Christianese:

Definitions

Christianse:

Christianese is the strange language christians start using after they fully acclimatise to church life. It is full of obscure bible references and strange concepts not usually found in everyday life.

"Saved"

Being saved refers to the concept that when someone decides to follow Jesus they are saved from the alternative (an eternity without God, or hell if you prefer).

Translation: When a christian asks "are you saved?" they are really asking if you are a christian (like them).

Repentance

Repentance means being sorry for what you have done and deciding not to do it again. In the christian world it usually means you are sorry for doing wrong and you have decided to become a christian and try not to do wrong again. It is also described as realising you have been following the wrong path, making the wrong choices and deciding to follow Jesus and make right choices. It is part of the process of becoming a christian.

Translation: Admitting fault or wrong doing and deciding to do differently in future.

Sin

Lots of christians use the word sin to mean the stuff that we do wrong. Some christians hate the word and think its easier to say "the stuff you have done that is wrong". It also means anythng done against the will of God (for example murder is pretty much accepted as against Gods will).

Translation: Wrong doing

Judgement

In the christian world, judgement is what happens when God looks at the wrong things you have done and says, Yep thats not good and you can't bring all that non-goodness into heaven. So you get to go to the other place.

Translation: When God looks at what you have done and sees you have done bad things

Hosanna or Hallelujah

In church people may say "hosanna" or "hallelujah", this is another way of saying praise God. Both of these words are a way of saying we adore you God, or expressing joy in God. Both words are originally from the hebrew as I understand. They are both used frequently in christian songs. Also worth noting - the spelling of Hallelujah is pretty flexible, Allelujah is also acceptable.

Translation: "God you are pretty darn awesome, well done with that"

"Blood of the lamb"

Christians often refer to the "blood of the lamb"

This refers to the metaphor that Jesus was like a lamb so when they say blood of the lamb they really mean blood of Jesus.

Usually they are not talking about blood literally either. The blood usually represents the sacrifice of Jesus dying on the cross.

Translation: The sacrifice of Jesus

Speaking in Tongues

This is also known as glossolalia (who knew?). It is a type of speaking or singing in strange noises, sounds and unknown words. It is a way of praying or connecting with God without letting English words (or whatever language) get in the way of expressing feelings and emotions. It is more about letting your spirit connect with Gods holy spirit without having to use clumsy human words to express your concepts and ideas.

Personally I think it’s something you do in your private worship with God, when you are getting really deep and personal and you want to say something but you can’t find the right words. It is perceived as incredibly weird by non-church people.

There have been instances however when people are praying for someone and they feel like they should pray in tongues and what sounds like nonsense is actually being understood by the person being prayed for.

Translation: Speaking nonsense so you can connect deeply with God on a subconscious or spiritual level.

Faith

Faith is complete trust or confidence in something. In a church setting when someone talks about faith, they mean a complete trust and confidence in God.

It is quite a big deal in a Christian setting, without trust or confidence in God, there is no belief. The whole religion is based on a belief in God, and Jesus Christ dying on the cross and rising again.

It is also another way of saying you are a Christian. For example if I say I have faith in God or Jesus, I am also saying I’m a Christian.

Translation: Trust and belief in God

Congregation

I imagine this comes from the word congregate (to gather together). A congregation is just a churchy way of saying, the people in the church or the members of a church.

Translation: Church people

Life Group

a.k.a. House group

most churches have some sort of small groups meeting throughout the week. These groups are usually a group of people (around 8 people maybe?) who get together weekly or fortnightly. The groups usually do some or all of the following :

Talk about the Sunday church service
Read the bible together
Drink coffee
Eat cookies (this tends to be optional but the coffee seems to be a part of all groups)
Pray together
Study Christian books together

There are many names for these groups and each church tends to have a different name for their small groups. I personally have been part of a cell group, a life group, a home group and a study group.

Translation: small gathering of Christians in someone’s home to talk about God and drink coffee (cookies optional).