why do christians say “we love people where they are?”
think about it….
where are they…compared to where we think we are? and why do we make it sound like such a feat of accomplishment?
i’ve had too much caffeine today. please excuse me.
why do christians say “we love people where they are?”
think about it….
where are they…compared to where we think we are? and why do we make it sound like such a feat of accomplishment?
i’ve had too much caffeine today. please excuse me.
Comments
20 responses to “churchy wordisms that confuse me”
I know what they mean…but it bugs me. Christianese in general gets under my skin big time. I rant about it far too often.
Now, go get yourself a nice caffeine free Rooibos…it’s all going to be okay.
I know!…
and also…
Why do Christians call non-Christians “unchurched?” That doesn’t even sound like a word, because church is a noun, not a verb.
And when do you ever hear of someone referring to “churched” people, either? Can anyone ever be good enough to be called “churched?”
That word bugs me, especially when Christians use it interchangeably with the word “unsaved.” Because in my experience, the two terms are NOT necessarily synonymous.
Yes, the caffeine, it is contagious. Or something like that. I’ll go now, before my comment is longer than your post. Oh wait…too late!
(I’m here via boomama, btw.)
To me, loving somebody where they are, means accepting them unconditionally, not making them come up to some kind of “christian standards” in lifestyle.
How about “love on” or “in relationship”… I hate that Christians get away with improper English. It’s kind of annoying if you ask me. But maybe I just need to soften my heart. : )
Good points all around. One of the unplanned benefits of being an Atheist for so long is that even now I have a hard time using non-secular vernacular. Using Christianese creates a wall between you and anyone who doesn’t speak the language.
peace|dewde
http://dewde.com
Christianese usually gets to me the most when it is used in place of compassion or because the person doesn’t know what to say so he/she pulls out the goofy Christian Hallmark-type expressions.
I got that a lot after my miscarriage. “God has a plan”; “God’s will is perfect”; “God works all things for the good”. What I preferred most during that difficult time was “can I bring your family a meal”; “do you need anything”; “I don’t know what to say, but I love you”; “I’m so sorry — what can I do for you”. You know — honest, loving support.
Have a glass of wine.
Today is the 7th anniversary of
Sept 11, 2001
‘the problem w/ the most of us is we’re like the rest of us.’ i just needed to say that out loud. :)
“Love the sinner, hate the sin” which usually applies to people who don’t think they are sinning in the first place so they certainly don’t feel loved now. “I love you in spite of the awful things you do that you don’t know are wrong. Bless your heart” Ick.
I don’t know, sounds kinda silly, like Heidi said, why do we use Christian Correct terms? Why are we not just telling someone as planly as we can that we love them no matter what.
We shouldn’t think think we are anywhere “better.” We shouldn’t think of it as an accomplishment. But we should love people where they are… b/c Jesus always meets us (as in EVERYONE) where we are.
Ah, yes…. Christianese: the language I never understood, but spoke any way. You can’t forget the classic “love ON them.” What does that mean? How do you love ON someone? is that different from just loving them? I posted a blog on a bunch of these ridiculous expressions about a year ago: http://jeffgoins.myadventures.org/index.asp?filename=recommitment-and-other-christianese
Yeah. I’m always re-evaluating the terms that find themselves popular in the church. Finding people where they are. That’s one I’ve never really thought about. It immediately makes me think of “us” going down to “them” where they are. There’s not a thought of us going anywhere higher than where we are now.
Another phrase I’ve learned to not like is using “real” in any tagline or logo or brand, etc. What makes one church more “real” than another? There’s a church in the area where I live that uses “Real church. Real worship. Real people.” To me, that’s offensive because they’re saying all the other churches are fake.
Wow. This is a longer comment than I expected.
These all really good comments!
Just a tad bit of info about me in case people reading this blog don’t know.
I come from a homosexual background and there are some things about the church that really bug me. And personally, I feel totally justified that some of these things really bug me.
I’ve been caught up with chrisianese especially when I had worked so hard to cover up the sin in my life.
I needed to talk and act a certain way in order to be accepted because I didn’t feel as though I’d be accepted if people knew me for who I am. And I came to believe based upon the chrisianese I had heard all around me.
People say, “Love the person where they’re at”
How about simply love the person! You know, if we all understood what it means to be created in God’s image then it’s not loving the person where they’re at but loving the person for who they are and for who God created them to be. In my opinion, we should see the finished restored, transformed person and love them right here in the now and see them in light of their God given calling and purpose.
In my opinion, people loving me right where I was became degrading because they didn’t see the woman I was becoming.
And then…
To love the sinner but hate the sin ….RRRRGGGGG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
That just does not compute and I try to explain to people that it’s a term that many people outside the 4 walls of the church who don’t get christianese…we wonder why the church can’t seem to communicate the truth of the gospel, it’s because the church speaks in a language and culture that most people don’t understand if they are not in that particular culture learning that particular language. Poor grammer it may be and sometimes it makes some people look like they are completely ignorant, knowing nothing about the issue or how the person even feels. And mind you, having had no experience walking through some of the same stuff.
And you know, love the sinner hate the sin…translates to hate. Especially if one’s so-called sin is in that person’s understanding who they are. If one identify’s as being gay and you say you hate the sin, it translates that you hate that person because being gay is who they are. So therefore, you hate them. And so I’d personally like to see the christianese become a thing of the past.
And btw, haha….at this rate, with the steady but sure increase of the decay of morals in our society, christiainese may very well become a thing of the past. And in part, that’s sad to say. I’d like for Christianese to become extinct, but I cry out for our generation who desperately need Jesus.
It isn’t always meant to sound condescending, but it takes an act of will to not interpret is as being condescending.
Jesus takes me “Just as I am”
but
He wants me to be like Him.
Isn’t that the example?
I hate this one…
This morning, We are going to go after the heart of God!!!
Huh?
Oh, that is great food for thought. We say that ALL the time around out church.
I love that comment above about just loving the person. Period.
I think that loving people where they are is probably better stewardship when you consider what it would cost to relocate everybody. Have you checked out moving expenses lately?
oh, you Canadians!