"Christianese" is a communicable language within the Christian subculture with words and phrases created, redefined, and / or patened that applies only to the Christian sphere of influence. In other words, it's an invented word used to express the use of Christian theology terms that may seem like bibberish to those that have no idea what the speaker is talking about.
How often do we do this though? How often do we talk to people about Jesus, but we use terms and words that they have an easier time understanding Chinese or Sign Language rather than understanding us? Jesus used metaphors, similies, and analogies to portray and demonstrate God's goodness, message and invitation to Life. Why is it that we must show how spiritually intellectual we are by using big words or words that seem to make no sense or are even frightening to our listeners?
My sister and I moved to Canada in 2004, after the death of our parents. We understood little to no french at all. The only thing that truly helped us was the fact that we are Haitian American. Haitian Creole is some what close to French. Anyway, if a Montreal Canadian had come up to us (which happened quite often in our first two years) to announce, in French, something like how we were being offered a chance to live in Prime Minister Stephen Harper's house or even better; a chance to live at the White House with President Barack Obama and reap the benefits of living there, that would've been AWESOME! But at that point in time, if someone didn't translate everything that person would've said to us from French to English, my sister and I would've missed out on such a ONCE IN A LIFETIME, GOLDEN opportunity. Why? Just because French was such a foreign language at the time.
In the same way, God's message and invitation to Life must be translated into language people can UNDERSTAND. Using words like KINGDOM, REPENTANCE, and SAVED sound scary and uncommon to most people. It is as if we are speaking a language that is foreign when we use terms like being "justified," "sanctified," or "redeemed." Please, don't get me wrong, these terms are important, but we must first understand the truth of God's message enough to translate them into a language or vocabulary that ordinary people (those who have yet to know these things) can understand.
Why though? Why would someone turn from what they are used to, what they have grown to know and love, from the only semblance of life, love, and security they have ever known (apart from God) and turn to God if they don't believe that He is good or has good intentions towards them? That is where Jesus steps in. He used creatuve language and many analogies to paint and demonstrate an accurate picture of the Father's goodness in terms people would and could understand:
"He runs to the prodigal son with open arms (Luke 15:11-32)" and "He values you more than many sparrows (Matthew 6:25-34)."
Yes, Jesus did speak in parables (moral stories) to provoke people's hearts that were on the verge of being responsive or those that were hardened, but He also gave life to a linguistic picture so others may understand and see God's goodness.
We should do the same! Sometimes, it is not that people don't want to believe in Jesus. It is just that they don't have a clue what we are saying. We try to seem high and mighty by using terms that we believe will spike their curiousity but in reality, all we do is cause even more confusion. In order for people to turn and trust God with their whole lives (repent and believe), we must stop speaking "Christianese" and just be us. Use words that they will comprehend and most importantly, just be yourself. It is important that we listen to their needs and invite them to Life.
Have a blessed day and don’t forget to spread for Christ!
(Devotions/ Devotionals)
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