Read
“…for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
Matthew 12:37
Reflect
Christians are often known for having a lingo that’s all their own. Consider these words and phrases from the online “Christianese” lexicon:
- bumper sticker theology
- divine appointment
- drive-by evangelism
- Facebook fast
- frozen chosen
- Godincidence
- holy hardware
- kairos moment
- lie from the pit of hell
- missionary dating
- name it and claim it
- prayer warrior
- sinner’s prayer
- tract bombing
- WWJD
None of those terms is in the Bible, and all of them are used fairly often within Christian circles. It’s not that any of these terms is necessarily bad, but we run the risk of alienating people when we use what amounts to Christian code. We have to remember that it’s not just our churches that pick up on our use of Christian lingo. The world notes and hears the things we say, and people who don’t get the meaning of our language can easily feel excluded and left out.
That matters because Jesus reminds us in Matthew 12 that our words reveal what is in our hearts. Just before the verse above, he says, “out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” If our words matter that much, then how we communicate the Gospel matters too.
Our model should be Jesus — the master of communication who often spoke in terms that the common man understood. I always picture Jesus looking at the things around him and relating those things to spiritual terms. He talked about things as simple as birds and flowers, and he related the Kingdom of God to daily life. His words could challenge people, confuse them and even offend them, but he didn’t hide the message behind unnecessary religious jargon. His words welcomed people to draw near — so much so that we’re still repeating them close to 2,000 years later.
As you communicate the Gospel — to other Christians or to those who don’t know the Lord — put the Lord’s message in terms that are easily understandable and digestible. Our goal should never be to be cute or clever, but instead to be relevant and effective. It’s nice when we can say something unique, but it’s so much better when we can say something that makes a difference.
The next time you share your faith, make sure that your words are more likely to reflect the teachings of Jesus and not a page out of the Christianese lexicon. Clarity isn’t watering down the Gospel. Sometimes it’s simply one of the most loving ways we can share it.
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Reflection copyright © 2026 Doug DeBolt.
