#694 Using surreal phrases
Church language is funny. It has to be heavily intellectual, yet beautifully phrased, whilst also accessible. I’ve heard sermons that could be studied for their inter-textuality and turn of phrase. It’s hard to accommodate the holy trinity of acceptable vocabulary and all too often some cracking phrases pop in, that later on become almost as popular as the Word itself.
Whilst they sound great, literally they mean zilchio. These are my current faves.
What does it look like?
The last women’s breakfast I went to used this a lot. We spent at least half an hour talking about our looks. What does trusting God look like? Well, it looks like an elephant trying to make a cup of tea whist juggling oranges.
Or maybe not. For me, it generally looks like a 5’4 twenty-something girl, slightly ginger, trying not to moan about the lack of Valentines Day cards. Not all that different from normal to be honest (apart from the moaning part).
What it means, is how practically can I be like this, but ‘what does it look like’ has become the new inescapable buzz phrase. Sadly, only X-ray specs man or the Lord can know.
The eyes of my heart
This is a song by a UK worship leader called Matt Redman. Now I gave up biology as soon as I could but I’m pretty sure my heart doesn't have eyes. And if it did I reckon the view is pretty gross. The song talks about where your focus and passion are centered. Which is a much nicer thought than eyeballs in your aorta.
The stillness of your heart
Another cardiovascular one often used in prayers. Again, I have a lack of biological knowledge but surely the stillness of your heart is death. Which is great in terms of eternal joy with the Lord, but not so brilliant at 7pm in a church hall in South London.
So pastors, I appreciate the care and thought put in to your phraseology, but if I think too much, they just weird me out.
What bizarre phrases does your church employ?
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