Christianese

Every group has its inside jokes and group vernacular. Some groups, like engineers, use acronyms that can make conversations completely unintelligible to outsiders. This is fine and good. Especially since it often speeds up communication... except when talking to people outside the circle. They can feel excluded and very confused.

Christianity is really bad at this. Christianese is something that I am sure you have heard whether you have spent much time in the church or not.

"Walk by faith, not by sight"
"Invite Jesus into your heart"
"Walk with G-d"
"Seek after G-d"
"Redemption for sin"
"Share your testimony"

I could keep going if I wanted to spend the time thinking about it. We don't usually use acronyms thankfully, but there are many many many phrases like the above. The problem is that they are said so often that I think they begin to lose their meaning even for the people who use them and should know what they mean. They are responses that become almost mechanical. Ideally they serve to communicate a real truth in a concise way, but if you aren't familiar with the term (who uses the word redemption in conversation) they will quickly get lost.

For example, if a Christian friend is having a tough time it is perfectly reasonable and all but expected to suggest they "seek G-d" or "press into G-d" in their difficult situation. But what does that mean? I mean, if you were banned from using the phrase how would you articulate that? What does it actually mean, in normal language to seek G-d? Do you even know? If a drill sergeant got in your face and commanded you to drop and seek G-d what actual action would you take?

My answer, not to leave the question completely open would be to practice some contemplative prayer. However, I am not sure that I have heard in very many places how to practically go and talk to G-d about what His will is in a situation or request His intervention in something. We throw "walk with G-d" and "Jesus' shed blood for the redemption of sin" around left and right. Many times I have heard "I'll pray for you" or some other "christian" response to a difficulty and it reminds me of the verse in James where is says: If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?

So cut the Christianese. Think about what you are actually wanting to say. I bet you sometimes don't even know.