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-   -   Response to Profnachos on Christianese (http://www.christianrecovery.com/vb/showthread.php?t=1793)

Pinkie Pie 06-29-2005 08:07 AM
Response to Profnachos on Christianese
 
Well, to answer your question as to my definition of the Christianese of "leading someone to the Lord":

When it's used by people who speak "Christianese", saying "I led someone to the Lord" means "I am the one who is responsible for getting this person saved and ain't I wonderful?" without any clue that all credit goes to Christ's death and resurrection and the work of the Holy Spirit anyway, the person is just another vessel in a lonnnng line of people who God has used BEFORE them to reach that particular individual.

When it is used in this way, there is also an unspoken (sometimes it IS spoken) message that when you tell someone about Jesus, if the person doesn't actually repent and receive Jesus there on the spot, you are not an effective witness (whatever happened to, "one man plants, another waters, but GOD gives the increase....." ???????) :confused:

InTheory 06-29-2005 08:44 AM
Re: Response to Profnachos on Christianese
 
Pinkie, it's all too true!!!

How about this one, "I feel led to..."
There is no room for debate or reason when someone "feels led to..." do anything.

You are so right. God is the author and finisher of salvation, not man.

I have also cringed so much when people in the church prophesy and use the words "thus saith the Lord"...yikes!

Anway, great post!

Voyager 06-29-2005 08:47 AM
Re: Response to Profnachos on Christianese
 
Here's something that I posted on this subject a few years ago, and many of the members here added to it over the course of a few months:

Quote:
The following is a list of Christian terminology that I first post a year or so ago, and people on this forum have added to it each time it was posted. It is somewhat sarcastic in nature because it takes many words or phrases that have been used to spiritually manipulate and control us and exposes them for what we now believe to be their true meaning.

This list is not meant to offend anyone. I realize that when you first exit a spiritually abusive group, sometimes you still hold many teachings of the group as very sacred. However, after you've been out for a while you begin to understand the "unspoken rules" game that was used to exploit and deceive you. So, if you read a few of these and decide that you're not ready for them, please don't feel obligated to continue reading them.

For many of us, we have the choice to either laugh or cry about what happened to us when we read these translations. We've all done enough crying over it, so sometimes you just have to have a little laugh. :)

Please feel free to add your own translations to any phrases that you need to vent about. This can be very therapeutic, and can also serve to clarify things in humorous way. Here we go - let's have a little fun:

Christianese Translator

• "Touch not mine anointed"

Means: Do what I say without questioning.

• "You are 'out of your place' in the spirit"

Means: You are not complying 200% to my every command.

• "Jesus came to bring a sword"

Means: I want you to cut off your family and friends and become co-dependent on me.

• "Sanctify your emotions"

Means: Turn off your brain and let me do the thinking for you.

• "You have an independent spirit"

Means: You have begun to think for yourself again - now stop it, or else!

• "Yeah, and the Lord would say to thee..."

Means: I'm getting ready to give you your marching orders.

• "I'm getting ready to read somebody's mail"

Means: I want you to think I have psychic powers and can read your mind.

• "We should all speak the same thing" (based on 1 Cor 1:10)

Means: Always agree with the leadership, anything else is strife or rebellion.

• After "Joe" leaves the church it is said of him: "Oh, Joe wouldn't let us pastor him".

Means: Joe wouldn't submit enough and let us control/manipulate him.

• "Truth is not always the truth if it is not spoken in love."

Means: You are in sin if you say anything bad about us!

• "The Bible doesn't have anything to say about votes, ballets, etc."

Means: I am in total control & you will have no say-so.

• "I'm discerning an attitude!"

Means: I am about to rip one of your heads off in public to make you an example of what happens to anyone who crosses me.

• "I wonder if some of you are even saved!"

Means: Your assurance of salvation should not be based in your acceptance of the sacrifice that Jesus made at Calvary, but rather in adhering to my every demand - and that has been brought into question!

• "This is not a democracy - it's a theocracy."

Means: I am in total control here. Whatever I say goes.

• "I'll pray for you."

Means: Too bad about your situation - glad it's not me. Glad I don't REALLY have to do anything to help - see ya!

• "God put it on my heart"

Means: I really want to tell you this (or really want to do this) and if I just say I WANT to, you'll be able to tell me why I shouldn't, but if I tell you GOD SAID then you can't argue with it, can you?

• "Quiet Time"

Means: (NO clue what that was when I went to church... never read it in the bible)

• "Praise and Worship"

What's the dif??? ....oh yeah.... we had some teaching about the difference from time to time so you could tell when you were praising and when you were worshiping. LOL!

• "I'm blessed"

Means: Life sucks, but I have my head buried in the sand and am avoiding all issues in my life in favor of seeking after religious experiences.

• "I love you in the Lord"

Means: I CAN'T STAND you in the natural! LOL!!!

• "Baptized in the Holy Spirit"

Means: They spoke in tongues at least once, so now they have our stamp of approval. We expect you to believe that this altered state of consciousness is totally controlled by God, and that it only happens in a Christian culture.

• "Dance in the Spirit"

Means: It's Ok to dance a jig in church, so long as we believe that God gives the moves. Just move your feet, silly. We'll supply the music. Better not have a human partner!

• "Filled with the Holy Spirit"

See "Baptized in the Holy Spirit"

• "Gifts of the Spirit"

Means: Well Ok, there are more than one, but WE only want you to speak in tongues. It keeps the service more lively and impresses others, especially visitors.

• "Nominal Christian"

Means: Normal Christian, not one with super-gifts. Those in other churches. Not one of us because we know we are more holy and could teach them some things!

• "OF God"

Means: What we perceive as good... looks holy. (All white)

• "OF Satan"

Means: What we perceive as bad... looks evil. (All black)

• "OF the flesh"

Means: Anything people do that we just don't think is right. (Oh Oh, Grey area!, but more black than white.) Watch out! Satan is lurking...

• "Slain in the Spirit"

Means: We knock them down & expect you to believe God did it. Side note: Someone stands behind them to help them fall easy. This is our insurance policy, so there's no personal injuries, hence no lawsuits.

:D :D :D :D :D :D :D
Feel free to add more to this list if you'd like to.

:cool:

profnachos 06-29-2005 10:11 AM
Re: Response to Profnachos on Christianese
 
My contribution (especially when used in college or singles groups)

Christianese: "She is a godly woman who has a heart for God."
Translation: "Dude, that chic is hot."

Pinkie Pie 06-29-2005 02:21 PM
Re: Response to Profnachos on Christianese
 
I feel led to....yup, I've heard that one too.

And actually used it myself, to keep spiritual abusers at bay once I started figuring out that the "words from the Lord" that they were giving me were really rubbish. I would say, "Well, I feel led to pray about the word you gave me." Sadly, it worked....

DLL 06-29-2005 02:44 PM
Re: Response to Profnachos on Christianese
 
how about........you are deceived and since you are deceived, you are too deceived to know you are deceived.

means......just do what i tell you. you are incapable of making your own decisions.

heard it so many times, i puked!!!

oneday 06-29-2005 03:00 PM
Re: Response to Profnachos on Christianese
 
My favorite observation about the use of words in church:

When someone starts a conversation with, "Brother..." They usually don't mean, "Friend..."

I have yet to finish writing my blues song I started a few years ago:
"Sometimes I feel like I'm being used"

....I was convicted
da-doo-da-dat(guitar)
and I went through a trial
da-doo-da-dat
Even my best friends
da-doo-da-dat
testified about me all the while



I looked to the Judge for mercy
Having done all I could do
He gave me life
Sometimes I feel I'm being used

jane 06-29-2005 06:51 PM
Re: Response to Profnachos on Christianese
 
how about this one,

"don't be led by your emotions"

AKA: Dont have any feelings, express any feelings- don't bother us with any "real" issues we are too busy.



Jane

joemama 06-30-2005 07:20 AM
Re: Response to Profnachos on Christianese
 
I'd like to add to this list but you guys are all so great!! It's hard to believe that "Christianese" is the same in all denominations!---love joemama

profnachos 06-30-2005 08:04 AM
Re: Response to Profnachos on Christianese
 
It's the same in all denominations?

I've been under the impression that it's mostly confined to conservative evangelicals since they promote "living out a Christian life" every day and incorporating the faith into our lives.

"It's not a religion. It's a relationship"

Quote:
Originally Posted by joemama
I'd like to add to this list but you guys are all so great!! It's hard to believe that "Christianese" is the same in all denominations!---love joemama


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