Catch Phrases

Some things I've noted as of late.

The phrase "Jesus Saves" is not biblical. Now, I don't mean it's not a biblical concept. That's a discussion for another day. But the actual phrase doesn't exist in the Bible. I've just now realized this at 36 and 9/12ths years of age. (Correct it to 36 and 3/4ths years, if you wish. Tonight I just happen to like the ring of 9/12ths.)

You will not find "Jesus Saves" in the Bible. No, I haven't read the whole thing. But of the parts I have read, I realized I've never seen it. So I checked Bible Gateway and I can't find it there either. Not in the NIV, the KJV, or whatever V J L K X version you might be reading.

http:www.biblegateway.com

I'm pondering this because there are so many phrases we use that aren't in the scriptures. For example: "sinner's prayer", "altar call", "turn to the announcements", "pass the offering basket", "childrens' church", "go deeper", "life group", "youth pastor", "new life in Jesus".

I suppose, per se, I don't have a problem with those things. Okay, with some of them I do. I just find myself more and more weary of our filling our conversations, and preaching, and worship, and prayers, with words and phrases that don't exist in the very Breath of God. I've been reading/hearing them everywhere lately - radio, online, snippets from various churches. Not singling anyone out - just noticing that I'm noticing them more.

I understand about cultures, languages, things changing and fitting the current times. I'm not advocating we go around adding "eth" to larger words we may use. (Thine daughter of mine, shalt thy emptieth out the washer of dishwares?) I just find myself longing to hear what the Breath actually says. We seem to just limit that to sermons, and I find myself bristling at the quaint little phrases we've unwittingly coined in our Christian language.

Seriously, If I hear "go deeper with God" one more time, I think I might actually scream. Those are, like, Moody Blues lyrics. And possibly MC Hammer, if you google it, which you shouldn't. We never say "go wider with God", or go higher with Him, or go longer. We get stuck on deeper.

And I haven't been able to wrap my brain around "ask God to come", either. Where did He go? Is He not there and is He not aware of everything that's going on? Brad likened it to a child in one room calling for Mom in another, and Mom coming to see what they need. I can see that, sort of, but I'm also a human, non-omnipotent, can't-see-through-walls-and-time-and-dimensions Mom. If God knows what we need before we even know to ask it, then I'm pretty confident He's figured out where to be and when.

What does this heightened sensitivity mean? Dunno completely. I don't want to settle for catch phrases and expected terminology. I want the Spirit to take over my words and thoughts and express the fullness of what He sees in that moment or scenario. I know I'm hungry and need to get about the business of digging into the Feast that has been placed before me. It's like there's this delectable nine course meal sitting on a silver platter under a silver dome and I'm walking around with my bowl of cold macaroni and cheese and won't take the lid off. It feels good to finally admit that.