Dictionary of Christianese

Version 1.0

Agape - see The Four Loves

Alleluiah - Latin; Praise the Lord

Anathema - Greek; e.g. "That's just anathema to me." Forever Accursed. The Apostle Paul used this term when speaking about people preaching a false gospel. "May they be forever accursed!"

Bless/Bless God - 1. Usually used in a request for God's favor e.g. "God bless you" or "God bless this person who is sick" 2. Also used to express a positive reaction to something e.g. "I was really blessed by your sermon" 3. An exclamation of praise e.g. "Bless God I got a job!"

Born again - 1. Someone who accepts Christ as their Savior is "reborn" spiritually, made new 2. From Christ's conversation with Nicodemus in the Gospel According to St. John chapter 3 3. A reference to salvation e.g. "I've been born again." ARTICLE PENDING.

Blood - 1. Usually a reference to the Blood of Christ, shed during the crucifixion e.g. the hymn "There's a fountain filled with blood". 2. A symbol of Christ's forgiveness e.g. "That's under the blood" 3. A reference to the Old Testament sacrificial system in which blood "covered" or "washed away" a sin or "hid" it from God's eyes (requiring animal sacrifice) 4. Christ's blood shed as a sacrifice for the sins of humanity. ARTICLE PENDING.

Charisma/Charismatic - Greek; 1. The Greek word charisma means gifted, differing from the common English meaning 2. Usually a reference to spiritual gifts ARTICLE PENDING. 3. Churches or fellowships whose worship services tend to be exuberant and have frequent displays of spiritual gifts e.g. "That's a Charismatic church."

Christ - Greek; Anointed One

Christian - Greek; 1. Literally, "little Christ", a derisive term 2. A follower of Jesus 3. The followers of Jesus were first called Christians in the city of Antioch.

Christianese - Phrases and terms unique to the Christian religion, especially by Christians living in the United States.

Christos/Christus - Greek; A variant of Christ. The name Christus was used by a Roman official while discussing the early followers of Jesus.

Dedicate - 1. In churches that do not practice infant baptism, children are "dedicated"; the seremony is similar infant baptism with parents swearing to follow Christ and set an example for the child, yet without the annointing with water 2. In the Old Testament something "dedicated" to the Lord was given "irrevocably" to God, often destroying it by fire.

Devotions/Devotional - 1. The practice of "daily devotion" to God, usually through Bible study, reflection, and prayer. 2. "Devotionals" are books used in this practice, often contemplative in nature such as the works of Max Lucado. 3. Commonly devotions are done in the early morning.

Fall on us - e.g. "Holy Spirit please fall on us". 1. A common phrase in pentecostal/charismatic churches often used in prayer as a request for God to touch the people present, or "make His presence known". 2. Possibly inspired by the account of Pentecost in Acts Chapter 2. 3. A request for God to "come upon" a person.

Fast - A spiritual excersise in which a person goes without food for a certain amount of time, often praying during mealtimes instead of eating.

Fence, Sitting on the - e.g. "So-and-so is sitting on the fence" A negative term denoting a person unwilling to make a commitment, often in regards to salvation. Sometimes used in a neutral sense when a person is uncertain about something e.g. "I'm still sitting on the fence about speaking in tongues"

Fill/be filled - e.g. "Be filled with the Holy Spirit"; 1. A biblical metaphor using the idea of people as vessels in need of filling by God. 2. A reference to the Baptism of the Holy Spirit ARTICLE PENDING.

Fire - e.g. "The fire of God" 1. In the Old Testament a literal fire, often falling from the sky as an act of punishment by God. Examples include the destruction of Sodom and Gommorah, and Elijah's calling down fire in his contest with the prophets of Baal. 2. In the New Testament a literal flame that came to rest on each of the Apostles at Pentecost (Acts 2). 3. In penetecostal/charismatic churches a symbol of the Holy Spirit, probably inspired by Acts 2, e.g. "Let Your fire come on us, Lord!", though sometimes used in regards to judgement (see 1, above).

Flesh/fleshly - definition pending

Four loves, the - There are four words for love in Greek, often translated only as "love" in the Bible, often without descriptions of the specific meanings in Greek. C.S. Lewis deals extensively with this in his book The Four Loves.

Glory - 1. God's glory (e.g. Isaiah 6), often referring to the ineffable experience of seeing God, or feeling His presence. 2. An expression of praise "Glory! God healed me!" 3. A general reference to Heaven "We'll see our loved ones in Glory." 4. A general reference to the Millenial reign of Christ at the end of Revelations.

Gold dust - In some pentecostal/charismatic churches, people have seen golden dust falling on the congregation during, ussually intense, worship services.

Gospel - 1. The Four Gospels of the New Testament - Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. 2. The story of Christ's time on earth. 3. Technically, a form of writing used to express the message of Christ's time on earth, often addressing people's misunderstandings of the Mosaic Law, culminating in Christ's crucifixion, ressurrection, and ascent to Heaven. Note: It is important to note that a gospel is not a strict biography of Christ, but a message decribing aspects of His life and work. As it is written in John's Gospel "Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may [or may continue to] believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name." (John 20: 30,31)

Hallelujah - Hebrew; Literally "Praise Yah" or "Praise the LORD".

Heathen - 1. A derogatory term used during the Middle Ages for those peoples who had not been Christianized (Goths, Visigoths, Vikings et cetera). Historically interchangable with pagan. 2. In modern Christianity, a term for someone who has not received Christ as Savior. 3. In modern Christianity a derogatory term sometimes used for people engaging in un-Christian behavior, whether they are Christians or not "You're such a heathen!"

High Tower - "God is my High Tower"; Ussually a refernce to God denoting His stability and the safety He imputes to believers. Proverbs 18:10 "The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe".

Hiding Place - "God is my hiding place"; Ussually a reference to God denoting the safety he impute to believers. see also High Tower.

Holy Laughter - 1. In pentecostal/charismatic churches some people experience bouts of laughter said to be inspired by the Holy Spirit, often marked as a release from fear, doubt, or depression. 2. God's laughter in Psalm 2:4.