The church environment can be a funny one. In it, we often use words and phrases no one else uses — and sometimes the are very good reason that they don’t. Christians can use a language that’s all but foreign if you’re not used to it. Some of the language is helpful and some of it is not. But either way church definitely has its own language so I decided to ask the Twitter world what church words need to, well, go away.
What is a church buzzword (or phrase) you think should go away?
— Mitch Tidwell (@mitchtidwell) July 9, 2020
Here are the top 10 results for the church buzzwords (or phrase) the twitter world thinks should go away.
10. “God, just…”
I’m guilty. For some reason I add the word “just” a ton in my prayers. But, I wouldn’t do that in a conversation with a person. I’m scratching my head.
The word "just" intertwined in every other word of prayer
" Father we JUST pray that you would JUST be with him and JUST help him to JUST feel you and JUST JUST JUST"
Been guilty of this myself. We should allow ourselves to take our time in prayer/be intentional with each word
— Chelsea Skiba (@chelsea_skiba) July 9, 2020
9. “I have an unspoken prayer request”
I wonder how long this phrase has been around? A long time! One woman tweeted out that students in her Christian school used this phrase to waste time in class and keep the teacher writing prayer requests on the board.
8. “Hedge of protection”
Every time I hear this I can’t help but think of the bushes in the front of my house. This term dates back thousands of years ago where villages would use thorn hedges to protect their property from predators. To say the least, the term is outdated to an American audience.
Hedge of protection. Where does that even come from?! Hedges don’t seem like they would protect from a whole lot. ??♀️
— Madison Russ (@madimarie_11) July 9, 2020
7. “Do life together”
I use this term A LOT. It was one of the more popular terms, and, depending on the context, it can mean something much different.
“Doing life together” – sounds like a prison sentence!
— Nigel P Thompson (@nigelthompson67) July 9, 2020
6. “Plugged in”, “Lean in” or “Press in”
Bottom line: no one wants to be in’d into anything.
Plugged in. As in “find a place where you can get plugged in.” (I’m not a toaster)
— Shaun Groves (@shaungroves) July 9, 2020
Hmmm, I don’t know. Let me press into that and I will get back to you. ?
— Dave v.12.1 ? (@revdavew) July 10, 2020
5. “Slippery slope”
This thread caused such a buzz that even Beth Moore weighed in on her despised buzzword. It’s like saying, “You’re not wrong, but you’re almost wrong.” God bless Beth Moore.
Slippery slope
— Beth Moore (@BethMooreLPM) July 9, 2020
4. “Smokin’ hot wife”
There was plenty of conversation around this response and rightly so. It makes everyone uncomfortable in the room, including the wife.
When a male pastor discusses his "smokin' hot wife".
Drives me nuts. Consider the identity you place on her in that moment. THAT is the value you place publicly on her.
Whats the goal – you want your flock seeing her and being like "you know, she really IS pretty hot…"?
— Noah W Andrews (@NoahWAndrews) July 9, 2020
3. “Hate the sin, love the sinner”
This is a church phrase that some people inside AND outside the church wish would go away.
An article I once read on the phrase "Love the sinner, hate the sin" put it this way. "That philosophy is 25% love, and 75% hate, sinner, sin, and we can't figure out why it hasn't worked???"
— Luanna Cooper (@LuannaCooper1) July 10, 2020
2. “Love on”
Lets be honest, in today’s hyper-sexualized culture, this does not sound good. Should we try to redeem it? If you want to. But I think I’ll settle with another way to express how I love people.
"Let's just love on these people"… feels icky. Plus it's ambiguous.
— Ashley Christopherson (@write_n_seek) July 9, 2020
1. “Let’s unpack this”
This was a total shocker to me, but this was by far the most despised phrase. From what I can tell it is an over-used term that doesn’t relate well. You unpack clothes so you can put them away. Is that what we should be doing with God’s Word?
Preachers who unpack things. I know our heritage was circuit riders who got around a lot but COME ON.
— Steve Cuss (@stevecusswords) July 9, 2020
"Unpack" the scripture. Unpack is what you do with a suitcase when you get home from a trip and it's mostly dirty laundry.
— ColoradoGrandma (@SuzieCitizen1) July 10, 2020
“Let’s unpack this” Ugh! The worst part of any journey.
— Hope (@Hope29835655) July 10, 2020
This article was adapted from Mitch Tidwell’s blog, which you can read here.