Just Breathe

What?!?!

November 1, 2006 at 8:34 pm (Uncategorized)

Try something for me….Next time you go to pray, or talk about your faith, or get into a religious discussion with someone, instead of covering yourself with a blanket cliché, tell them what you really mean.  Nobody likes these clichés that we’re all in the habit of dropping everywhere.  Non-Christians think you sound ridiculous and Christians are not at all challenged by you because as soon as we all start speaking Christianese to one another, our brains shut off and we no longer have to think about the message being preached or the discussion being held.  We are all just droning on about this and that and no one is really thinking or listening or moving or growing. 

Like when you say “God provided,” did He literally open up the heavens and drop an envelop of money into your open hands.  When “He spoke” to you, did you hear an audible voice?  Could anyone else hear it?  Did He yell?  Whisper?Boom? Have an accent?  When ”God led you” in a certain direction or you “have a heart for” something or “just REALLY FEEL like” He wants you somewhere, WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? Use descriptive words to explain what your mind was doing when you had an encounter with God, what your insides felt like, how your body reacted.  Use analogies, metaphors, active verbs, descriptions…. its hard, you have to practice it, but it’s good for your spiritual health to stretch it and challenge it every so often! 

I’m not saying these things, these word and feelings, are untrue or that I’ve never used them myself.  That I’ve never fallen victim to the social epidemic of Christian word vomit.  That I’ve never, “ummm-ed” and “Father God-ed” my way through prayers while never once meaning any of them.   I’m just challenging you to think about it next time you use a Christian cliche.  What do you REALLY mean by that? 

Why not get in the practice of explaining these things from the outside in, because isn’t that how an outside world is going to understand where we are coming from?  Shouldn’t we practice using the language of the non-Christian to explain Christian ideas?  Shouldn’t we learn how to talk about our faith without using those words that hold so much negative connotation for those who don’t believe?  Maybe if we tried using their language, people would be able to understand the ideas that we are trying to convey to them!

I’m not saying your faith is weak if you have a severe case of cliche-vomit,  or that you should never use words like grace and salvation, etc.  Of course, you are going to use those words… they are the foundation of your faith! I’m just saying, THINK ABOUT IT, try it for a week…every time you use an overused Christian word, stop yourself and think, did I really mean that? How else might I have said what I just said?  Did I just sound like a mindless drone?!?!Obviously, don’t speak these thoughts aloud and FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT the urge to become stuck-up and judgmental towards those who do use those words so mindlessly. But, whatever you do, don’t be afraid to think and challenge yourself in this area because it is SO vital… however we communicate our faith is what people will judge our faith by.  Others can’t read your mind, so make sure what is coming out of your mouth is, in fact, the picture you want to paint of your faith!