r/Christian • u/cstato • 1d ago

Reducing Christianese-Look for presents

The last couple of days I’ve been calling blessings, presents, and honestly I feel like it’s Christmas Day.
Today’s present list (not exhaustive):
I saw some cute bunnies
A lady bird landed on my book
I saw some pretty wrens
My husband made me a nice coffee.
It freshens up the ‘count your blessings’ mantra and I feel so spoiled by God.

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u/andreirublov1 18h ago

what does reducing Christinese mean?

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u/cstato 17h ago

Well speaking for myself as someone who has returned to following Christ. I found a lot of the words had lost their meaning to me from overuse.
I’ve been benefiting from really getting back to the basics of what words like ‘faith’, ‘grace’, ‘mercy’ mean in their original meaning and the what the spiritual implications of these words mean for me in my day-to-day relationship with Christ.
It’s been hugely beneficial for me.

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u/andreirublov1 17h ago

I see. I'm not sure whether Christianese needs reducing, even if we could do that. But I totally agree that we should count our blessings, and be more aware of them; and I'm happy for you that you seem to have plenty :)

Btw the Yanks tend to say 'gifts' rather than 'presents', don't they, so that will probably confuse them even more...

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u/cstato 17h ago

For me, it’s about adding richness and personal meaning to the words. I am really seeking a relationship with Christ. A relationship I don’t think I ever had because of an extreme fundamental upbringing and a truck load of trauma that went with it.

It’s a huge step for me to come to Christ and I am grateful for my walk so far.

I’m an Australian, and like most Commonwealth nations, present in this context is a common word.

I will be more mindful in the future to perhaps hold back on what has been helping me in case it leads others astray.

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u/andreirublov1 17h ago

Aw, don't be like that! :) I'm British, I use that word too...it just occurred to me that they don't tend to in the US.

I'm all for you sharing what has helped you, I just don't necessarily think the title is helpful. But, either way, you don't need to be so defensive...I was trying to be friendly!

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u/cstato 17h ago

I wasn’t being defensive, I don’t want to cause offence or trouble for other people.
This feels all new to me again and I don’t want to do the wrong thing.

Re. the US reference, I admit that it irritates me that we have to modify English for English people. I haven’t got over the Harry Potter US translation lol.

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u/andreirublov1 17h ago

Yeah...they're annoying, but what can you do?.. :)

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u/cstato 17h ago

Continue to spell words properly 😆

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u/andreirublov1 17h ago

Quite right! :)

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u/DoveStep55 Elevenses Enthusiast 1d ago

I think there’s a difference between being thankful and grateful for the good in our lives and viewing that good as a blessing or a present. To me, routinely viewing good things as “blessings” or “presents” can run the risk of making us too self-centered. You know what I mean?

Like a beautiful sunset, for example, is not made by God just for me to enjoy. But if I think of it like a gift from God to me personally, I might start to develop a “Me & Jesus” view of my faith. I often see that in American evangelical Christianity in particular. Occasionally I’ll run into someone whose answer to, “How are you?” Is, “Blessed and highly favored!” It’s very off-putting, even as a fellow Christian. But what’s more, I think in some streams of Christianity there’s really a built in view of the faith as being overly personal. I want to avoid adopting that view.

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u/cstato 1d ago

Yes, I see what you mean. Christ is more than a handy self- help tool.

I am feeling like for the first time in my life I am a Christian. Like Christ is in me and around me and he loves us all so much.

I should have explained that his blessings/ presents/ promises are for us all.

I have been actively trying to dismantle the language that has lost its meaning in my life from evangelical platitudes, so I appreciate your insight.

It’s been really wonderful getting to know Christ in the way He intended in my life, to help others.

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u/DoveStep55 Elevenses Enthusiast 1d ago

Have you by chance read ‘Speaking Christian’ by Marcus Borg? You might like it.

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u/cstato 1d ago

No I haven’t. I’ll look into it. Thank you.

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u/DI3S_IRAE 1d ago

I think this is something we lack in Christianity. Too much talk about everything but gratitude is left behind, the real gratitude.

Not saying thanks for being alive, but seeing every little thing as gifts and blessings.

And you are blessed by your acknowledgement of this. Because God is alive, and experiencing the world with you, through His Spirit.

When we are grateful, we stand in love, we abide in Him.

This is so simple yet many live focused on the worries of this world, constantly asking for blessings and answers and signs when Christ is all around us, all the time.

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u/cstato 1d ago

Exactly! This is what I’m coming to grips with as I return to Christ after having wandered off for many years. Christ loves us all lavishly.

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u/DI3S_IRAE 13h ago

Certainly a love we can't fully understand unless we live with the mindset of giving, not taking - being thankful and giving back love, not just longing for it.

God bless you, Peace be with you! 💛

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u/cstato 2h ago

So true!

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u/Chaseshaw 1d ago

"There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle."

Attributed to Einstein but cant be academically proven he said it. :)

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u/wigglyswimmer 1d ago

that's such a sweet way to reframe it, calling them presents makes it feel more personal somehow

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u/cstato 1d ago

It really feels more personal too.
I love wrens and I got to see them on my fence! That’s such a great gift for me.