hokey "Christian-ese" expressions

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CatHerder

CatHerder

Senior Member
Mar 20, 2013
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Are there any "Christian" expressions that you hear your fellow believers at church (or wherever) use that just seems odd? One I hear quite often is "Jesus with skin on..." which I absolutely hate. I love the meaning behind it of showing the love of Christ to others though. However, this expression always makes me think of "Silence of the Lambs."

Another is "lovin' on," which again, means to show Christ's love. To me, it makes Christians sound like uneducated hicks.

Have you heard these? Do you like these? Do you use these? Are these expressions regional? Are there some "Christian-ese" expressions that you hear often in your areas that make you go "huh?" Please share their meanings too, if it is unclear.
 
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ah, yes... How old were you when you realized that "Guide, guard, and direct" were four separate words? "But momma, that man sayin the prayer was speakin in tongues!"

An almost true story.
 
CatHerder: How about the word "Just" as in: God just this, or just that. Just lead us, just bless us, just touch so & so, just speak to brother billy or sister sally just, just, just. I think we should "just" stop using the the word just, so much. Were just so shallow. There's the other extreme of only reading prayers from a written source & maybe making our prayers a little to flowery. I think we should be more conversational in our prayers. Ya know talk like we would when we talk to people. e.g.

God were grateful for your presence & your power, we know you hear us, help us to be more thoughtful & genuine as we pray, deliver us from our self consciousness give us courage & presence of mind and just (just kidding) give us all the things we need to begin to pray in more meaningful ways. We know your very gracious & maybe you can put up our "just" and other shallowness, but we wanna grow & represent you in a way that others will look on in a positive way, you have the power to accomplish these changes in us, so please come & have your way, we ask in Jesus name AMEN!

No offense intended I'm "just" expressing myself.
 
I agree with overuse of 'just'. Just pray about it, just read your bible. Not bad in themselves, but when it is said to someone in distress, phrases like that can do some damage. It's an easy answer to a most often complex situation, and it communicates to the other that they don't really want to take the trouble to talk to you- like really talk to you. Maybe it is just the word just. I wonder because if we were to form it differently and ask the person, 'have you prayed about it?'; 'have you been reading your bible?' It opens up conversation.

Life is full of complexities- 'just do this/that' won't cut it.
 
"Get plugged in."
Everybody needs to come to church and "get plugged into ministry."

I'm always confused by this.
Maybe their ministry is leaking all over, ruining the carpets, and somebody needs to plug the holes?
Maybe ministry is like an electrical outlet, and I'm supposed to plug my tongue into it?
I just have no idea.

I don't think I should have to sacrifice my tongue to the electrical outlet of ministry
when I have no idea what they're talking about.

Or maybe, just maybe, they know exactly what will happen... and they just want to see me stick my tongue in it first.
: )
 
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Tim Hawkins Makes a joke about a "Hedge of Protection."


I don't like having to bring something personal to someone when I know that all I'm going to get it Christianese in return.


Its metaphorically like asking for a hug and getting in response, "May the Lord find you a suitable person with which to exchange an embrace, if it is within His will of course."



Or like... I messed up at work today, I'm feeling down. "May the Transgressions you cast upon your labor bring forth Repentance and a contrite spirit to dwell within you. May the Law of Jesus be in you and shine a light into the darkness of your soul, illuminating your sins and bringing forth the fleshy flesh of your bodily temple to be Sacrificed upon the Cross of the Lord."
 
There's the other extreme of only reading prayers from a written source & maybe making our prayers a little to flowery. I think we should be more conversational in our prayers. Ya know talk like we would when we talk to people. e.g.
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And there have been a few times where I have intended to pray and could only get out a primal scream. Not very flowery, and some of the more "honest" prayers I've made.
 
I know that it is a commonly accepted phrase but I hate hate hate the term Jesus Freaks, freak is a derogatory term and I don't like seeing it go with the name of our saviour!
 
leelee said:
I know that it is a commonly accepted phrase but I hate hate hate the term Jesus Freaks, freak is a derogatory term and I don't like seeing it go with the name of our saviour!
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YES!!! Thank you!!!I completely agree. How are non-Christians ever going to take us seriously? It's different if they call you that as an insult, but to openly call yourself or others Christians that? I think it would be very difficult to witness to others if they won't even take you seriously; not about your message but about how you refer to yourself. It has been coined, but needs to go away. New generations that don't even know the phrase will hear other Christians refer to themselves and others that way are going to steer clear of the church.
 
arwen83 said:
YES!!! Thank you!!!I completely agree. How are non-Christians ever going to take us seriously? It's different if they call you that as an insult, but to openly call yourself or others Christians that? I think it would be very difficult to witness to others if they won't even take you seriously; not about your message but about how you refer to yourself. It has been coined, but needs to go away. New generations that don't even know the phrase will hear other Christians refer to themselves and others that way are going to steer clear of the church.
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Or they can make a gazillion $$$'s using the phrase....
[video=youtube_share;kbB0QrBIs9k]http://youtu.be/kbB0QrBIs9k[/video]
 
I was listening to the radio today and caught a couple, how about "trials and temptations" or "Jesus is the answer". Those words are constantly used by christians to "witness" to others, but honestly, how many people who don't read the bible actually have a clue what they mean, or even take them seriously after being used and abused so often?
 
From back in my day, "WWJD?" :rolleyes: (What Would Jesus Do?)


I get what they were aiming for, but I always found this saying a little hokey. Because of course no one can know what Jesus would do every single time. Jesus knew peoples hearts and the complexities of every situation so he might have done completely different things for some seemingly similar (from our point of view) situations. Not to mention he could perform miracles too.

Eh, I'm probably overthinking it. *shrug* :p
 
"Let go and let God" gets me...

I mean, it's good advice and all, but why do we give God and Jesus all these slogans?
 
Like you gotta wonder if other religions have -ese sayings that people of that religion would get annoyed with. WWAD or WWBD bracelets. Christianity has become too advertised, not lived, but displayed as a billboard to the world. And like with many ad commercials on tv, people get annoyed and change the channel.
 
I hate any trend that comes along. Such as WWJD, or Proverbs 31 woman, or Prayer of Jabez, etc.. These things may be valid, but they become so cliche and trendy, that it even will seep into people who are not real Christians.
 
I've shared this before how much it annoys me...
"Jesus is my co-pilot"
To which I respond... "No wonder yer' life's a mess,you should try switching seats & let him fly for a while!"
 
Relena7 said:
From back in my day, "WWJD?" :rolleyes: (What Would Jesus Do?)


I get what they were aiming for, but I always found this saying a little hokey. Because of course no one can know what Jesus would do every single time. Jesus knew peoples hearts and the complexities of every situation so he might have done completely different things for some seemingly similar (from our point of view) situations. Not to mention he could perform miracles too.

Eh, I'm probably overthinking it. *shrug* :p
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WWJD?

I understand the intention, and it's a very good intention, really.
It's a GREAT INTENTION.

But it isn't really great doctrine.
And it isn't really that practical.

We aren't Jesus. We are fallen humans, and Jesus was sinless... the two aren't the same at all.
It's all apples and oranges.

Examples:

1. You didn't get saved by thinking WWJD:
"I'm a terrible sinner, and I need to be saved. What would Jesus do? Hmmm.
Oh goodness, he never sinned, and never had to be forgiven... he wouldn't do anything at all!
I guess I'm fine!"

2. You don't continue the Christian life with WWJD:
"I'm so happy to be married, and I'm so thankful for a best friend, and a companion.
And all the other stuff is great too... like the sex, lol.
But I'm so confused about a few things.
I'm very simple, and I'm happy to be having sex at all,
but my crazy wife wants to do it while swinging from a chandelier.
Hmmm... what would Jesus do?
Oh goodness, he was unmarried and celibate... I'm gonna have to leave my wife!!!"

It really does become absurd.
We just aren't Jesus.
It's all apples and oranges.

But it is perfectly good doctrine to just say, "WHAT WOULD JESUS WANT ME TO DO?"

How easy is that?


(Oh, and if the thing about swinging from chandeliers bothers you... then don't swing from chandeliers.)
: )
 
iTOREtheSKY said:
I've shared this before how much it annoys me...
"Jesus is my co-pilot"
To which I respond... "No wonder yer' life's a mess,you should try switching seats & let him fly for a while!"
Click to expand...

Yeah, not a fan of that one either. But then the response you gave has become so common i don't like that either, haha.
 
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