"

[video=youtube;vFAax4qjTzY]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFAax4qjTzY[/video]

 

[PeterJens]

I do not believe you. I think you are objecting to the meaning of the phrase not its use.

In Gods eyes - sin is sin, the phrase implies in mans eye sin is ok, which again is not true except for the corrupt.
Biblical reason - The person thinks the bible is illogical or without reason? They need to find the reason not accept it has none.
Save the marriage - Love conquers all, changes hearts, can overcome obstacles. Being real matters, but not at any cost.

I would suggest your list is not about the phrases so much as the approach they are showing hidden within them.
So unfortunately it is not the phrase that is the issue at all.

Maybe you should start a thread on each one and see what people think about it. It would be interesting.

 

[PeterJens]

BS phrases Iwould like to see stricken are as follows:

"You have scales over your eyes"

"Your mind is darkened"

"The Truth is not in you" (Yes with a capital T)

"God bless" I mean that is thrown around so much without meaning

And anything else that you can throw at a brother or sister in the faith that makes you look like a pompous arse.

P.s. That includes trying to speak like a Jew.

Boy you are judgemental. "a pompous arse". I suggest you have a problem with accepting people for who they are and you think it is all an act or a joke. You can only deal with your attitude, so why all the agression?

May the Lord bless you, drop the scales over your eyes, bring light into your darkened soul, bring truth where there are lies.

May you find the peace of the Lord within, and I do really mean this, because I also need this peace daily, hourly.

 

[GracethroughfaithinChrist]

Posts 1-5 remind me of the whiners seen below......

[video=youtube;wFs0eyBcP7c]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFs0eyBcP7c[/video]

perhaps you need some cheese to go with that?
​

 

[breno785au]

Boy you are judgemental. "a pompous arse". I suggest you have a problem with accepting people for who they are and you think it is all an act or a joke. You can only deal with your attitude, so why all the agression?

May the Lord bless you, drop the scales over your eyes, bring light into your darkened soul, bring truth where there are lies.

May you find the peace of the Lord within, and I do really mean this, because I also need this peace daily, hourly.

I accept people for who they are more than you think, some people can get a bit stuck up in their faith, I know I can at times and I'm speaking generally not pointing a finger at any individual and yes, some people do act like pompous young donkey's. Do I think it's the end of the road for them? Their fate is sealed? Of course not, we're all growing and in different places. I'm a working in progress more than anyone, guess your gonna have to execute some patience on the weaker ey?

Oh and by the way, i've been here for going on two years, i've seen a lot of people come and go, a lot of different attitudes both horrid and beautiful. I would say its all a bit of a culmination of my time here.

 

[PeterJens]

I would say its all a bit of a culmination of my time here.

Your summary reminded me of going for a walk in the woods. You come to a clearing and all types of plants are fighting for light, grass, weeds, bushes, trees etc. Some are agressive, some use the seasons, some are beautiful and strong.
How much the gospel is just a seed and it grows differently in different people.

So many christians appear ignorant of the phrase "worthy of me" So I can understand you cynism, but for me, I want to just press on, to look for the good, and encourage that which is best.

I am sorry if I came across too strong, but it just struck me how very easy it is to pick up on the failure of others to grasp the wonder in Jesus.

 

[breno785au]

Your summary reminded me of going for a walk in the woods. You come to a clearing and all types of plants are fighting for light, grass, weeds, bushes, trees etc. Some are agressive, some use the seasons, some are beautiful and strong.
How much the gospel is just a seed and it grows differently in different people.

So many christians appear ignorant of the phrase "worthy of me" So I can understand you cynism, but for me, I want to just press on, to look for the good, and encourage that which is best.

I am sorry if I came across too strong, but it just struck me how very easy it is to pick up on the failure of others to grasp the wonder in Jesus.

It's okay brother, I forgive you - not that I was offended by you. I was one that had come on strong initially and I knew it too before I pressed reply.
Funny how you used that analogy about the plants fighting for light, this week I been thinking I feel like a real slow growing tree but will end up being one of the strongest when fully grown (if I could be bold enough to say)
I agree on looking for the gold in a person and not the dirt, that's some stuff we are touching on in our small groups at our church, especially regarding the prophetic. it's something i'm renewing my mind in and teaching myself to look for.

May you be richly blessed in your coming and going.

 

[p_rehbein]

The one question I would pose is about God bless you. What if we actually do mean that statement with Christian love? I often end a comment with "God bless you." Or, "May God bless and keep you and yours."

Do I now not do that for fear of being guilty of Christianese?

I think about all those I pray for every day, and ask God to intervene in their lives and bless them, now what?

 

[secularhermit]

Being detached from clichéts and churchy phrases is not bad... To being somewhat more secular?

That´s upon all of you!

If the gospel is perfectly written, accute as it seems, I never read Jesus being that way.

 

[Joidevivre]

Phrases said only depend on the situation, the tone, and the heart behind it.

Showers of blessings to you.
Joi

 

[Misty77]

Posts 1-5 remind me of the whiners seen below......

perhaps you need some cheese to go with that?
​

Seriously? I was just sharing some of my thoughts. You don't have to be a complete jerk. If you don't like it, don't comment.

 

[Misty77]

I do not believe you. I think you are objecting to the meaning of the phrase not its use.

In Gods eyes - sin is sin, the phrase implies in mans eye sin is ok, which again is not true except for the corrupt.
Biblical reason - The person thinks the bible is illogical or without reason? They need to find the reason not accept it has none.
Save the marriage - Love conquers all, changes hearts, can overcome obstacles. Being real matters, but not at any cost.

I would suggest your list is not about the phrases so much as the approach they are showing hidden within them.
So unfortunately it is not the phrase that is the issue at all.

Maybe you should start a thread on each one and see what people think about it. It would be interesting.

I'd rather we have a discussion on topic instead of you assuming you know my "real" intent.

If you don't have something nice to say...

 

[oldthennew]

The one question I would pose is about God bless you. What if we actually do mean that statement with Christian love? I often end a comment with "God bless you." Or, "May God bless and keep you and yours."

Do I now not do that for fear of being guilty of Christianese?

I think about all those I pray for every day, and ask God to intervene in their lives and bless them, now what?[/QUOTE
========================================================

never fear dear Brother,

your sincerity is not in question!

 

[just-me]

BS phrases Iwould like to see stricken are as follows:

"You have scales over your eyes"

"Your mind is darkened"

"The Truth is not in you" (Yes with a capital T)

"God bless" I mean that is thrown around so much without meaning

And anything else that you can throw at a brother or sister in the faith that makes you look like a pompous arse.

P.s. That includes trying to speak like a Jew.

We should be saying "May God bless you with wisdom and understanding."

 

[Willie-T]

Well, although this post really seems to be more about a reaction to some of the OP's personal buttons having been pushed, I'll pretend to accept the stated intent, and consider some of my pet peeves for awhile.

 

[Joshua_Generation]

Maybe my input are not words, but phrases.
Have you ever observed someone "witnessing" and they say things like:

You need to be under the blood of Jesus....

Pray with me that you become white as snow....

You are lost now, but now you will be found....

You are blind, but soon you will see....

Did you know Jesus was crucified for you....

You need to repent.....

Did you know you and Ifall short of the glory of God....

Did you know everybody has sinned....

Using the word sin with anyone that is not a believer

Do you want to be born again....

We are believers and you are non-believers, do you want to become a believer...

The wages of sin is death.....

Jesus came to save you

Using the word saved with a non believer

I am a disciple of Jesus....

Do you want Jesus to come in your heart....

Using the term Holy Spirit/Holy Ghost to an unbeliever...

Sin has made you filthy/dirty but Jesus will clean you up....

Sin is the blackness in us and on us...saw/heard a white guy saying this to a African American once...he could not udnerstand why the guy wanted to punch him.

Jesus hung on the cross for you...

Fornication

Eternal Life

Live forever

light and darkness



Many of you will think I am being silly or get self righteous about these phrases, but that is ok. The fact is that here in the USA, it is not like it used to be. It used to be here, that people had a Bible in the Home and had at least a mental assent of God, the Bible and Christan terms. This is no longer the case. Many young adults [18-38] we minister to came from homes without ever going to church, even on some certain holidays or even had a Bible in the home and have no clue what most of Bible terms mean.

To the uninitiated and non-believing some of the terms we use could scare them or make us look like wackos.
The methods of yesterday to share the gospel are not the methods of today. Sadly, I do not see many methods of sharing the gospel today match the message either.

Thanks to social media, moral relativism, selective outrage, tolerance, and the promotion of self, we live in a culture that is now dominated by relevance and perception. Many of the younger generations see no relevance for having Jesus in their life, because their perceptions are formed by the church of don't do that.

There is no greater time on earth that the church should be demonstrating true love to the world than right now. demonstrating true love is not running up to someone and badgering them with christian terms and trying to get them born into the kingdom right now.

Sharing the gospel begins with the simple understanding that the church is accountable and responsible for moving people from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light. The primary motivation of this missio dei [sending plan of God] is compassion.

I also really dislike the term "witnessing to people", because you are actually led to share the gospel and your witness is an epistle that is read of all men and non verbal.