Be Care Full!

When I decided to take the plunge and become a Christian one of the things I had to learn was how to speak a new language.  It was called Christanese and it had been spoken to me several times in the past, I just didn’t know what was being said.  In fact, had I had not taken the time to decipher it, I would I have ever understood half of it.  As a result of those efforts and the plain English teachings of Ed Young of Fellowship Church that set the stage for me being “Saved” – oops…there’s a Christianese term.

The Urban Dictionary has three different definitions for Christianese – here’s my favorite: 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.

Examples of hard-core Christianese terms and phrases include the following:

Saved, Savior, Salvation,Redeemed, Delivered, blood of the Lamb, Crucified, inequities, Sin, Lord and dying on the cross, the Word, risen savior, shed blood, Calvary, etc.

I understand these terms now but it took awhile to get there for me.  I think it takes a long time for many to get there but they wont admit it.  In fact, I would say that people can hide behind the language and it makes you seem like you know what you’re talking about…I’m just saying.

The truth is I believe God would want us to interpret what he said in and through the Bible as clear and as relevant as possible so that everyone could and would understand it.  I know when I’m teaching I’m working on using  the clearest language I can.  I’ve had to do it in Children’s ministry for years but I tend to let the Christianese slip when I’m talking with adults.

Plain good ol’ Texan English works best for me now.  Of course, since I’m from west Texas sometimes it sounds like I’m speaking a totally different language anyway but I think for the most part people understand me.  I throw in a lot of “reckons” and “ya’lls” but that’s just how I talk.

If you hear me get preachy with Christianese terms remind me to bring it on down a notch and talk in plain terms.  I don’t want to sound like a foreigner.

Thanks,

BHolt