Redeeming Christianese
I was leading my weekly Young Adults Bible Study and said something about “imaging God.” Without missing a beat, one of the more sarcastic participants quipped, “Hey, that’s some good Christianese there, Mike.” She wasn’t wrong. It can be so easy for Christians to rely on Christianese like a crutch - words or phrases that sound true to “insiders” while remaining somewhat opaque.
It was easy for me to talk about Genesis 1:26-27 and use phrases like “we should image God” and “how can we image God better?” Was this really the best way to say what I meant, or simply the easiest and most convenient? That’s often how Christianese works. It usually flows when believers are trying to say something true or helpful without really thinking about the actual meaning we’re trying to convey but they haven’t given their words sufficient thought. So we say it the easiest way possible. And that’s rarely the best way to say anything wise or helpful.
I’m thankful for this sister in Christ’s sarcasm. It’s caused me to remember the need to speak with meaning and intentionality. Christianese usually flows when Christians are trying to speak biblically and helpfully, but haven’t given much thought to their words. Here are three types of Christianese, offered to help you find a better way to articulate the gospel.
Undefined Christianese
This happens when people use theological words and phrases without defining them. Sometimes they’re used correctly, oftentimes they aren’t. Here’s a simple example: “To be a Christian, you need to believe the gospel.” This is a truthful statement. But how is a nonChristian supposed to know what this actually means. What is the gospel? What does it mean to believe this “gospel”? Why is this gospel the key to Christianity? A better statement would be, “To be a Christian, you need to believe that Jesus is God, and that sinners like you and me can be saved from judgment because Jesus took the punishment for us on the cross and he conquered our sin by rising from the grave.” It’s longer, but it’s also a better explanation of the most basic foundation of what it means to be a Christian.
Here’s the point - explain what you mean. Use important words like “gospel,” “justification,” “sanctification,” “confession,” and others. But define them in simple and clear terms. That way, others can actually learn what they mean. It will be more demanding and will take longer, but it’s better for your students to hear these explanations as often as possible so their definitions are drilled into their minds by the time they graduate.
Overly Complicated Christianese
There are two types of smart people. The first type is so smart they bewilder you with how much more complicated things are than you previously knew. The second type explains complicated truths in a way that makes you think, “Wow, I thought it was more complicated than that!” I pray that every pastor and youth leader would strive to be the second type!
If we preach with elegant verbosity that convicts students of their concupiscence without calling them to spiritual regeneration and repentance because of the atoning and propitiating work of Jesus on the cross, then we obscure the gospel and make ourselves impossible to understand. Instead, invite students to find life through the simple truth that Jesus died in their place and rose from the grave so they could have peace with God. Those last two sentences say the same thing (for the most part). Which would you rather read again?
Cheap Christianese
At best, Christianese seems mystical or spiritual. At worst, it’s like a secret code intended to confuse those who aren’t initiated. Before you talk about “being saved” or “giving your testimony” or “having a quiet time,” ask yourself if you can easily reword what you’re trying to say. Youth leaders have so little face-time with students, make your words count. If your words are cliche or cheap, then why should students listen? But if you speak with care and wisdom then they’ll listen to you. Even more - they’ll come to you when they have questions or need advice. Because they know your words actually mean something.
Finally, I do want to issue a word of caution against eliminating all Christianese. There can be a tendency to avoid important and valuable conversations because you’re too self-aware about becoming cliche or cheesy. Consider the Christianese advice, “You need to trust God with this.” That shouldn’t always be our only response to students’ struggles or questions. But sometimes it is.
Be neither overly-wise nor overly-simple. Measure your words. Speak with depth and simplicity. Proclaim the gospel of grace with clarity so unchurched teenagers can find life in Christ. Words matter. Use yours to lead students to Jesus.
“For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing,
but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”
1 Corinthians 1:18
