Words can really be crazy to say – like Mary Poppins’ super cali fragilistic expialidocious – or just plain hard to decipher their meaning. When I was in the military, we used words like “motor park,” “maneuvers,” and “TA-50.” Most people who have not been in the military do not know what you are talking about. Then I bought a motorcycle and found another set of peculiar words. I rode a “bike,” “cycle,” “hog,” or “ride,” but it was not a “Harley,” or Harley Davidson—I couldn’t afford one. The Harley’s had their own special breakdown depending on which “bike” you owned: “Sportster,” the “Flathead” or my personal favorite – the “Fat boy.”
All these words were not wrong, they were just different. Sometimes, when someone who had never grown up in church hears Christian words for the first time, they think these folks are really weird! The truth is that Christians often use words without thinking and they need you to ask them what those words mean. Like “Altar,” which sounds scary, but it just an area in the front of the church that people come to when they want to publicly ask God for forgiveness and invite Him into their lives. The apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 9:22, “…I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some.” We Christians need to work on this at times and be careful of the words we use.
Other words, like “pew” and “washed in the blood” can be offensive at best when not understood by others. A “pew” is just a place where folks sit – as opposed to being something that smells bad! Being “washed in the blood” is purely symbolic of the atoning work that Jesus Christ did on the cross at Calvary and the blood that he shed for all humanity’s sin. When we are “washed in the blood” we are “spiritually” cleansed and renewed by the power of God’s Holy Spirit. We’ve been restored into a right relationship with the Creator of the universe. Wouldn’t you want something like that!? And it’s FREE!
So, the next time you hear someone spouting off Christian words you do not understand – do yourself a favor and go ask them what they mean. This will help the Christian realize that not everyone understands those peculiar words, as well as help you understand what that person is trying to communicate. Hopefully, whatever words are spoken will help you take one step closer to the wonderful Savior, Jesus Christ.
