I Think I’m Speaking Christianese, I Really Think So…

*this is something that I talk more about in my book 10 Things I Hate About Christianity:Working Through the Frustrations of Faith

Christians have their own language and it alienates people who don’t understand it. The other day I was listening to a podcast when the person teaching in
it said something that hit me. He asked the listeners if they wanted to,
“receive Jesus in their hearts.” I understand what that means, but for some reason this phrase really hit me this time.

Right now I am finishing a classic book written about 150 years ago. It’s a good story, but I can’t follow it too well. It’s written in old English. So when I can sift through the words and phrases and understand the story and characters, it’s a great book.

For example, it kept using the word ejaculate. Obviously, in todays language it means something totally different. And it took me a while to get it. In the context of the book, it was used to describe how someone spoke (suddenly and forcefully). But I kept getting hung-up on the word because of how I understood it today.

I think people get hung up on the words and phrases Christians use all the time. When I heard “receive Jesus” this time, it sounded so strange. Is Jesus a football to be caught? Is he like the cold that just went around in my family for the last 2 months?
 
So I studied the phrase in the Bible and you know what? It’s not in there. I might sound like I am out on a limb here, but I don’t even think the concept is in the New Testament at all. Did I just say that? Yes.

But what is peppered through out the Bible is the idea (in word and concept) of believing. For example:

If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and if you believe
in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead, you will be saved. -Romans 10:9

Believing in Jesus and confessing (simply voicing what you believe) is everywhere in the Bible. And I like this better. The language and meaning of it makes more sense to me. Even better, I think people can get the whole idea of believing.

So Christians, if you want people to understand your faith, I think the first step is talking normal. Even further, talk in a way that accurately describes the foundations of your faith. Watch for the Christianese please.