Understanding Christianese Cliches
I often talk about what I call ‘Christianese.’ These are Christian colloquialisms. They originated with deep meaning but have become so overused that they have become cliches. We hear them, and probably say them, but may not even truly understand them. Even if we do indeed understand them, do they reach our heart and change our lives? Here are a few examples of what I’m talking about:
Examples of Christian Cliches
- Let go and let God.
- What would Jesus do?
- I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (Also an oft misquoted scripture!)
- Be in the world but not of the world.
This is admittedly a tiny sampling. And I have no intention of addressing in this post the many sayings that we have that are patently false and damaging to an understanding of the Bible and God’s nature.
Examining “Let Go and Let God” in Depth
The one I want to address today is, “Let go and Let God.” Every time I hear this, two passages of scripture immediately come to mind. First is Philippians 4:4-7. But I also think of Romans 8:26-27. This passage in Romans tells us that sometimes it is difficult to find the words to pray, often because our hearts and our minds are overwhelmed.
A Personal Journey with “Let Go and Let God”
I recently found myself in one of those situations. A situation arose that tugged on my heart. I had prayed many times about this situation and just found myself at a loss. The natural human inclination to just fix the situation—well, that wasn’t going to work either. I knew full well that there was absolutely nothing I could do. If anything meaningful was going to happen, it needed to be God that handled it.
I knew that I was emotionally overloaded by the circumstances and didn’t know how to pray. I was all prayed out. And, despite having prayed extensively, the situation was only getting worse. So, it was time to be vulnerable and allow the Spirit to come in and intercede on my behalf.
Imperfection and Teaching
Here’s my confession: I struggled to stop thinking. I had to ask God to help me with that too. My head was so busy that there was no way I could hear from Him! I’m sure that of those reading this, the vast majority can relate. I teach people how to lean into the Spirit and how to allow God to be God, and here I was getting in my own way.
So what exactly is the point of me sharing this with you? Well, for starters, I’m not perfect. I teach so many different things to help people. When I do, I have to recognize that what I’m teaching may sound simple, but it is often far from easy. I suspect that it often sounds like I have everything down. I think on average, I’m doing pretty well. But I’m still not perfect.
Embracing God’s Presence
I also wanted to encourage you. I wanted to remind you that we have a God that is bigger than we can imagine and loves you more than you can believe. He is as close as you need Him to be. All you have to do is be vulnerable to Him and allow the Spirit into your heart. It’s a wonderful thing when we apply it. Whatever is troubling you doesn’t have to. Mind you, I AM NOT saying that He will do everything we ask for. But He does care and will help you to find peace in a chaotic and peaceless world.
As always, if you need a little extra help, you are welcome to reach out to me here.
