CHRISTIANESE – An Overview

Appropriate ways to speak of people in the postmodern demographics:

These people are often those who have had either no experience with Christianity in general, or who have had a bad experience with Christianity. In either case, they place a high value on being treated with respect and courtesy. They see all religions as carrying the same weight of moral teaching and faith. They see themselves as “unchurched,” and are generally comfortable with being called such. Postmoderns often describe themselves as “spiritual, but not religious.”

It is important to avoid:

• Speaking of “the truth” as a restriction on their actions. “Thou shalt not” does not go over well with them. If they feel convicted to do something, they will do it wholeheartedly, but they do not take kindly to being told how to save their own souls. They feel this is a very private matter.
• Forming an “us vs. them” manner of speaking. Postmodern people generally cherish their idea of a global community, and strive for equality. However, if they feel you are projecting superiority, they will write you off, rather than strive to become part of your circle.
• Using antiquated language when quoting the Bible, or when speaking about values we hold. They perceive it as projected superiority, and will tune out.

From “Lord” to “Jesus”
Why: Lord is antiquated
Barriers: Can project superiority

From “Garden of prayer” to “group meditation and/or time of prayer”
Why: They will be thinking of a literal Zen garden for prayer, not a group of people in church
Barriers: It will disappoint them

From “Saved” to “experience/relationship with Jesus”
Why: They don’t perceive themselves as needing to be saved from anything
Barriers: Many have heard this term before, and will tune you out if this term is used, thinking you are just like every other Christian.

From “Lost” to “haven’t met Jesus”
Why: They don’t perceive themselves as lost, and often don’t know where they are supposed to be lost from.
Barriers: Many have heard this term before, and will tune you out if this term is used, thinking you are just like every other Christian.

From “the judgment” to “God’s final Day of Justice”
Why: They have no idea what judgment you’re talking about.
Barriers: Even if the judgment is explained in traditional terms, they will perceive it as a negative time of retribution from an angry god.

From “everlasting gospel” to “good news about Jesus”
Why: They will perceive it as an antiquated expression, with no relevance
Barriers: Can project superiority

From “heathen” to “unchurched”
Why: It is perceived as personally demeaning to them, since they are unchurched
Barriers: Once they feel demeaned by you, they will not appreciate anything else you have to say.

From “chosen people” to “followers of God”
Why: It communicates exclusivity and superiority
Barriers: They will not try to become part of an exclusive group.

From “inspired pen” to “books written by Ellen White”
Why: They will have no idea what you’re talking about
Barriers: Projects superiority.

From “sister white” to “Ellen White”
Why: They have no idea who she is.
Barriers: Can project exclusivity

From “prophet of the Lord” to “enlightened teacher”
Why: antiquated phrase, and can be interpreted as exclusive
Barriers: They are often not willing to listen to someone who claims to be a prophet of God, but will listen to wisdom from someone enlightened

From “God placed it on my heart” to “after time with God, I felt it beneficial”
Why: They will have no idea what you’re talking about
Barriers: Projects superiority

From “worldly” to “less beneficial/things that don’t enhance my relationship with God”
Why: They see nothing wrong with the things of the world
Barriers: Projects exclusivity

From “witnessing” to “telling my story”
Why: Many have heard the term before, and associate it with coersion
Barriers: They are very averse to being coerced into anything

From “evangelism” to “living”
Why: Many have heard the term before, and associate it with coersion
Barriers: They are very averse to being coerced into anything

From “accepting the truth” to “believing the Bible to be truth”
Why: They come from a paradigm where truth could be found in many places, and where truth is different from person to person, based upon each person’s experience
Barriers: They will be opposed to having your version of truth pushed onto them.

From “came into the truth” to “baptized”
Why: projects exclusivity, and they don’t believe there is only one truth
Barriers: They will be opposed to having your version of the truth pushed upon them.

From “embraced the message” to “integrated the bible’s teachings into my life”
Why: antiquated language, and they don’t believe there is only one true message
Barriers: They will be opposed to having your version of the message pushed upon them.

From “born again” to “recreated”
Why: because of popular use among evangelicals, it may be familiar to them in a negative context
Barriers: If they have heard the phrase before, they will think you are spouting religious dogma

From “crusade” to “public meetings or talks about God”
Why:the word crusade indicates conquest based upon religious beliefs
Barriers: the postmodern perception of the historical crusades is very negative, and will erect a wall

From “testify” to “share one’s feelings and experience”
Why: it is a term associated with court criminal litigation
Barriers: ifi t has been heard in a Christian context, they will expect to have you tie them down with a long story

From “gospel message” to “good news”
Why: the meaning of gospel is not widely known outside of church circles
Barriers: because the term is not widely understood, and because it is definitive, it can cause them to tune you out, thinking you will “preach”

From “begotten son” to “son of God”
Why: nobody knows what begotten means
Barriers: it is an antiquated quote, which has gained a reputation as a Christian saying

From “Christ’s precious blood” to “Jesus’ death/sacrifice to save me”
Why: they have no idea why Christ’s blood is precious
Barriers: it implies exclusive knowledge of the value, therefore leaving them out of that exclusivity

From “receiving Christ” to “experiencing Christ in the quiet of my soul”
Why: they don’t know what it means to receive Christ. It implies that Christ is an object
Barriers: another patently Christian phrase, which indicates exclusivity

From “the message” to “the story of our experience with God”
Why: there are many messages. this indicates exclusivity
Barriers: in implies exclusive knowledge of a message which they have part in

From “the foot of the cross” to “meditation on the death of Jesus”
Why: there is no cross currently for them to go to
Barriers: they are often invited to go to the foot of the cross and confess sins for which they don’t feel guilt

From “child of God” to “created human being”
Why: maturity, growth are important to them, not childlikeness
Barriers: they will feel talked-down to, and will tune you out

From “convicted” to “after time with God, I felt convinced that...”
Why: if they are not familiar with the term in Christian context, they think of criminal conviction
Barriers: if they are familiar with the Christian context, they may not take kindly to what they perceive as your convictions being pushed upon them

From “indwelling” to “Holy Spirit within me”
Why: it is antiquated
Barriers: implies exclusivity

From “rebuke” to “send away - reprimand”
Why: antiquated
Barriers: implies exclusivity

From “fleshly lusts” to “unhealthy tendencies”
Why: antiquated
Barriers: implies judgment of the person with such fleshly lusts

From “courting” to “in a relationship”
Why: antiquated
Barriers: often used by evangelicals, and can be interpreted as a judgment on cultural practices

From “God’s leading” to “the journey of following Jesus”
Why: it can indicate that one is privy to special knowledge of God
Barriers: can lead a person to think that God is leading the person speaking in all areas, and can lead to misinterpretation of the nature of God based on the life of the person.

From “receiving Christ” to “asking Jesus to be part of my life”
Why: they will have no idea what you’re talking about, or may have heard it as part of evangelical propaganda
Barriers: preconceived ideas connected with evangelicals

From “Brother or Sister so-and-so” to “my friend so-and-so”
Why: They don’t see the church relationship as familial
Barriers: implies exclusivity

From “I’ll pray for you” to “here’s what I’ll do to help...oh, and for what it’s worth, I’ll pray for you, too / let’s pray about it together right now”
Why: they don’t perceive prayer as a true help in tough situations
Barriers: seems like a quick way to get out of actually helping someone by sacrificing your time, effort, etc.

From “saving souls” to “introducing friends to Jesus”
Why: antiquated, and they don’t see that their souls need saving
Barriers: often associated with old-fashioned tent meetings, and coersion

From “claiming for Christ” to “introducing friends to Jesus”
Why: implies a conquest in behalf of Jesus
Barriers: they don’t want to be claimed as a conquest

From “homosexual” to “gay or lesbian”
Why: homosexual is more often used in reference to gay people by religious folk than by actual homosexuals.
Barriers: can be interpreted as a term of derision

From “born again” to “living in the context of God”
Why: the phrase isn’t well understood, although it has a religious flavor to postmoderns
Barriers: misunderstanding the meaning leads to tuning you out

From “latter rain” to “the final display of God’s love to the soul”
Why: it is an antiquated farming term, with no relevance today in urban societies
Barriers: exclusively understood and interpreted phrases imply exclusivity

From “the remnant” to “the last people of faith”
Why: unless they work in flooring or textiles, they will probably not know what you mean
Barriers: exclusively understood and interpreted phrases imply exclusivity

From “non-Christian” to “people around us”
Why: the distinction based on religion leaves them out, implies exclusivity
Barriers: implies exclusivity

From “unbeliever” to “secular or postmodern”
Why: they believe in many things, just may not believe in your chosen doctrine
Barriers: implies exclusivity

From “happy Sabbath” to “fill your Sabbath with joy.”
Why: we never wish anyone happy Monday. It sounds cliche and exclusive to those not used to hearing the expression
Barriers: implies exclusivity, and sounds strange to others

From “soul winning” to “sharing my story”
Why: implies conquest
Barriers: they do not want to be a religious conquest

From “campaign” to “public meetings/conferences about God”
Why: implies military action
Barriers: they don’t see healthy spirituality as being associated with war

From “God’s plan for you” to “God’s intended best”
Why: implies that they can’t figure out how to live their lives
Barriers: they may htink you are trying to use God in order to push your agenda into their lives

From “It was God’s will” to “some things can’t be avoided”
Why: they don’t think you can figure out God’s will any better than they can
Barriers: especially if this is said in connedtion with tragedy, they will think of God as a monster

From “We can’t questions God’s ways” to “let God speak for himself”
Why: postmoderns feel they have a right to question God’s ways
Barriers: they feel you are taking away their rights

From “God knew it was for the best” to “sometimes we don’t understand why things happen the way they do”
Why: it implies exclusive knowledge of the mind of God
Barriers: especially if used in connection with a tragedy, they will think of God as a monster

From “the apostle (Matthew, Paul) says” to “I’ve read in such and such a book”
Why: implies exclusive personal knowledge of these authors
Barriers: implies exclusivity which they can not share in.
From “God bless” to “go with God”
Why: antiquated, and can be perceived as a Christian cliche
Barriers: they will wonder if you really are wishing blessing upon them

Secondary list: these are terms which should be introduced once someone already has an experience with Jesus, and is ready and eager to learn deeper things. But they should always be initially used with a simple explanation to make them clear, instead of assuming that people understand their meaning. Outside of this context, when simply speaking in everyday language with postmoderns, these terms should not be used, as their use will imply exclusivity, and will put them off.

Praise God: Thanking God for anything.

Godly: Like God’s character

sanctuary system: The system of worship set up by God for the ancient Hebrew people

sacrificial system: The system of worship set up by God from the time of the fall of man, as a symbol of the death of Christ.

sanctification: the changes made in the life through a constant relationship with God.

justification: the forgiveness and pardon given at the moment of entering into intimate relationship with God.

salvation: The method by which God brings us into relation with Him

gospel: the good news of God

second coming: The promise made by Jesus after His death, that He would come again to earth.

repentance: turn away, deep remorse for wrongs we have done others.

glorification: personal transformation in connection with Divinity

grace: God’s freely given pardon

holy: perfect; sacred

holiness: to be perfect, sacredness

legalism: living by “the rules” without thinking about their implication

mission: purpose to accomplish in the grand scheme of time

redemption: Jesus’ act of trading his life of perfection for our lives of injustice

tabernacle: the place where the ancient Hebrew people went to meet God

atonement: to bring two people into intimacy who were once estranged

spirit of prophecy: the spirit which inspires God’s recent prophet

baptism: expressing one’s commitment to God through ceremony of water

righteousness: living a life of integrity.