Monday, December 19, 2005

In Definition of: Christianeze

Christianezekrǐst~ĕn/ëž – An alien language. 1. To the native of said language; a nonsensical and exclusive language that confuses most natives and creates tribal warfare; a language of superiority and secrecy to show who is in and who is out; 2. To the grudgingly invited outsider of said language; a nonsensical and exclusive language that confuses most natives and creates tribal warfare; a language of contempt and condemnation to show who is in and who is out; 3. In strict violation of the Geneva Anti-Christianeze accord punishable by irrelevance and loss of credibility.

18 comments:

Dan Richardson said...

Are you trying to tell me that people don't understand what transubstantiation is? C'mon! In order for us to be hermenuetically correct in our exegesis of the Bible, Christianeze is imperative and foundational to our understanding of it. If you are really arguing that Christianeze be banned, I'd ask you "Are you really saved? Do you really thing that your sin has been atoned for?" I'd argue that the process of sanctification hasn't even begun yet...let alone justification.

Okay...I'm done...it hurts my brain even trying to think of crazy words to use! Down with the Christianeze!

Jeffrey said...

hmmmmmm.... im torn jer.

i think there is a balance to this.

a. our language whether "christianeze" or english should always attempt to bring simple clarity to the Gospel (or good news of Jesus.)

b. proper teaching of the bible will eventually encounter some of these "creedish" terms, ie. trinity, justification, soteriological, saved, sin, etc. It would be a tradgety to abandon these words. Rather, communicators of these truths must find clear means to explain them.

c. on a side note... Jesus was possibly the most fantastic communicator in my mind.. Josh and I are in this class and we were learning about the scripture in John where Jesus announces concerning giving Living water.. in israel the time when he said this was during a water livation ceremony.. meaning... what he was saying was not some christian jibberish.. but rather a profound declaration that temple worship no longer satisfied... he was communicating with his cultural means... just thought that was interesting..

love and peace.
jeff/ merry christmas.

jeremy postal said...

Jeffyo....I mean Jeffro....

I think you clarify an important point (number b) in that there are certain words or phrases that are "big idea" concepts that need to be clearly definied so that people can deal with the implications of that truth. The problem is when we use such words flipantly or in a manner that assumes everyone knows what the heck we are talking about; the reality is that most non-followers of Jesus are left clueless as to what your saying and the followers of Jesus are agreeing with you but are working on different definitions of the same word. This is a problem and causes undo confusion.

I was buying some books the other day at a local Christian bookstore and I was beside these two girls who were picking out a Bible. It was the one girls first Bible and it was obvious that she was a new Christian....beside the Bible's are a slew of commentaries and theological texts....the new Christian girl said to her friend, "I should buy some of these too so I can understand and keep up with what the pastor is saying." This is a problem.

I don't want to be that problem.

Dan Richardson said...

Even though I was a tad bit sarcastic in a previous post, I would agree that there might be no other way around using big words that no one understands. The key, as you have stated, is explaining them every time and not using them flipantly.

jeremy postal said...

Just had another thought:
Jeff...careful study of the Bible does not mean that we have to tackle words like "soteriological or trinity" as they are not even in the Bible! Dan, I think there are ways around having to explain a word everytime......What are words like justification, sin, and saved? They are the names we attach to concepts....that's it, nothing more. To me it comes back to clearly communicating the concept and big idea and not that people need to know the proper word that the definition points to >> it just muddies the water.

I would rather see people get the concept/big idea that points to the proper response then the proper word.

Anonymous said...

For me personally, as a Therapist working in a non Christian context yet as a Christian therapist means.......abandoning every such word that is Christianeze in order to communicate the truth. Because it is the truth which sets people free. But it is such hard work to communicate the truth in words people actually understand....that is people who have no concept of Christianity-Thank you Jesus for your strength and your guidance cuz its you that sets people free, you dont even need me.
candace

Anonymous said...

Why is the gospel such an easy thing to communicate that a 4 year old child can accept and embrace the message of salvation?
The 'big' words- most of which I still don't even understand... just last week I finally built up the courage to ask what a tabernacle was because I didn't want to look stupid. I assumed it was a building of some sort, but wasn't fully sure.
I think another thing tied in with the concept of Christianeze is that we jump to conclusions when we talk. We assume that people will understand what we're talking about. This has basically been stated, but not in simplified fassion- hence why I'm doing it.
Over all though, I can see why it would suck, in a general sense to be raised in a Christian bubble (all you do is go to church, youth, and a christian school kind of thing, and all you would have are friends from these area's) because you wouldn't know what everyday words are- or atleast in a 'secular' sense.

Here's a question, and it's authentic- should there be such a distincion as secular and christian? I mean, yeah, we're not supposed to live of the world, but only in it.. but for example, you come to North America and you get all these varying music charts- Like, top 10 Christian artists etc... then you go to the UK and there's no such thing. Delirious has to compete with all the 'secular' artists in order to get on the 'top 10'. That's my one example that I can think of at the moment. But do you get what I mean? So, should there be a clarifacation? I guess another example would be, "I have Christian friends and secular friends." Basically, what you're saying is, "I have Christian friends, and sinner friends." Why can't they just all be under the same category of 'friends'? Does there have to be such a distinction, which, in my mind, feels like it has such a negative connotation? After all that, I'll get back to the main question- does there have to be a seperation between Christian and Secular?
-Steve

Anonymous said...

Oh, and to the whole "christian friends/sinner friends comment" somethign I was going to add, and didn't was, we all deal with the same issues, regardless. We all still sin.

jeremy postal said...

Steve - this is a good question. Let me pose another question that may begin to lead you to a wee bit of discovery....you ready? Ok. View this question through your extensive knowledge of correct grammatical sentance and idea composition: Can a grocery store be Christian?

Anonymous said...

define christian

jeremy postal said...

That is exactly why I asked the question. When you define "Christian" the discovery to the answer to your own question will brighten substantially!

Anonymous said...

can you answer me this........because you are Christian, does that then make your job, business, or family Christian?
I think the answer is no.....of course not..........
follower of Christ, to easy, way over used, one who has stopped, turned around and is now walking in a totally opposite direction from before??
closer i think
one who is willing to lay it all aside, and fully love God no matter what the situation, this is probably closer, at least for me.....

jeremy postal said...

The problem is that too many people use the term "Christian" as an adjective, which, it simply is not.

Anonymous said...

an adjective describes a noun, so lets put that aside, and use Xian as the verb, an action word, makes sense i think

jeremy postal said...

Obviously.

jeremy postal said...

Or maybe not actually.
Might be more accuratley a noun.

Anonymous said...

Christian Church, christian Meeting, Christian Man.... then we are labeling things as well, where as a verb is an action, and our faith is built on actions

Gwendolyn said...

Found your blog when I googled Christianeze for a blog topic I am writing. Funny stuff. I totally agree with your definition, however, I am wondering if most Christians understand what Christianeze really easy. Where do we cross the line?