As a writer, I often over-analyze the written or spoken word. Why do we choose the words we do? How does our environment or circle of friends affect our communication? What about our workplace or hobbies?

Nearly every client with which I work has its own vocabulary. It’s my job to translate clients’ jargon into terms that consumers/customers will understand.

When I became a Christian, I was overwhelmed by new uses of familiar words and words which I had never heard. I had moments when I wanted to interrupt people and ask them if they really use words like “discernment,” “sanctification,” “surrender,” “propitiation,” etc., in regular conversation.

Who talks like that?

Imagine how a group of Christians sound to those who do not yet believe.

Intimidating. Or just plain goofy.

So, let me ask you, what words have you heard around the church that don’t fit in the “real” world? What words need to be replaced by ones more understandable?

Instead of “discernment,” how about “it’s hard to know” or “I want to understand”? Instead of “God’s will,” what if we said, “what God wants me to do”?

Perhaps we could have more productive conversations with our non-Christian friends.

What word replacements would you suggest?