'Christian-ese' - What do we do with it?

[Wilhemena]

I just finished reading an article from a blog that I get in my FB news feed. The blog is from a conservative evangelical site ("Crosswalk") that's famous for what I call "Christian-ese" - language that is shrouded in some sort of gobbledy-gook that suggests I ought to understand, but just leaves me scratching my head. The article in question contained this 'snippet' of a sentance:

"...if you are seeking to be a believer who lives out Christ authentically seven days a week..."

Leaving aside the subject matter of the article (it really isn't important to the thread, trust me), what am I to make of statements such as "lives out Christ authentically"? What does "lives out Christ" mean? Have we lost the ability to speak plainly; to be understood?

This is often the same reaction I have when I try to read a bible version popular with evangelicals. I will be reading along just fine, but then will come to a statement or verse that makes no sense, and I have to look it up in another version to understand what the heck is being said. Just baffling

I am struggling to see why a church would create a new catch phrase when structurally it does not make sense? I write out that phrase inserting your name since you are the writer of this post and I see it does not help to bring out the definition, look if I write If you are seeking to be a believer who lives out ImaginaryDay2 authentically seven days a week. Now, did that help you in any way to work out a meaning or did it further confuse you as much as it confused me?

 

[ImaginaryDay2]

I am struggling to see why a church would create a new catch phrase when structurally it does not make sense? I write out that phrase inserting your name since you are the writer of this post and I see it does not help to bring out the definition, look if I write If you are seeking to be a believer who lives out ImaginaryDay2 authentically seven days a week. Now, did that help you in any way to work out a meaning or did it further confuse you as much as it confused me?

I never thought to try that. That's really interesting. It's nonsensical.
And I see statements like that used, more-so now, as reasons not to observe Lent, Good Friday, Easter, Christmas, Advent I.e. - "why observe a 'man made' ritual, when we ought to repent daily of our sins and live fully for the cause of Christ..." or some such thing, followed by a statement about not being "seen among men to fast". So, the virtues of the Christian life become an occasion for guilt.

 

[Cassia]

I never thought to try that. That's really interesting. It's nonsensical.
And I see statements like that used, more-so now, as reasons not to observe Lent, Good Friday, Easter, Christmas, Advent I.e. - "why observe a 'man made' ritual, when we ought to repent daily of our sins and live fully for the cause of Christ..." or some such thing, followed by a statement about not being "seen among men to fast". So, the virtues of the Christian life become an occasion for guilt.

For those who have been used to rituals I suppose it could give rise to feelings of guilt. But there are vast numbers of Christians to whom the opposite is true because the teaching to them was subjective and not objective. The contrast is in the living it seems.

 

[MoreCoffee]

I never thought to try that. That's really interesting. It's nonsensical.
And I see statements like that used, more-so now, as reasons not to observe Lent, Good Friday, Easter, Christmas, Advent I.e. - "why observe a 'man made' ritual, when we ought to repent daily of our sins and live fully for the cause of Christ..." or some such thing, followed by a statement about not being "seen among men to fast". So, the virtues of the Christian life become an occasion for guilt.

It's how people think nowadays Friend Imaginary. Everybody has to create their own religion so that it can be "authentic". Authentic means "independent" and "individual" because "authentic" religion has to be all about it's creator's personality. It becomes "fake" if it reflects something that isn't "my own feelings and opinions". That's what the "authentically" part is probably about in the phrase.

The part about "living out Jesus" likely means living according Jesus' teaching and according to Jesus' example. But if that is what it means then the phrase would be "If you are seeking to be a [real] believer who lives according to Jesus's example and according to his teaching like they are your own teaching and example and do it every day seven days a week" but that doesn't really help any does it? So maybe I got it wrong!

I reckon the old fashioned way of saying that "I want to live my life well" is "I want to follow Jesus' example in everything every day". But that too is a kind of jargon that somebody who is not a Christian might not understand.

 

[ImaginaryDay2]

For those who have been used to rituals I suppose it could give rise to feelings of guilt. But there are vast numbers of Christians to whom the opposite is true because the teaching to them was subjective and not objective. The contrast is in the living it seems.

But if the 'ritual' is not just that, but contains within it the desire to "repent and live fully for the cause of Christ" as well, then it is no longer for ritual sake. Or am I misunderstanding you?

 

[Cassia]

It's how people think nowadays Friend Imaginary. Everybody has to create their own religion so that it can be "authentic". Authentic means "independent" and "individual" because "authentic" religion has to be all about it's creator's personality. It becomes "fake" if it reflects something that isn't "my own feelings and opinions". That's what the "authentically" part is probably about in the phrase.

The part about "living out Jesus" likely means living according Jesus' teaching and according to Jesus' example. But if that is what it means then the phrase would be "If you are seeking to be a [real] believer who lives according to Jesus's example and according to his teaching like they are your own teaching and example and do it every day seven days a week" but that doesn't really help any does it? So maybe I got it wrong!

I reckon the old fashioned way of saying that "I want to live my life well" is "I want to follow Jesus' example in everything every day". But that too is a kind of jargon that somebody who is not a Christian might not understand.

But if the 'ritual' is not just that, but contains within it the desire to "repent and live fully for the cause of Christ" as well, then it is no longer for ritual sake. Or am I misunderstanding you?

Why is it that you think anyone not infused with rituals doesn't know what they are talking about? Not being infused with rituals or being infused with ritual, / being subjective rather than objective doesn't leave a lot of room for understanding each other because it's outside of the other's experience. I can't talk about your experience from a point of knowledge.

impov someone steeped in rituals seems to find biblical teaching outlined in it, but fails to see the same conception that others may find that outlined from scriptural readings. It really depends on the point that it's viewed from.

The older son mentality of being faithfully with the Father while resenting the younger for being blessed because he's a son also has no place in the reality of what is, which is within the Father's plan. The feast was for the household but the elder sulked outside because why? "What’s the point of always doing what you’re supposed to do if it doesn’t earn you a few advantages?"

When it comes to those who have always known the subjective form of worship ( no rituals) in comparison those who are objective (holding rituals as the content) the rituals of the elder brother, having been there forever, just shows contempt for the subjective (receiving directly from the Father) It's almost that the elder brother not only has to forgive the younger but the father too. And forgiveness means a relinquishment of ideals that have power to hold one to strongholds on the mind.

If I were to be continually posting against rituals then maybe I could understand the flaming when I post my pov. But I don't and certainly take offence at not just the refusal to attempt understanding but that of literally standing in the way of those who do.

It actually does seem to me that the subjectively taught Christians are more prevailant on ch than objectives. but it is the squeaky wheel that likes the grease.