For as long as I can remember, I have lived in a sort of
bubble in which those around me speak in something that is jokingly referred to
as “Christianese.” Christianese is a made-up term for a made-up language that predominately
consists of code words and phrases that make ordinary sayings sound more
spiritual or cryptic. For example, a native Christianese speaker may say, “We
were pouring into those kids. On the
mission trip, we really loved on them.
Many people got saved and became believers."
Overtime, I’ve become somewhat immune to even noticing when
I, or other Christians, are using this cryptic jargon. I say all this not to
condemn or mock Christianity, but to really take a closer look to examine what
is being said in these instances. What is the motive behind using “Christianese”
phrases? Are we actually representing the claims we are making in Spirit and in
truth? Does the Christian phrase still hold the same meaning it first had when
it was created?
There are dozens of phrases I could dissect and discuss, but
for now I will focus on the term “believer.” According to Merriam-Webster’s
definition, a believer is “someone that is sure that a god exists or that their
religion is true.” Notably, the Etymology Online Dictionary states that the
word believer originated in the 1540’s with the definition “one who has faith
in religion,” which later changed to “one who gives credence (to anything)
without personal knowledge, one firmly persuaded of the truth of something.”
The Bible also frequently refers to Christ’s followers or people of faith as “those
who believed.”
Historically speaking, the phrase “believer” holds a significant
weight. In the book of Acts, the people who heard the Gospel and submitted
their own knowledge and understanding to a belief in the authenticity of God
would later be referred to as believers. In present day, a believer is
understood as someone that has great confidence and assurance in something or
someone.
All of this background information and study of one simple
word really challenges me to identify whether or not I, as a follower of
Christ, am truly representing the significance and weight that is held within
the word “believer.” Am I really trusting God with everything? Am I truly submitting
my personal knowledge and understanding to a belief that there is One who is
greater and can do all things? Have I, overtime, forgotten the power in believing?
Moving forward, it is my desire that I always use “Christianese”
with caution. If I claim something, I need to mean it. As someone who
identifies as a “believer,” it is my goal to start acting on this claim by exhibiting
complete faith and assurance that God is the CREATOR of all
things and can DO all things.
Likewise, I challenge those of you who fall into the
category of “Christianese-speakers” to do a similar self-assessment. What is
your motive behind using certain words or phrases? Furthermore, are you truly
representing the claims that are held within these phrases? If not, I challenge
you to recalibrate and find Biblical truth that refreshes your
mind to God's purpose and how it relates to your life today.
Until next time,
Tamara
