Pet peeves/jargon

[Yekcidmij]

As always feel free to comment.  Be as critical as you want, I dont get offended unless you call me names

One of my biggest pet peeves around the church is christian jargon.  Overused words that heard all of the time around the church, in the church, outside the church, etc...It really gets on my nerves and I know it has to get on peoples nerves that arent christian.  Ive got a short list here of some of these christian jargon words:

"Born again, anointing, Salvation, saved, sinner, sin, justifcation, evangelical, assurance, redeemed, redamption, mission, outreach, repentence, witness, confess, lost, found the Lord, have a burden, placed on my heart, spoke to my heart"

I know we have all used these words, and since I have been Christian for a long time I know what they mean when somebody starts using them.  But when I am talking to friends and co-workers I avoid churchy terms at all costs.  I think that these jargon words sound a little preachy and "better than thou".  I dont like using them in or out of church.  In my opinion using churchy, jargon words are a very, very ineffective way to communicate Jesus with others.  There has to be a more effective way.  Feel free to throw in some ideas.  As usual when I have strong feelings about something I could be way off base.  If you think I am, tell me.

 

[waterwizard]

You have a point there. 

A lot of people use that jargon to make themselves appear "righteous".  It's the straight, plain talk that unsaved people understand.  That's how the pastor of the church where I was saved talked to us.  He used the jargon at times, but in a way that the unsaved could relate to and understand.  And he didn't talk above us, he talked TO us. 

I especially have a problem with the word "anoint".  I've heard it a lot lately (He's anointed, this service has the anointing, etc.), it seems like a buzzword as of late.  I need to study more about it and try to understand exactly why I feel this way.

 

[TWells]

Today at 07:33 AM Yekcidmij said this in Post #1

As always feel free to comment.  Be as critical as you want, I dont get offended unless you call me names

One of my biggest pet peeves around the church is christian jargon.  Overused words that heard all of the time around the church, in the church, outside the church, etc...It really gets on my nerves and I know it has to get on peoples nerves that arent christian.  Ive got a short list here of some of these christian jargon words:

"Born again, anointing, Salvation, saved, sinner, sin, justifcation, evangelical, assurance, redeemed, redamption, mission, outreach, repentence, witness, confess, lost, found the Lord, have a burden, placed on my heart, spoke to my heart"

I know we have all used these words, and since I have been Christian for a long time I know what they mean when somebody starts using them.  But when I am talking to friends and co-workers I avoid churchy terms at all costs.  I think that these jargon words sound a little preachy and "better than thou".  I dont like using them in or out of church.  In my opinion using churchy, jargon words are a very, very ineffective way to communicate Jesus with others.  There has to be a more effective way.  Feel free to throw in some ideas.  As usual when I have strong feelings about something I could be way off base.  If you think I am, tell me.

While I can understand what your saying, especially with terms "have a burden" "placed on my heart" "spoke to my heart" (those just seem cheesy) What other words could you use in the place of sin or sinner?

Wrongdoer, evildoer, Wrongdoin, evil deeds??

I think that when most Christians try to witness to someone they try to use language and terms they can understand. The rest are just theological terms for what they describe and I see no point in changing them. What other word would you use for the doctrine of Justification? If Christians themselves dont know they then they should learn.




 

 

[LN]

Here's one: "God's will." I can see its usefulness in some contexts, but in others... its just silly. It tends to eliminate the idea that God gave us a brain to use when making decisions.

 

[jayebrownlee]

In some situations I can see what you are talking about however I think all those words have there place (BTW, I am on your side here, it is just not evident from what I am saying!!)

"Born again, anointing, Salvation, saved, sinner, sin, justifcation, evangelical, assurance, redeemed, redamption, mission, outreach, repentence, witness, confess, lost, found the Lord, have a burden, placed on my heart, spoke to my heart"

Born again is a phrase that can be found in the Bible, jesus talks of being born again and while I don't think that it si something that should be put into every sentencce I think it has a place in the church

Annointing is something that we are told to by jesus. When someone is ill annoint them with oil. Again it came from jesus so I don't think that it is a word that we should ignore.

Salvation. Isn't this what we all strive for, what else could we call it?

saved. Again what else do you want to call it, it is what Christians are.

Sinner and Sin. If these are referred to in the context of forgivness then i think they are very important. however if it just people telling everyone how they are not good enough becausre they sin and are sinners then that is out of order.

evangelical. I am an evangelist so i don't think I can comment!!

assurance, redeemed, redemption - I can kind of see your point here!! (see I am on your side)

Mission - depends on the context, I have been involved with a few missions and I am going to use that word there, and my Aunt was a missionary so I imagine that it came up a few times there!! However I can sort of see your point here too.

I could go on but I don't see the point.

Jay

 

[Yekcidmij]

*Deleted for grammatical reasons*see post below

 

[Yekcidmij]

Well, like I said, if you were talking to me and using these words, I could relate and I would know what you were talking about. But if I dont think that poeple who dont go to church can relate as well when people talk like this. I know from personal expirence that many people are turned off when they hear "church talk". Besides when Im carrying on everyday conversation I dont use these catch words/phrases. Just my thoughts at least.

 

[Yekcidmij]

Here is a decent link dealing with this topic:

http://www.onmission.com/webzine/jul_aug00/when_words.htm

 

[Blackhawk]

10th March 2003 at 02:43 PM waterwizard said this in Post #2


I especially have a problem with the word "anoint".  I've heard it a lot lately (He's anointed, this service has the anointing, etc.), it seems like a buzzword as of late.  I need to study more about it and try to understand exactly why I feel this way.

I agree about the word "annoit."  But as a baptist I have one for us that means the same thing.  "Spirit filled"  I have no problem with either word but they are just used over and over again.  And I think they are used inappropriately sometimes.