I have heard many an argument that we shouldn't abuse the use of Christianese, but I contend that the lack thereof is a detriment to the growth of our fellow believers.
I've captured the thought in an analogy: If you were a refugee (sinner) running from the evil (Satan) that is your former country, you find yourself in a new country, a safe haven, a place of peace where prosperity abounds for those around you (Christianity). These people have a way of living that you wish you could experience, they work hard, they live happily, but there are some things that you simply don't understand. When you ask about it and you're trying to understand how it is that they reached this level of prosperity, they sort of scuffle around the topic, they "dumb it down." When you hear a word that you've never heard spoken in your home country and ask for a definition you get a watered-down breezy answer, yet you feel that this word has significance and a profound meaning. You're safe, and your relatively happy, but you know and feel that there is more, but you can't put it into words.
Is this what it it's like to withhold "Christianese" from growing believers? Or scoff at it's general use? I see how it can turn off an unbeliever, but to someone who hungers for more, we should constantly be feeding them the sustenance of this New Life. Beginning with the less fancy terms like, "born again," "salvation," "redemption," "grace." These are not only easy terms to grasp, but ones that are essential to really understanding what is happening in a new Christian's heart.
Later, we should not shy away from building a fine repertoire for ourselves and our yoked brothers and sisters: "prophecy," "intercession," "not by flesh, but by the spirit," "tongues." These are biblical "Christianese"terms. They have largely been discarded by the contemporary church because of the fear, I believe, surrounding what it would mean to (A) understand them and (B) realize that if they are biblical, we need to obey and live by them.
What would it look like to have a biblically-based, controlled ministry of prophecy? Or a small group that did not glance sideways, distracted, at a person quietly praying in tongues? What would it be like for this to become church normalcy?
I Corinthians 14
26 "What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. All of these must be done for the strengthening of the church. 27 If anyone speaks in a tongue [...]someone must interpret. 28 If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep silent in the church and speak to himself and God."
39 "Therefore, my brothers, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. 40But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way."
And your arguement of: "But I just don't have the gift"?
Weaksauce, Holmes.
Check these out:
I Corinthians 14
1 "Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy."
31 "For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged."
So why are we playing it safe? And is it really safe? Isn't denying the church these things asking for a weak church (verse 26)? Who will have the courage to prophesy to brothers and sisters if the majority of the believers in the church have never heard the term outside the context of Moses? Who will organize any of this in a fitting and orderly way if it's not even recognized as a true ministry? How are we to even learn to prophesy? How does one "pursue" it? I say, we should talk about it, using a language known as "Christianese," formerly known as "Scripture."
