Christian Cliches

Christianity Today has an excellent article by J. D. Greear on one of the ways we followers of Jesus obscure our own message and thereby put people off that otherwise might have given it fair consideration. The cliches, jargon, and petrified, stereotyped methods that are second nature to us are a cloudy foreign language to people used to speaking mere normal English.

Now, of course, the Gospel is, "the power of God for salvation" as Paul the Apostle pointed out, and it can still work through any number of obstacles. But then, Jesus had rather sharp words for those who might put obstacles (or in Christian jargon, "stumbling blocks") in the way of his "little ones." How sad if the way we prefer to make the 'Great Announcement' actually makes it harder to understand and accept.