Hi friend,
If you are new to Christianity, have always been a Christian, or someone in between, the language used in the Church can be confusing sometimes. This list is by no means exhaustive, but it includes some terms Alena and I tend to use in blog posts. Christians have some funny phrases, but our hope is that the language we use never gets in the way of the message. Please always comment if you are confused about something we wrote! In the meantime, enjoy these sweet Christian terms.
Whispered in your heart: Basically, God has spoken to you in a non-audible way. Maybe you had a new realization, change in perspective, or attitude based on this “whisper.”
“The Lord whispered into my heart that I need to ask for forgiveness.”
Love on: The act of being especially kind to someone going through a hard time.
“There isn’t much else I can do but love on her.”
Do life with: This is often used in reference to spouses. It means living your life with other people, not hiding the messy parts, and being open about your faith.
“I am so blessed to do life with you! I really appreciate our friendship.”
Speak life into: Showing others the truth of who they are, that they are loved and known by God.
Example: “I know things are hard right now. I just wanted you to know that I love you so much and I know God is going to help you through this.”
Quiet time: One-on-one time with God. Often in the morning, reading a devotional, praying, and/or doing a Bible study by yourself are all great ways to spend quality time focusing on the Lord.
“I set my alarm to make sure I would have enough time for my quiet time with the Lord today.”
Fellowship: Hanging out with other Christians. A time of community and gathering. This could be used in reference to meeting up with some friends or maybe the post-church “coffee hour,” or anything in between. If you are “in fellowship” with someone, this refers to a close friendship or community.
“I loved catching up with her during fellowship hour after church today.”
Missionary dating: A negative term used to describe when Christians date non-Christians with the intention of converting them.
“I’m concerned that he isn’t interested in dating her for the right reasons, he’s known to missionary date.”
Brother/sister in Christ: Any Christian, really. This term is used to emphasize that we are all part of one family of believers. Unfortunately, it is not inclusive and fails to incorporate the diversity of genders represented in the Church.
“He made it clear he only sees me as a sister in Christ.”
Seasons of life: Used to describe a time where God is teaching you something, or to describe a certain time period in your life, in terms of your faith journey.
“Right now I’m in a season of singleness, and I’m learning so much about how to strengthen my relationship with the Lord.”
Believer: Another term used to refer to a Christian.
“She has been a believer in Christ for as long as I can remember!”
What are some of your favorite Christian phrases? Are any of these new to you? Please, tell us if you think something is missing from this list!
Peace and blessings,
Shaina
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