Christian Clichés

[Cow Poke]

Seriously, about 20 years ago, our Church started actually reaching quite a number of formerly un-churched people, and I had to focus on NOT using "churchy words" with which they did not grow up.

I also had to quit referring "in passing" to Bible stories or characters during sermons, where I USED to be fairly safe in assuming that everybody would know to whom or to what I was referring.

[Jedidiah]

What does bug me is when "Christian-ese" words that seem natural to us are used in conversations with non-Christians and we forget that they may not understand what we mean by "repentance", "sanctified", etc.

There is so much habitual language involved in Christian circles that it is easy to forget that "outsiders" often do not understand things the same way we do. I know that 40 years ago such language bugged me a bit. Today I am inured to it, but I remember how phoney it can sound to unbelievers. I have not ever had the same response to "to God be the glorey" that you, Scrawly, seem to, but I sort of understand.

[Jedidiah]

Seriously, about 20 years ago, our Church started actually reaching quite a number of formerly un-churched people, and I had to focus on NOT using "churchy words" with which they did not grow up.

I also had to quit referring "in passing" to Bible stories or characters during sermons, where I USED to be fairly safe in assuming that everybody would know to whom or to what I was referring.

I appreciate that for new believers and previously un-churched folks. I would have appreciated it then.

[Zymologist]

I know this isn't really significant and I never make a big deal out of this in fellowship/church or anything but I'm just curious if anyone else finds "Christian language" cliché? I don't know exactly what it is, but whenever I read a tweet or have someone in a causal conversation mutter the words "to God be the glory" or something like it, I get this sense of...almost insecurity on their part, or something? Like honestly, does anyone think you are withholding glory from God or is your view of God such that you feel the need to verbalize these clichés to appease Him in some fashion? Don't get me wrong, I inwardly almost feel constant thankfulness to God and see Him as deserving of glory, absolutely. However, I am not one to verbalize these things, I find it, well, cliché and at times straight up a little annoying. Perhaps there is a genuine overflow of thankfulness in the heart of those who incessantly verbalize these things that they cannot contain themselves but it just strikes me as odd and makes me feel a bit awkward quite frankly.

...Yes "to God be the glory". I agree. Thanks for stating that.

Is it just me?

I know what you mean. I have the same issue with the phrase, "Lord willing." Anytime I hear a Christian say, "Lord willing," I can't help but think to myself, "well, obviously."

[Cow Poke]

I appreciate that for new believers and previously un-churched folks. I would have appreciated it then.

If I refer to a Bible character or event in a sermon, I always give a very brief synopsis of who it is, or what happened, then continue on. Even some of the regulars will occasionally say "I didn't know that!"

[Christianbookworm]

There is so much habitual language involved in Christian circles that it is easy to forget that "outsiders" often do not understand things the same way we do. I know that 40 years ago such language bugged me a bit. Today I am inured to it, but I remember how phoney it can sound to unbelievers. I have not ever had the same response to "to God be the glorey" that you, Scrawly, seem to, but I sort of understand.

The word "glory" can be confusing. Being a gloryhound is bad, giving glory to God is good. What is glory? Honor? Well God certainly deserves maximum honor.

[Cow Poke]

"Let me pray about that".

Usually, when somebody says that, they're thinking of a good excuse to NOT do what you're asking them to do.

"Would you serve on the finance committee this coming year?"
"Hmmmm... lemme pray about that."

[Christianbookworm]

"Let me pray about that".

Usually, when somebody says that, they're thinking of a good excuse to NOT do what you're asking them to do.

"Would you serve on the finance committee this coming year?"
"Hmmmm... lemme pray about that."

Do they even really pray about it?

[One Bad Pig]

I know what you mean. I have the same issue with the phrase, "Lord willing." Anytime I hear a Christian say, "Lord willing," I can't help but think to myself, "well, obviously."

Source: James 4:13-15

13 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; 14 whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. 15 Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.”

© Copyright Original Source

Just sayin'.

[Zymologist]

Source: James 4:13-15

13 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; 14 whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. 15 Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.”

© Copyright Original Source

Just sayin'.

Yes, I know. I was just commenting on the fact that it sounds like a cliche to me. I fully recognize that it's Biblical, and that my reaction to it is not great.

[Cow Poke]

Do they even really pray about it?

I have made a practice of --- if somebody asks me to pray about or for something, I'll say "let's pray right now", and I'll pray with them right then. That does several things:
A) They KNOW I prayed about / for whatever they asked...
2) It makes it much more likely that I'll remember to pray for it later

As for whether or not others actually pray when they say they will --- I have no way of knowing. Unless, of course, they do like I do and pray right then!

[Christianbookworm]

I have made a practice of --- if somebody asks me to pray about or for something, I'll say "let's pray right now", and I'll pray with them right then. That does several things:
A) They KNOW I prayed about / for whatever they asked...
2) It makes it much more likely that I'll remember to pray for it later

As for whether or not others actually pray when they say they will --- I have no way of knowing. Unless, of course, they do like I do and pray right then!

I would hope that if some one was just making an excuse, that they would be honest and say "no thankyou".

[Cow Poke]

I would hope that if some one was just making an excuse, that they would be honest and say "no thankyou".

Well, yeah, that would be too simple!

When I'm calling people on the phone, for example, I would MUCH RATHER they say, "no, thanks -- I don't think I want to do that" rather than "well, this is a bad time, cause my Aunt Linda's ex-husband's daughter is in the hospital and is having surgery......"

I would LOVE a quick and direct answer, but some folks just have a hard time saying no.

[thewriteranon]

ETA: Now I have that hymn stuck in my head. To God be the glory, great things he hath done... And that's all I know of the lyrics.

To God be the glory
Great things he hath done
So loved He the world that He gave us His Son
Who yielded His life in atonement for sin
And opened the life gates that all may go in
Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord!
Let the Earth hear His voice
Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord!
Let the people rejoice
O come to the Father
Through Jesus the Son
And give Him the glory
Great things he hath done

...
I had to memorize songs in elementary school. Though admittedly I always have trouble with that last bit of the refrain.

[Scrawly]

Source: James 4:13-15

13 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; 14 whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. 15 Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.”

© Copyright Original Source

Just sayin'.

I think we can safely avoid a hyper-literal approach here as one can easily verbalize "If the Lord wills/Lord willing" yet have their heart in the utterly opposite direction. It's best to have an inner disposition of obedience to God that will yield to His will and enable us to do right in all our circumstances and situations. I agree with you Zym, it can, and often does sound trite. Of course someone can also say it and have their heart in the right place as well.