Every line of work has its share of jargon words. If you’re in the military, you talk about prepping the A SPEC to get ready for the A&DCP in the battalion’s S&C op, because that’s your MOS. A physician might discuss a study in which the ion-exchange chromatography assay being used to assay CK-MB, while acute myocardial infarction is diagnosed if the peak CK-MB was >3% of CK with ECG changes consistent with ischemia. To the average Joe, this verbiage doesn’t make a whole lot of sense. That’s why military officers and immunologists tone down the jargon when they talk with someone outside of their line of work. Christians have jargon, too. Often we are so accustomed to using our jargon, that we might end up muddling our message for those who need to hear it.
“Your inner man has been darkened by sin. Pray that the Holy Spirit might come and enter your heart, to wash you with the blood of Christ, cleanse you from the stain of sin, and justify you forever.” For a person like me, raised in a Christian home and trained for the Christian ministry, that phrase makes sense. Sure, it’s a bit awkward, but I understand it. It is an invitation to salvation. At the same time, it’s laced with Christian jargon. More than likely, it’s unintelligible to someone who hasn’t been in church or around Christians for a long time.
Evaluating Your Jargon
Using Christian jargon isn’t all bad. If I were to speak to a group of ministerial students or pastors, I would freely use jargon to my heart’s content. Why? Because in my context, that “jargon” is entirely understandable, even necessary to accurately communicate. If, on the other hand, I were sharing my faith with an 18-year-old Pakistani transfer student at the state college campus, I would be less likely to use phrases like “ask Jesus into your heart.”
Should You Use Christian Jargon or Not?
What’s the deciding factor when it comes to using (or not using) jargon? It has to do with basic communication. In order for communication to take place, the person receiving the communication needs to understand what you are trying to say. Communication requires understanding. If the person you are talking to doesn’t understand jargonese, cut the jargonese. Think about the person to whom you are talking. Then, think about the content of your message. Then, verbalize, and communicate effectively.
Common Christian Jargon Words
We Christians use jargon words all the time. For most of us, we can use them, hear them, and understand them perfectly fine. To other people, using these words is like throwing in a Latin phrase. Yeah, it sounds great, but means nothing unless you know Latin. After all, Quiquid latine dictum sit altum viditur.
Each of these words are loaded with theological significance, a significance which is probably lost upon people unfamiliar with the jargon: Kingdom, Ransom, Born Again, Confess, Glorification, Sanctification, Birth, NIV, Blessing, Sin, Gospel, Holy, Trinity, Tribulation, Theology, Spirit, Redeem, Washed in the blood, Salvation, Reconciliation, Ministry.
Other Odd Christian Expressions
- Can I get an amen?
- …lost and on your way to hell…
- …fire burning in her heart…
- The Lord is working in my heart.
- During my quiet time…
- …a lost sheep, straying from the fold.
- We will have a time of communion and fellowship…
- …hedge of protection…
- Let me share my testimony with you.
- I’d like to share one of the burdens on my heart.
- Do you know where you’re going to spend eternity?
- Lord willing…
This list could go on. These aren’t bad expressions. Many of them are even biblical. I hope you don’t feel like you have to quit using them forever. Just be aware that if you want to be understood by those who haven’t been in Sunday School for very long, you’ll probably need to change some things.
Christian Communication Minus the Jargon
Here are a few suggestions for reining in the jargon, and communicating with more meaning.
- Think about everything you say from the perspective of the person to whom you’re saying it.
- Befriend and really learn from people who are clueless about Christian jargon. Understand them.
- Realize that it’s not what you say that makes all the difference, but God, who is the Savior.
- Share and explain Scripture. God said, “My Word…shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it (Isaiah 55:11).
- Don’t get hung up on the right words or the right way of saying it. Instead, focus on loving relationships.