Christianese

The purpose of this post on “Christianese” is to gain wisdom in the truth. Christianese Definition: refers to the contained terms and jargon used within many of the branches and denominations of Christianity as a functional system of religious terminology.

I am still learning all the time.   Some words used can be taken the wrong way by a non-believer or a new brother or sister in Christ.  This post is not designed to become new religious doctrine, nor is it to be a representation of a Pharisee — it’s not my intention to bring about ridiculous law.

Soul Ties — (some information taken from link provided)  Note that Christians began using the term soul tie perhaps as early as the 1960s; but the term soul tie has been used regularly by non-Christian mystics and spiritualists since the mid-19th century to refer to spiritual connections between two or more people. For example, soul tie is part of the active working vocabulary of practitioners of astrology, theosophy, the New Age, and Eastern religions. Christians ought to be cautious about using the term soul tie around people who may be familiar with the non-Christian usage of the term.   This term is often used in place of biblical “Covenant, Agreement, Knit, Bound, Commitment, Promise, Pledge…”  See http://www.dictionaryofchristianese.com/soul-ties/

Hedge of Protection —  Often used by Pagans to define “Portals” of protection placed by witchcraft.  Satan used this in Job 1:9-11

Transparent — Used in place of “Clear Conscience”.  

 

Divine Appointment — this is a Holy Spirit meeting that took place.  A meeting in which we truly could not have totally planned ourselves.  Some call this a meeting that was inspired and led by God. This term can be confused with New Age jargon. 

Seeker-Friendly, Sensitive, Driven, Oriented — These are churches that strive to bring in more people to their congregation by offering up sweet sounding words.   They tend to stay away from the full foundation of the Gospel and often ignore repentance.  Most of them have greater concern for cash flow, than they do souls.  A lot of them have theatrical settings, some have ATM machines in them and most of them sell items in their lobbies.  These churches do quote scripture, but so did Satan!  The word “Seeker” is a New Age term that refers to someone that is looking for the truth, but doesn’t share in the beliefs founded in the Bible.

Drive-By Evangelism    —   a negative term that reflects sharing the truth and then leaving.  It could be used to reference a church that brings in an outsider who is not afraid to share the Full Gospel, then leaves and the church then goes back to its old ways.  It can also be used to refer to a person or group who leaves tracts, but is not being led by the Holy Spirit.   New Christians need some help after “coming to Jesus” — they don’t want to be left alone in a dead church that is afraid of allowing the Holy Spirit to freely move.

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Scriptural References

Job 1:9-11 “Hedge used by Satan”

9 Satan answered the Lord, “Does Job fear God for nothing? 10 Haven’t You placed a hedge around him, his household, and everything he owns? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. 11 But stretch out Your hand and strike everything he owns, and he will surely curse You to Your face.”

Psalm 91  “The Lord’s Protection”

1 The one who lives under the protection of the Most High dwells in the shadow of the Almighty. 
2 I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”
3 He Himself will deliver you from the hunter’s net, from the destructive plague.
4 He will cover you with His feathers; you will take refuge under His wings.
His faithfulness will be a protective shield.
5 You will not fear the terror of the night, the arrow that flies by day,
6 the plague that stalks in darkness, or the pestilence that ravages at noon.
7 Though a thousand fall at your side and ten thousand at your right hand,
the pestilence will not reach you.
8 You will only see it with your eyes and witness the punishment of the wicked.
9 Because you have made the Lord—my refuge, the Most High—your dwelling place,
10 no harm will come to you; no plague will come near your tent.
11 For He will give His angels orders concerning you, to protect you in all your ways.
12 They will support you with their hands so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
13 You will tread on the lion and the cobra; you will trample the young lion and the serpent.
14 Because he is lovingly devoted to Me, I will deliver him;
I will protect him because he knows My name.
15 When he calls out to Me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble.
I will rescue him and give him honor.
16 I will satisfy him with a long life and show him My salvation.

1 Samuel 18:1-5 “Covenant or Promise to someone”

When David had finished speaking with Saul, Jonathan committed himself to David, and loved him as much as he loved himself. 2 Saul kept David with him from that day on and did not let him return to his father’s house.

3 Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as much as himself. 4 Then Jonathan removed the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his military tunic, his sword, his bow, and his belt.

5 David marched out with the army and was successful in everything Saul sent him to do. Saul put him in command of the soldiers, which pleased all the people and Saul’s servants as well.

2 Corinthians 1:12-14 “Clear Conscience”

12 For this is our confidence: The testimony of our conscience is that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially toward you, with God-given sincerity and purity, not by fleshly wisdom but by God’s grace. 13 Now we are writing nothing to you other than what you can read and also understand. I hope you will understand completely— 14 as you have partially understood us—that we are your reason for pride, as you are ours, in the day of our Lord Jesus.

Proverbs 15:14  A discerning mind seeks knowledge, but the mouth of fools feeds on foolishness.

Isaiah 55:6  Seek the Lord while He may be found; call to Him while He is near.

Jeremiah 29:13 You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.

Acts 16:9-31 — Example Of  what some refer to as “Divine Appointment” 

9 During the night a vision appeared to Paul: A Macedonian man was standing and pleading with him, “Cross over to Macedonia and help us!” 10 After he had seen the vision, we immediately made efforts to set out for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to evangelize them.

Lydia’s Conversion
11 Then, setting sail from Troas, we ran a straight course to Samothrace, the next day to Neapolis, 12 and from there to Philippi, a Roman colony, which is a leading city of that district of Macedonia. We stayed in that city for a number of days. 13 On the Sabbath day we went outside the city gate by the river, where we thought there was a place of prayer. We sat down and spoke to the women gathered there. 14 A woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God, was listening. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was spoken by Paul. 15 After she and her household were baptized, she urged us, “If you consider me a believer in the Lord, come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us.

Paul and Silas in Prison
16 Once, as we were on our way to prayer, a slave girl met us who had a spirit of prediction. She made a large profit for her owners by fortune-telling. 17 As she followed Paul and us she cried out, “These men, who are proclaiming to you the way of salvation, are the slaves of the Most High God.” 18 And she did this for many days. But Paul was greatly aggravated and turning to the spirit, said, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her!” And it came out right away.  19 When her owners saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to the authorities. 20 Bringing them before the chief magistrates, they said, “These men are seriously disturbing our city. They are Jews 21 and are promoting customs that are not legal for us as Romans to adopt or practice.” 22 Then the mob joined in the attack against them, and the chief magistrates stripped off their clothes and ordered them to be beaten with rods. 23 After they had inflicted many blows on them, they threw them in jail, ordering the jailer to keep them securely guarded. 24 Receiving such an order, he put them into the inner prison and secured their feet in the stocks.

A Midnight Deliverance
25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the jail were shaken, and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s chains came loose. 27 When the jailer woke up and saw the doors of the prison open, he drew his sword and was going to kill himself, since he thought the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul called out in a loud voice, “Don’t harm yourself, because all of us are here!” 29 Then the jailer called for lights, rushed in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 Then he escorted them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.”