Are you using language that is only spoken in churches to try to reach your un-churched friends?

Born again Christian. Back Slider. Personal Savior.

While these phrases might mean a lot to you, to the non-believer, they might sound as foreign as French. So if you want to really open the ears of a non-churched friend, start by rethinking the language that you use. Find new ways to describe what Christ means to you, in language that's right for you, not your pastor. Here's a quick guide to some Christianese that you might want to avoid:

Popular Christianese

Born Again Christian: When you say it, the non-believer might hear religious fanatic. Instead, say "I'm new and improved".

Backslider: When you say it, it might translate into "holy hypocrite". Instead, tell your non-believing friend that you went AWOL, (Away With Out the Lord). Then be prepared to share your story.

Salvation: You might get an "eye-roll" from a non-believer instead of their undivided attention, when using the word salvation to talk about heavenly matters. Instead, why not explain it as your eternal life insurance policy?

Sin: Sometimes, the smallest words are the hardest to understand. (just like the le and la of french)! These words confuse us and tune us out instead of in. The word sin might seem small, but it would take three dictionaries to define just the sin in my life. So instead of using the word sin, break it down into bite size chunks, especially focusing on the sins Christ washed out of YOUR life. Example: My relationship with Christ really helped me deal with the stress of my job.

Christ in my Heart: If you get a big "no comprende" when you use this classic Christianese, try telling a non-believing friend that Christ is the heart of your life. Let them know that everything you do revolves around Jesus.

Non-believer: This is the biggest no-no of them all. And, a lot of people DO believe in Christ, but are missing the boat when it comes to the 24/7 benefits. Explain to them how to take advantage of the promises in the Bible (otherwise known as Life's Survival Guide)!

CONCLUSION: Remember, just like milk, Christian terminology has an expriration date. Keep your testimony irresistibly fresh with language that's right for today. For more fun translations to stale churchy language, check out TastyFaith's Guide to Christianese.

Avoir!

Want more fun translations to stale churchy language? click here