The Urban Dictionary lists 3 definitions for the word “Christianese.”
- A communicable language within the Christian subculture with words and phrases created, redefined, and / or patented that applies only to the Christian sphere of influence.
- Christianese is the language spoken by Christians. It makes no sense to anyone unfamiliar with biblical texts, but earns you major points in the eyes of other Christians, because it means your words are holy.
Common examples include: old man/new man, unblemished lamb, fruit of the spirit, washed in the blood, and let’s not forget the ever popular born again. -
Words used by Christians that the unsaved masses are unlikely to understand. Christian buzzwords.“Father God, you are omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient. Thank you for saving me by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, the Savior of mankind” would be a prayer, dreadfully overdosing on ChristianeseI must admit, Christianese is one of two languages that I am fluent in. I speak English at an eighth grade level and Christianese at a seminary-prep course level. However, in the last few weeks I’ve decided to try to live my life free of Christianese. This applies to everyday conversations, when I write, and when I teach. I’m sure I’ll let a few phrases slip now and again, but I think I can still live a life that honors God and in fact even teach His word effectively while avoiding this language.Why? Why would I want to avoid this, especially in circles where it is accepted- such as churches? First off, I firmly believe that language you use in one situation will become the language you use throughout your life. If you gossip at home, it’s only a matter of time before you gossip at work. If I talk technical at work, it’s only a matter of time before I say something incredibly nerdy and full of techno babble while out with my friends. Second of all, I have made arguments in previous posts about my belief that cussing in comedy lowers the intelligence of the art and that I refuse to do it even though I know I can get a guaranteed laugh out of it. In Christian circles, you can probably get a few “Amen”s over the Biblical hermenutics of the passages discussing the deity resurrection. However, what would you say when you’re at Starbucks and your friend asks you to explain why you believe Jesus came back to life after being killed? I don’t know what you would say, but I would have said something pretty close to the “deity resurrection” speech garnering a blank stare and an unwillingness of my friend to ask further questions…ever.My main reasons for avoiding Christianese are found right in the above definitions. In the first definition it states that this language “applies only to the Christian sphere of influence.” Meaning, you will most likely not be understood outside of this sphere. Some people only live in this sphere and thereby only use this language. I used to only live in this sphere, but since walking the streets that Jesus walked I’ve discovered that such language is woefully inadequate to convey the love that Jesus has for everyone.Definition two says such language “makes no sense to anyone unfamiliar with biblical texts.” And definition three calls it language that “the unsaved masses are unlikely to understand.” I have a hard enough time conveying my points in my eighth-grade level English without setting an obstacle for myself that “makes no sense” or some are “unlikely to understand.”Perhaps this is why Jesus used parables to teach. Parables were stories that conveyed Jesus’ point. Perhaps if He was sent to Earth today He would use movies or tv shows or Tweets. I don’t know. But it is clear that he spoke to the people in language they could understand. The religious leaders didn’t like what he had to say, but it wasn’t because they didn’t understand. They were angry, not confused. Now, I know that not everything was understood and not everything we say will be understood either. The Bible and the Truth in it has some complex concepts that cannot be understood without the work of the Holy Spirit. But my main point here isn’t about trying to explain the Trinity, it’s simply about living an everyday life that relates to the everyday neighbor.Previously I could not only speak Christianese fluently, I lived a Christianese life- in what many call “The Bubble” of Christianity. I was raised in a Christian home, volunteered with Christian organizations, spent multiple days a week at church, only listened to Christian music, went to a Christian college, and eventually worked for a Christian organization. Now many of those things are good and noble but some how through all of that I lost focus. Jesus gave us the Great Comission to tell people about His love. That’s it. Tell people. It doesn’t matter who they are or where they are and Jesus didn’t give us guidlines on how to tell, he just said tell. I was getting good a telling. But I wasn’t any good at being understood. That’s a big part of why I went to sea. I wanted out of the Christian Bubble and into the world Jesus saw. It’s not easy. The Christian Bubble is safe and warm- once you are insider it’s like you’re in an episode of Cheers and people know your name and are always glad you came.Once outside of Christiandom (aka The Bubble) I had to reevaluate what my faith looks like (note: I didn’t say what my faith is. This is not an arguement for some type of New Christianity- only a new representation of it). I wasn’t sure how to do what the church would call “personal evangelism” to be honest, I still don’t have it figured out and maybe I never will. However, what I found was that people wanted a friend. They wanted someone to love them. Now, I can already hear the objections forming in some minds out there “Love everyone? What about homosexuals? What about alcoholics? I’m supposed to love them?” Yep. It’s not always easy to love everyone- people have different opinions that you do. It is easy for me to love someone that likes the Steelers, pizza, country music, and everything Tina Fey has every put her hand to. But that doesn’t mean those are the only people I should love. Think about someone you love. Now think about something about them you don’t love. I’m guessing that wasn’t that hard. No one is perfect…even you. Phillip Yancey has offered up the idea that the opposite of sin isn’t virtue, it’s grace. God cares so much about people that He is concerned with more than just their behaviors, He is concerned about their souls. Are you? I wasn’t. I thought that anyone that wanted to be a Christian had to not curse, drink, smoke, or watch anything above a PG-13 rating, and they had to vote Republican. Truth be told, anyone that wants to be a Christian may have done any number of things. That doesn’t stop God’s love for them. So why did it stop my love for them? If people aren’t more than the sum of their behaviors, I don’t deserve love or friendship either.At any given night on my cruise ship you may find me at the crew bar known as the “Back Deck.” The Back Deck is the main social spot for the crew. There is no Starbucks to meet at, you can’t go to the park for a walk, and it’s pretty hard to have everyone over for movie night in a tin can sized cabin. But the back deck is the real life Facebook of the crew. You also might find me speaking in a church service for the crew. There was a time in my life when this dicotomy would have blown my mind. But I was wrong. Jesus ate and hung around with people the religious crowd shunned. How will I be able to relate to them and be friends with them if I refuse to do the same and meet them where they are?I feel that this post may have become kind of garbled as I’m combining multiple ideas in my brain as I write but I hope my points are still apparent. Basically, I’m trying to become more relateable. I’m changing the way I talk about God and matters of faith to make it more accessible (Christianese speakers read “seeker friendly”). And I’m changing the way I look at evangelism, by becoming friends with people. Real honest to goodness friends. Some one that is not going to judge you, but will listen to you and love you. No one has a perfect record and because of my own past I have to believe that souls are of greater value than behaviors.A few things inspired this post:1. My life in the world both in and out of Christiandom2. The book “unChristian” by David Kinnaman and Gabe Lyons. If you are in ministry, a Christian, or opposed to Christianity on some level this book is a must read. I don’t typically have strong feelings about books, but this is the one book I wish every person I know would read. Seriously, check it out.3. Christianese of those around me. For example: In the last three weeks I have noticed a change from the use of “Easter” to “Resurrection Sunday” by church attending friends across the country. I will openly admit that I haven’t done extensive research on the subject, but I garner that the switch is a movement away from a name stemming from pagan traditions. To me it looked like a move from a concept that even those outside of Christian churches could recognize to a foreign and confusing name. Many people not in church on Sunday, April 24 still know what Christians celebrate on Easter. Why the name change? Are we deliberately trying to confuse our neighbors and become more unrelatable?Thanks for taking the time to read my thoughts and ideas. As mentioned above, a lot of this is still in flux as I meet and talk to people that Jesus loves. How will he reveal his love to these people? What is my role in that?
