Christianese

[auserna]

I'm curious about the particular idiomatic linguistic idiosyncrasies and buzzwords often used by religious people, especially evangelical Christians. Things like "Yours in Christ" and "washed in the blood", "prayed up", "I plead the blood".

I've just seen this comment (written by a Christian): "I learned several years ago that Christians have their own language called “Christianese.” It’s purely cultural and acts as a pseudo-wink to other Christians to let them know you’re in the club, not out of it." And that's how it comes across - exclusive, partly because I literally don't know what these phrases actually mean.

I'd like to belong to a church, but find the language off-putting. Can someone explain the point of this way of communicating if it's not to be cliquey, as it feels to me the opposite of welcoming.

or let me see, you are one of these anglicans, who have big houses, massive expensive cars, mock everyone who lives on average income and tells them that there might be something wrong with them, just because they live passionately and honestly their faith

No, I did see that it was a pair but I still mostly disagree. It's great to see a church leader acknowledging that they need to make an effort to use clear language and help those less familiar with the Bible and church language to understand what's happening and what's being discussed but I think they're wrong to assume it's deliberately exclusionary.

I can almost guarantee that said pastor uses at least a little Christianese without even realising it too. Do they pray "in Jesus' name"? Do they ever talk about being "called"? What about doing something with a grateful/faithful/joyful heart?
I know you don't know this pastor and haven't heard them preach etc but as I said before, often these phrases come from the Bible so they become common parlance within a church without people being conscious of it.

Either that, or the pastor is talking about cringy phrases like "doing life with" or "hedge of protection" and "the Christian walk" rather than some of the Bible-based phrases you've given?

You say that the aim is to do your best but how do you know that? The Bible is full of a lot of what strikes me as outright fiction, vague allegories, plus some more-or-less historical accounts. Depending on which bits you regard as outright fiction, which bits as historical, which bits as allegory and of those what those allegories should be taken as meaning, you can (and many people absolutely have) taken it to mean wildly different things.

Yet nowhere in my reading of the Bible have I read anything that seemed to me as an admission that you should take an approach of "Meh, this is all vague as anything so do your best and hopefully it'll work out ok."

Or, to put it another way, if we can't rely on the texts of these old books to tell us what God wants of us, what should we rely on? What gives us the warm fuzzies?

I can’t say I use language like that but I don’t mind other Christians using whatever language, I think they are well meaning. And if not they have some growing to do, don’t we all. As for in Christ - we are in Christ, do you read your Bible? John 14:20 On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you

I think you've made your point now that you've posted three successive times about how devout you are and how awful everyone else in the world is.

I'm afraid you sound rather like you have a chip on your shoulder the size of a cathedral.

Either that, or the pastor is talking about cringy phrases like "doing life with" or "hedge of protection" and "the Christian walk" rather than some of the Bible-based phrases you've given?

Not sure about the other two, but "hedge of protection" was definitely one she mentioned.

I'd like to belong to a church, but find the language off-putting. Can someone explain the point of this way of communicating if it's not to be cliquey, as it feels to me the opposite of welcoming.

I think you'd have to ask the individual Church that is using that language what it means and why they are using so many phrases that are difficult for new people to understand.

I've been attending various Churches across different denominations for over 60 years, and I've never heard anyone use "washed in the blood", "prayed up", or "I plead the blood".

My suggestion would be for you to contact whoever wrote what you read directly, if you want to understand what they are saying, but, more sensibly (or possibly at the same time) try out some other Churches that are local to where you live, or easy to get to, until you find one you feel comfortable in.

Hedge of protection is a Biblival concept. But it's not helpful to use it without context to those who don't understand what it means.

I have a lot of evangelical Christian family. Me and my husband play Christianese bingo when they come over!

Washed in the blood is in several of Paul’s letters I think, and Revelation. It’s also in many hymns.
When the central texts of a faith were written 1900 years ago, in a different language, there are going to be phrases that aren’t as familiar now.

@GasperyJacquesRoberts I probably think of Matthew 22:37- the greatest commandment as loving God with all one's heart, soul, and mind and love one's neighbour as oneself. These two commandments summarize all the Law and the prophets

I am culturally Christian so follow the teaching of the New Testament. As you say, the evidence isn’t concrete, so other people and other books could be closer to the truth. We don’t know, so I don’t judge.

I’m not sure what you are aiming at with your arguments.

Those commandments seem quite different, and much more explicit and forceful, than "do your best."

Yes that was my point. I think JW believe if you follow another denomination you go to hell and Im sure some others do too! Thats not the God I know.

I go to church and have never heard these phrases, so I don’t think you necessarily need to worry about this aspect. Perhaps try varioys church services to check their tone.

Yes, but the OP was saying that these were buzzwords often used by religious people, especially evangelical Christians.

I'm not saying none of those phrases has EVER been read out, or discussed in a talk or sermon, I'm saying I've not heard them used "often" or as "buzzwords". They aren't phrases that are often used, or are common parlance in any Church I've been to, as the OP was implying.