Christians + Clichés = Christian-ese

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Introduction:

All of us are aware of annoying phrases that have long since worn out their welcome, or were never welcome to begin with. You know what I’m talking about, “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.” Is it really? Sounds like someone is being lazy and unoriginal to me. “Let’s git her done.” Annoying. “Just sayin.” No, you’re not “just sayin,” you’re trying to be a smart mouth. “A penny saved is a penny earned.” Ummm, no it’s not. You don’t earn something by saving it, it was already earned. “The pen is mightier than the sword.” Are you sure? How about we test that theory out? “Good things come to those who wait.” They do? Usually good things come to those who get off their butts and work for them (if they are able, of course). “It’s time to sink or swim.” Well, I’m tired so I think I’ll float a while. 

After pointing out those few examples let’s change direction a bit. Let’s turn to Christians now and look at some of the weird things said in churches and among believers. I have always called these phrases and cliches within Christianity “Christian-ese.” You get an entirely new language when you take Christians and add their cliches. And the language you get is what I call Christian-ese.

Most of the time we think we are being helpful, wise, godly, spiritual, encouraging, but more often than not we are sticking our dry, scaly, fungus covered feet in our mouths. There are several phrases heard within the church and Christian circles that are just as irritating, or moreso, as the ones similar to those listed in the first paragraph above. Some really bother the “heck” out of me and others are just more of a nuisance.

Following is just a sampling of the Christian-ese so often heard around us:

One – “Just let go and let God” or “Just hang on and trust God.”

Both of these are not very useful and are actually quite confusing. We are told to both “let go” and “hang on” so frequently that our minds feel like they are on a constant teeter totter. “I can’t hang on if I let go and I can’t let go if I hang on.” We ask ourselves, “if I let go am I not trusting God and if I hang on am I not letting God?”

I understand these can actually help in making a point, especially the first one, but define exactly what you mean by what you are saying. And if you are going to use one of them just choose one of them. You can use the other in your next conversation, sermon, lesson, or discussion.

Two – “Amen.”

I might take some hits for this one, but I’m use to it. It’s not the word in and of itself that is annoying, after all it’s quite biblical. It is the overuse and misuse of the word that is so frustrating. 

Amen means “so be it.” It’s the ending of a point or discussion or prayer. I was in an online discussion with some people the other day and one individual kept putting “amen” at the end of every single one of his comments in the conversation thread. I finally asked him why he kept using “amen.” I said something along the lines of, “you keep using amen at the end of each comment. Amen basically means ‘so be it,’ it is like the solidification of the point being made or the prayer being offered. You type ‘amen’ and yet continue pontificating your position. Why do you keep using ‘amen?’” He left the discussion.

I think this is often done to put out an heir of religiousity. It’s a Pharisaical type of abuse of the word. Not everyone and not all of the time, but the point still stands.

Three – “I’ll pray for you.”

This one is a bit tougher because I need to refrain from being judgmental. I want nothing more than to believe when someone says they will pray for me that they actually will. Unfortunately, I have a suspicion that more often than we think Christians toss this phrase out as a platitude or because they don’t know what else to say. If you have no intention of actually praying, or if you know you will most likely forget to pray, then just simply show concern and compassion. We need to be very serious about making promises to pray for someone. Praying is serious business.

Four – “Quiet time.”

I really get annoyed with this one and I’ll tell you why. Although the idea may be present, to some degree, in the bible, the specific words are not yet they get tossed around as though they are law. Almost every three point, five point, seven point, or however many point sermon starts with: 1) Have your “quiet time” with the Lord.

And the questions people feel obligated to ask us, when all we want to do is vent or discuss something we are having problems with, start with: “Well, have you been having a regular ‘quiet time?’” “Is your ‘quiet time’ in the morning or evening? It has to be in the morning you know, you may get sleepy in the evening?” “Well, be sure not to forget your ‘quiet time.’”

Personal time with the Lord is extremely important, but if we have that specified quiet time in an overly structured manner, then it often becomes easy to neglect Him throughout the rest of the day. Why don’t we spend time with him when it’s loud, stressful, and hectic too? Better yet, throughout our entire day, even our entire life, we should be offering up all of our thoughts and lives to God.

Five – “Hedge of protection.”

What does this even mean? I’ve even caught myself using this one simply from hearing it prayed so often in my childhood, teen, and early adult years. It’s really just a goofy Christian-ese cliché. We’d be better off just praying and saying what we mean.

Six – “Invite Jesus into your heart.”

I kind of understand this one and I don’t despise it so much as feel very uncomfortable with the wording. Besides not really being scriptural, it doesn’t properly communicate the full surrender and devotion that is called for when God saves us. We don’t casually answer a door that’s being knocked on, we recognize God is calling us to be his child and we submit and commit to that calling.

Seven – “Jesus loves you.”

Now this one is completely true. It’s a 100 percent certainty that he does love you, me, us. It’s just that this gets abused, overused, and applied to situations where it may not be completely accurate.

My main problem here is that T-shirts, bumper stickers, plaques, bookmarks, and meme posts aren’t the best way to communicate his love. Taking action is much more productive.

Eight – “Guard your heart.”

It is true that this one is biblical and it can be found in Proverbs 4:23. Most of the time I’ve heard this short sentence of Christian-ese used regarding dating relationships. One prays for another usually saying something like, “Heavenly Father, please guard his heart as he and so and so get closer to each other and grow together as a couple.” I think what they should really be praying is, “Heavenly Father, please give him the strength to resist lust so that both of them can remain sexually pure as they grow closer to each other.” Again, just pray what it is you really mean.

Nine – “The Sinner’s Prayer.”

This cliché is not biblical. There is no magical verbal formula which causes regeneration. God reaches all of us in different ways. 

Ten – “I don’t feel led.”

This one is a pet peeve for me. All too often I’ve heard this one used as an excuse for inactivity or for just not wanting to do something. 

Instead of being honest about what they are thinking and feeling they blame God by implying he has directed them elsewhere. Just be honest. Don’t use this as an excuse to keep you from feeling uncomfortable.

Eleven – “Walk with God” or “Walk with the Lord.”

It’s not that I have a major distaste for this one, it’s just that it has been used so much it’s lost it’s real meaning. And not only that, when we say this in front of unbelievers can you imagine what they must be thinking, “We walk with who? Where?”

Twelve – “It was God’s will…” (when something bad happens or there’s a failure of some kind).

This is true in regards to his permissive will. I mean absolutely nothing happens without God’s knowledge. However, many times, not always but often, I have seen and heard this used as an excuse for sin and blatant irresponsibility. A ministry, church, or marriage fails due to irresponsibility or sin and they use this phrase. When in actuality, it was their own fault.

Conclusion:

I guess my main point here is that we need to just say what we mean. Don’t talk in circles. Also, be honest. Don’t make promises you may not keep, even if you have the intention of keeping those promises. In addition, when it comes to doctrine and the Bible we need to use accurate theological terminology. We can’t be sloppy or lazy in this area. And last, we need to stop with the cliche’s and start talking clearly so that non-believers don’t have to try and interpret or decipher what it is we are saying.

This was a guest post from Dr. Jeff Hagan.

Jeff is an ordained Christian minister with over 23 years of ministry experience. He has attended Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, Luther Rice Seminary, Tyndale Seminary and a handful of other institutes as well. He has earned several degrees including the Doctor of Christian Education and the Doctor of Theology.