The following definition of Christianese can be found on Wikipedia.
“The related term Christianese (or Bible-speak) refers to the contained terms and jargon used within many of the branches and denominations of Christianity as a functional system of religious terminology. It is characterized by the use in everyday conversation of certain words, theological terms, and catchphrases, in ways that may be only comprehensible within the context of Christian belief.”
Now before I go bashing on this religious dialect, I would like to set the record straight. I am a recovering Pharisee, and as distasteful as I find the term Christian, I still align myself with this faith system. Without employing too much of the theological jargon I now despise, I simply choose to call my higher power God. I believe that Jesus personified mercy and grace, and today I know that I am broken, but loved.
A little background . . .
My grandmother raised my siblings and I in a small town Southern Baptist Church. Growing up in a dysfunctional family left me feeling lost and confused. The black and white nature of the Christian faith felt safe and inviting, and for as long as I can remember I loved going to Sunday school and “Big Church”, which was the term I used to define that sanctified eleven o’clock hour. I embraced the dogmatic traditions whole heartedly, and the rules were life saving devices in a world where I was tossed on the waves of instability. A defined sense of right and wrong made me feel superior, and each time my Sunday school teacher put one of those little gold stars on the memory verse chart, I would smile with pride and affirmation.
It didn’t take long before I became the president of the “holier than thou” club. As a teenager I mastered the art of condemnation, and I became fluent in Christianese. I acted all high and mighty, judging anyone and everyone who did not live up to my standard of perfection. When I got to college, I purposefully surrounded myself with other believers, and I guarded against the evil influences of the world. I refused to see rated R movies, and I waved my virginity around like a flag. The driving force behind every moral decision was this insane desire to remain “pure” and “holy”. I wanted to “glorify God”, and I this could only be achieved through a sinless life. Of course, I wanted others to be perfect too, so I could feel better about myself.
As a naïve sixteen year old kid, I vividly remember thinking about my future children. If they were ever faced with a moral dilemma, and they came to me for advice, I wanted to be able to stand before them and proudly say, “I avoided all the “big sins” like drinking and smoking and sex outside of marriage.” I was hell bent on eliminating regret from my life, which ended up reaping fruitless results. Today I am more ashamed of my pharisaical ways than anything I’ve ever done. I carry a deep sense of remorse for all the times I failed to truly love others.
Having emerged from this haze of self righteousness, I now judge those who remain stuck in the place I formerly lived. Perhaps I’ve made no progress at all. I read blogs and commentaries of right wing conservative Christians and I get pissed off. I know they are sincere in their presentation of truth, and I understand that their intentions are pure. However, when I hear the Christianese bullshit that claims our lives will be perfect if we simply follow a set of hard and fast rules, I literately want to vomit. Jesus is not the magic bullet.
Christianese divides. The language of the church separates. It makes seekers feel like outsiders, and it feeds the gods of pride and self centeredness. When I hear phrases like, “radiant bride of Christ” or “born-again believer” I cringe. Well meaning folks who spout off theological terms like “propitiation of sin” and “transfiguration” get on my last nerve. I have no tolerance for anyone who emphatically states Christians must act and look a certain way. No one has the right to judge my insides based on outside observations.
So, here I am. Still annoyed with my current inability to just let people be who they are. I wish I understood the concept of balance, but I’ve come to accept the reality that I am a pendulum swinger. I desperately want to embrace the ambiguous “grey”, but I am bent towards polarized thinking. Somebody has to be right, and somebody has to be wrong. For now, I’ll bitch about the conservative zealots whose Christianese gets under my skin. Who knows what tomorrow may bring?
Excellent article. I am in the same club as you. One of my biggest complaints about church was the whole, we're right, they're wrong, we're going to heaven, they're going to hell philosophy. I also had a problem with the attitude that you had to "prove" that you were really Christian at your new church. The fact that you said you were a Christian wasnt' enough. They needed a tearful run up the aisle or a baptism or you were suspect.
I am so happy that I found a church that is not judgemental of others. There are a lot of people who have these same thoughts and now there is a movement of people who call themselves "Christ-followers" instead of "Christians". They want to be removed from that sanctimonious, judgemental impression people have of Christians.
I try not to judge but I will admit there is sometimes some (hopefully discreet) eye rolling going on.
Who says this? Avoid 'em. Life will never get perfect. It's merely the possibility to have one aspect totally covered, the most important one, the afterlife, that gives us any safety.
Good article. Interesting self-evaluation. It is a shame that so many who consider themselves "Christians" maintain such un-Christian attitudes. But don't throw the baby out with the bathwater, just because the people aren't perfect doesn't mean the Gospel isn't true.
I know exactly what you mean. The sad part is there are a lot of obnoxious Christians who expect everyone to pass the "I know Jesus" test. I have an amazing friend whose life is a beautiful testimony of faith, and one of my former bosses actually made the statement, "I hope God gets a hold of your heart someday", simply because she is unchurched. She has a healthy, vibrant relationship with God, but he questions her faith because it doesn't look a certain way. He thinks he is "Mister Christianity", but in my book his a big jerk!
Yes, it is a shame. Of course, most of the folks with "un-Christian" attitudes are probably unaware of the damage they cause. Their hearts are usually in the right place, but their presentation of truth sucks. My grandma used to say, "Don't throw the baby out with the bath water." It definitely seems applicable here!
I like the term, "people of faith". Perhaps I will use that simple title in the future. Egotistical is a great word to describe religious zealots. Pride is a dangerous thing!
Too often you see this happening. It can happen in the big, corporation-like churchs and it can happen in the small, "so far back in the holler they gotta pump in sunshine" churchs. This attitude is something distresses both my wife and I. This distress has driven us out of several churchs lately.
Funny that I sign into JoeUser on Monday after watching the Mandy Moore movie "Saved" (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0332375/) which is about the hypocrisy found in people with just this attitude. Decent enough movie, manages to nail the hypocritical attitude. Mandy Moore's character is typical of the over-the-top, holier-than-though person who spouts this attitude. If seeing this attitude in person makes you want to spew (or throttle the person), then avoiding the movie might be better. She does THAT good a job on it.
Be careful not to replace pride in your faith with a pride for not being "blinded" by it anymore.
I don't know if you actually intend it, but this article comes across as prideful...you judged others when you were a "Christian" and now you are judging Christians, all the way down to the way they choose to communicate.
If Christanese gives someone peace, contentment, well-being, who are we to vomit all over their way?
Why can't you be happy where you are without putting down where you came from? Would someone putting you down while you were into that way of life have helped you at all? Or would it have made you more certain it was the right way to be?
Liberal: Perhaps its this way, but it could be that way.
Conservative: I like things the way they are and really don't want things to change very much.
Fundamentalist: Its this way, not that way, and anyone who thinks otherwise is in error!
The problem with the Christianese talkers is that they tend to fall into the last category above and won't stop evangilizing to the rest of us. The minute we object, they tell us it is we who have the problem. I guess we just supposed to shut up and take it.
See ya.
These are very insightful questions. Thank you for prompting me to look inward and reflect.
I have no right to judge their path. You are correct. I simply felt the need to express a current annoyance. Perhaps in the future, I should consider keeping my thoughts to myself.
As I stated in my blog, "Perhaps I've made no progress at all." The log of pride seems to be permantely lodged in my eye. I hope someday I can learn to accept all people exactly as they are. If it's any consoldation, I get on my own damn nerves!
I too grew up in a Southern Baptist Church (in Canada, they decided us canucks needed to be evangelized properly by some Texans... go figure!)
Evangelism is another topic of faith that rubs me the wrong way. I spent a couple of weeks as a college student participating in an event that coincided with the Southern Baptist Convention called Crossover Salt Lake. We were taught apologetics, and we were expected to go door knocking all over Mormon country trying to convince these people they were misled. It was the biggest farce I've ever seen, next to Beach Reach in South Padre where we supposed to share the gospel with a bunch of college students who were three sheets to the wind. I'm sorry the Texans polluted your Canadian community with such hypocrisy.
Funny that I sign into JoeUser on Monday after watching the Mandy Moore movie "Saved" (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0332375/) which is about the hypocrisy found in people with just this attitude. Decent enough movie, manages to nail the hypocritical attitude.
I've actually seen the movie Saved, but it was a few years back, right about the time my disillusionment season began. I remember thinking the movie had a profound message, but I was too blind to see it. My husband and I put it on our Blockbuster queue, so we can watch it again.
He's more of a gradual always-working kind of God.
When I was a little girl one of the deacons in our church who also happened to be a school teacher led the children's choir every Wednesday night. He taught us a song called, "He's Stlll Working on Me". I loved the catchy tune, and I still remember the lyrics today. Ironically, this pillar of the community ended up sexually molesting a student, and the whole incident was swept under the rug because of his position in the church. I think God is a gradual, always working kind of God. I just think the way He works can look different for ever person. Including the child molesting music guy.
Liberal: Perhaps its this way, but it could be that way. Conservative: I like things the way they are and really don't want things to change very much. Fundamentalist: Its this way, not that way, and anyone who thinks otherwise is in error!
I'd never seen these descriptions before. Interesting evaluation. I have some residual conservative values, but I'd like to think I'm moving toward the liberal camp. My pendulum swinging habits indicate an inability to choose.
I think everyone I know is just doing the best they can . . .
How is disagreeing with other's actions different from judging? Is my participation or abstinence from an activity in and of itself a judgement? I wish it were this cut and dry.
Good point, Tova. I'd like to think God is still in the process of changing my heart. Some habits die hard.
One of my favorite musicians, Pink, has a great song called, "I'm a Hazard to Myself". I feel this way most of the time, but on good days, I remember I am stretching and growing. Thanks for the compliments.
I've become a fan of the Church of the holy comforter on Sunday mornings. Pastor Pillow is great! I agree that spending time with God can look differently for every person. I've attended a few open AA meetings on Sundays, and I hear God more in these rooms than I ever did at church. Of course, I still believe there is fellowship to be found in the local church. I just wish my husband could find a church we "fit" in!
I agree that iron sharpens iron, and I recognize the value of fellowship. Thankfully, I have some long standing relationships with folks from my old church who continue to hold me accountable. My husband and I are in the process of moving, and we are hoping to get connected to a new church in the area we now live.
I'm curious about your comment regarding the acceptance of sin. I think Christians must walk a fine line in this area. Last time I checked, the Bible says we are broken jars of clay, and I am convinced that sinless living is impossible on this side of heaven. Yes, we must help our fellow man grow spiritually, but expecting perfection is fruitless. Growing comfortable in our sin is an interesting concept. I have been on a journey of self acceptance, which includes embracing my many flaws and imperfections. Do I have a desire for growth? Sure, but I also realize I'm a mess! Where is the balance?
You had a right to feel "holier than thou"....you were. Now as far as letting yourself love people, I can't help you there, but you were smart not to let yourself get involved with those who might try to lead you astray. My dear, whether you know it or not, you were the person we all wished we could be. You were a perfect example of what God meant for the rest of us....we all knew it.
There is nothing wrong with living a Godly life, no matter what anyone says. You have begun to listen to the world and not your heart. You said yourself you are angry at yourself and confused. God is not the author of confusion. The truth is inside of you. No, not some mystical we are all one-kind of truth, but the truth that you accepted into your heart all those years ago.
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