Following yesterday’s 5 Sources of Bad Theology, I thought I’d mention a few buzz words that we need to re-define. And not so much re-define as just take back. But here goes:
5. Moral/Morality – Despite efforts of organizations like the Moral Majority, the fight for “morality” is a lost cause. Why? Because it labels everything and everyone else “immoral,” or worse yet, “amoral.” And when you do, someone who was moral does something immoral and tries to explain why the immoral act was actually amoral and it’s a great big morality mess. Let the philosophers have it back, and let’s worry about changing hearts rather than changing behavior.
4. Born Again – I know Jesus said it, and I believe it is absolutely necessary, but we Christians should really evaluate whether we are indeed “born again.” Lest we be born again, we cannot enter the kingdom of God, and lest we be born of water and of the Spirit, we cannot. Going to Church doesn’t make you born again. I went to church for years completely ignorant of this, as do many, I’m sure.
3. Believer – I have many friends who are “believers,” but very few of us actually believe the same thing. “She’s a believer, but her husband is not…,” “Is he a believer?,” “Are her parent’s believers?” Sound familiar? “Believer” is not an item on a checklist to be checked off thereby making someone okay and/or acceptable. And what if your believer daughter is dating a believer boyfriend, but he “believes” at a church that belongs to a differently believing denomination. Do you know who, often times, most need ministering? Believers! Why? Because they don’t really believe, or they don’t know what they believe. Believe me!
2. Pray/Prayer/Praying – How often do you hear, “Pray for so-and-so…,” or “You can be in prayer for…,” or “How can we pray about…”? How often do those needs really get prayed for. I think this has become a very clever, religious way of venting, or worse, gossiping. I am a part of a study group that has determined not to let real prayer requests/needs go idly by. If you ask any of us for prayer, you’re getting it. Right then. Right there. Be it on the phone, in the grocery store, at the ball game, or wherever. Plus, I’m forgetful, so I have to do it right then or it won’t get done.
1. Evangelicals – Can I be perfectly honest? “Evangelicals” who evangelize everything and anything but the gospel really bug me. If you evangelize a political cause, you are political, not evangelical. If you evangelize a political cause and mask it as a religious one, you are clever, but still political. If you evanglize yourself (other than to promote your own little Bible blog), you should be ex-communicated. Why the “Moral Born Again Believers for Life” should take a stance on interstate highway funding is beyond me. But, it does suggest that they might be mildly more political than evangelical. So, let’s leave the “evangelical” stuff to those who actually preach the gospel, shall we?.
#1 by john on November 10, 2009 - 3:39 pm
preach!
the two on your list that have meant the most so far in my ministry is being born again and believing.
First, I love the argument about being born again vs being born from above. That can have a huge impact on how we view ourselves in relation to God. Secondly, believers? John said something like “…written that you might believe.” But who cares if you believe it if it hasn’t changed you.
thanX for giving me something to amen! stay blessed…john
#2 by Gary Zimmerli on November 10, 2009 - 4:29 pm
Peter, I agree, but we need alternatives!
I’m thinking especially of “believer”. Christian? Follower of Christ? Dedicated Christian?
What about this one: “Born-again believer!”
“Evangelicals” certainly has been over-used almost to the point of becoming meaningless. Do we have an alternative for that?
And your point about praying is very true, and we all need to heed it!
#3 by brianfulthorp on November 10, 2009 - 4:48 pm
add the term “Christian” what does it even mean anymore?
#4 by Peter on November 10, 2009 - 5:03 pm
john, thanks. I appreciate that.
Gary, I agree. We do probably need to replace rather than just redefine.
brian, I actually had that on the list, but I finally replaced it with “born again.” It was a close call. I figured “Christian” might be just a tad too controversial.
#5 by Bitsy Griffin on November 10, 2009 - 6:00 pm
Half the Christian terms that are used have fluctuating definitions based on who is using them. It disturbs me to be having a conversation and somewhere in it realize that we have probably defined the key terms in different ways. What in the world does that do to communication!?!
#6 by Peter M. Lopez on November 10, 2009 - 6:55 pm
Indeed. It kind of makes you wonder how we ever made it this long.
#7 by Gary Zimmerli on November 11, 2009 - 11:17 am
Yes, Bitsy certainly has a great point! It’s disconcerting to be talking to someone, and you both are referring to someone as a Christian, or a believer, or whatever, and while you’re thinking that the person in question is a dedicated follower of Christ, the other person is thinking of them simply as a church-goer.
We have similar problems in communicating between conservatives/traditionalists and liberals/progressives. We’re often using the same terminology, but with totally different meanings!
#8 by Peter on November 11, 2009 - 11:24 am
Definitely. We all need to carry (the same) dictionaries.
#9 by Ben on April 16, 2011 - 8:24 pm
The more Christians get away from living out the Bible the more meaningless “christian” becomes. Moral is the opposite of sinful, it should still mean just that. If people are confused about what morality is then they need to look at the standard of morality (the Holy Bible) if anything is against it it is immoral. There is nothing wrong with using that word, this should not be complicated.
I agree that we need to reexamine what these terminology means if we are going to use it. Born again means to die to the yourself and to life for Christ symbolically by water and spiritually as the Holy Spirit enables us, living in us.
“Evangelicals who evangelize anything and everything but the gospel” along with the strange example about the interstate also bother me. But, what is worse is Christians who do not stand up for their faith politically. We are to be Christians in the political process as well. Promoting what is good honest, just, and worthy of praise, as well as exposing every kind of evil. What a great travesty when evil prevails because good people have done nothing to stop it.