Christianese

[discernomatic]

One thing I had to get over after leaving a certain church milieu, was to stop speaking Christianese. I used to use certain words to describe myself or what I did or what a church did, but now try to use normal language to describe everything. I still slip up once in a while, but being isolated from groups that use Christianese has helped the most in getting it out of my system.

Some examples:

1. "God wants to prosper you!"

Give me all of your money so he can do it!

2. "You have an independent spirit"

You have begun to think for yourself again (I thought I had that out of them by now) - don't continue like this, or else you'll get it.

3. "I'll pray for you."

I don't really believe for your healing, but it would be terrible to admit it. Plus I can pray and so avoid other ways to really help in this situation.


I'll pray that you do things my way, 'cause my way is God's way.


I'll pray for you to get back in line and stop disturbing me.


4. "Touch not mine anointed"

Do what I say without asking stupid questions and making others doubt along with you.

5. "God put it on my heart"

I actually want you to do this, but if I say it outright, you'll be able to refuse, but if I tell you God said it then you have no possibility to disagree.

6. "I'm on fire for the Lord!"

I'm really excited about evangelizing and into every church project and you're not...why aren't you going along with it? Do you really believe? If you do, you'd better be just like me.


I think that often such phrases have been used to manipulate, deceive and hurt people. They can be triggering to those that suffered because of hearing these phrases used like weapons against them or because they remind them of the abusive environment of the church they left. I have to avoid certain Christian groups if I do not want to hear such phrases.

Here is a good article about Christianese:

http://www.chass.utoronto.ca/~cpercy/courses/6362-baker.htm

Does anyone have any more examples of Christianese?

 

[FLANDIDLYANDERS]

"A prayer concern" = gossip.

"The Lord" = man with beard, nasty and mean.

"WWJD" = be driven by guilt.

Good to see you around again girl, you ever gonna display a picture of YOU in yer avatar?

Or are you just too hot.

 

[Rick Otto]

as one sister rolls off!

I got so fed up with it, when someone said "awesome" I heard "awful".
The only part of "anointed" I could process was "anoi"!

Great post.

Make Flan show you his first.

I would my own, but I'm still to ignorant.

 

[FLANDIDLYANDERS]

Dude, click the photo icon. Jeez. Hint: i'm the oldest one in the pic.

 

[New_Wineskin]

Does anyone have any more examples of Christianese?

I have many . The one that comes immediately to mind is the slight usage of "thee" and "thine" and other old English words during prayers .

Of course , the worst case of christianese is when people evangelize while quoting Jimmy's version - not even attempting to communicate to people as if they were a fellow human .

 

[hairettic]

I feel your pain....I hear them too. I roll my eyes, and my kids give me that look....that says...."why can't they just be REAL." Or maybe it means "let's get out of here fast" one or the other.

lately I hear...
"how you doing sister, I haven't seen you in a long time"
aka...why haven't you been in church.

to which I reply..
"you been looking in the wrong places"

 

[FLANDIDLYANDERS]

Yeah you tell em girl. Maybe theyll find you hanging out with prostitutes, loan sharks (tax collectors), criminals (galileans) and the insane. Good enough for Jesus, good enough for us

 

[gratis]

Wow - cool thread.
One of my biggest peeves lately is "Christianese". Most who speak this way, seem to think they are a better Christian because of it.
HA HA! It's such a farce really.

I'm still deleting these words from my vocabulary....

 

[Machachachi]

I've decided that normal speaking doesn't quite hit the spot for me, but I also hate Christianese, so I've adopted speaking poetically. Something about poetry or phrasing things in a way that is more "creative" makes what I'm saying more real and hits the depths of my soul, which is normally what I'm trying to find when speaking about God anyway.

God has spared no expense on me and I want what I say about Him to not spare a single part of me, even if that means sounding like a fool.

Regardless I do hate Christianese, but I'm finding its a delusion of something better, truly being creative for God and speaking with all the passion and depth of who you are. No use pretending to be shallow when I'm not!

Of course there is something to be said for making sense ;-). What was I talking about again? Oh yeah, cheers to your efforts to kick off paradigms and falsehoods covered in flowery language! May God show you a better way indeed!

 

[FLANDIDLYANDERS]

Sometimes we can express God more clearly using the cultures and stories around us. Metaphors are fine, but sometimes another approach can actually revitalise our own expression.

It's all very post-modern I'm sure, but I am Samurai because it fits me well and has allowed me to grasp aspects of things like "the crucifixion" that i never really "owned" before.

 

[hairettic]

CHEERS Gratis,
Read your bible and pray and everything will be ok!

 

[Rick Otto]

"Dude, click the photo icon."
>Naw,... I know how to do that, I don't know how to input a pic icon. Now i'm all embarrassed. I'll have to figger it out to save face! lol

 

[gratis]

CHEERS Gratis,
Read your bible and pray and everything will be ok!

Hey miss hairettic,

lablaw-shablaw-falalalala-shananana-bananarama-rararara
(repeat 60 times in varying order)

And you will be much more spiritual than me.

signed,
tongue-tied-in-Idaho

 

[hairettic]

Hey Rick, I wish I could help and tell you how I did it. I have a friend that put the video on, and my kids show me how-to alot also. I am computer illiterate. But do a fine job of faking it. I did help pneuma3 get a body though..so ya all comment on it when you see it!

Now Gratis...how about a loud from the front row. Preach is Sister!

 

[discernomatic]

you ever gonna display a picture of YOU in yer avatar?

Or are you just too hot.

I'm not photogenic, and Jessica Alba looks like a prettier and younger version of myself. Hot, yeah, I could be if I wanted to...Jessica Alba gets paid for it, I don't.

More Christianese:

- You're being carnal.

I don't want you to go to the movies or to the pub or do anything that could remotely be fun outside of a church atmosphere. Also, you are to stay under my control.

- I'm blessed.

Some use it to mean that they are doing fine, but if they would just say, "I'm fine" would be thought of as less spiritual by the others.

- secular

Anything not controlled by the church organization or the pastor.

- Get ready for the next level.

We'll be starting a planned revival using somebody's book in a month or two - or our own program - so start expecting unusual things, so we can "get results" and look all godly when it starts. Get ready to start faking results and go along with the gag if you don't get anything from the hullaballoo, we have to show others that we have a handle on God and that they don't.

- I am seeking the Lord on this matter.

I haven't the slightest idea what to do and am trying to buy some time. Once I have decided then you can't be against my decision, because the Lord will have told me what to do.

-You're too proud.

You are not submitting enough to me - so get back under my control, you have no line to God, but I do, I know better than you do because I'm the pastor.

 

[Machachachi]

Listening to this is making me sad.... It reminds me too much of church

 

[hairettic]

Sad but true. I wish people would realize they don't have to speak this way.

 

[DannyB]

I feel your pain....I hear them too. I roll my eyes, and my kids give me that look....that says...."why can't they just be REAL." Or maybe it means "let's get out of here fast" one or the other.

lately I hear...
"how you doing sister, I haven't seen you in a long time"
aka...why haven't you been in church.

to which I reply..
"you been looking in the wrong places"

LOL!

"You must spread some Reputation
around before giving it to hairettic again."

DRATZ!

 

[hairettic]

:d

 

[Rick Otto]

discernomatic,
You've earned your handle.
Excellent analysis. I remember all of that.