***WARNING***THIS POST ISN’T TO OFFEND, SO MY APOLOGIES IN ADVANCE IF IT DOES. ONLY THROUGH WISDOM & TRANSPARENCY CAN TRUE LIGHT BE SEEN. MAY YOU SEE THE LIGHT. 

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What Language Are You Speaking?

I spoke with someone in great distress in their search for a new church home. This millennial was excited, they created a plan and picked a church to visit! When they arrived they were welcomed and it was great, but then everyone started speaking in tongues and it became awkward…

Suppose the whole church meets together and you all speak in different languages. If some people come in who are without understanding or don’t believe, they will say you are crazy.

1 Corinthians 14:23 Easy-to-Read Version

Tongues.

What are they? It’s your spirit praying (1 Corinthians 14:14), although at times the Holy Spirit Himself can make unintelligible utterances through us (Romans 8:26-27).

What value do they offer? Much value, but without interpretation it only adds value to the one speaking. (1 Corinthians 14:2-4).

Let me preface my intro by saying I am not opposed to tongues, I have my own heavenly language and I love singing in them. Yet like the person in the story I shared above, I was bothered by someone speaking in tongues one day. You may ask how? As mentioned earlier WITHOUT INTERPRETATION or UNDERSTANDING tongues only benefit you.

Well what happened? Since we were in an intimate setting I turned the music on because I wasn’t interested in hearing it and to my surprise their groans only intensified. 🤔🤔🤔 At that moment I pondered how often is our religion rude⁉️ I use the term religion very loosely. I believe in relationship over religion and I’m in a very passionate relationship with God, but just hear me on this…

I think we’ve all witnessed fights, divisions and the outright disillusioned embarrassment of others behind the supposed “Name of God.” I’ve seen Christians and non-Christians alike use scriptures to bash one another, “try” to justify non-Christ like behavior and vilify the people that God desires to share His love with.

THAT’S NOT GOD.

Rude Religion Has Many Faces. 

At work recently I found myself entangled in its snare. I prayed in secret at my desk over a “thorn in my flesh.” This thorn bothered me so that I dreaded seeing them come. After my final straw, I thought of how to respond…”You know I’m Christian yet you are comfortable making comments to me that are sexually suggestive in nature…”

I was stretched like if this person directs another disrespectful statement towards me I’m going to politely express my discontent and seal it because “I’m a Christian.” Ha!

But, I had to check myself…

My statement wasn’t rude, but it wouldn’t have been said in love. Quite oppositely it would have been spoken out of annoyance and all of this would have been in the “name of religion.” 😩😩😩

Then I snapped back.

I realized I’m not to be shifted by the culture I live in or people I’m surrounded by, the culture I live in is to shift because of me (Matthew 5:13-16). I prayed to God honestly like…they are annoying me, help me not to get aggravated by them, treat them differently or even with indifference. Let me look upon them the way You see them.

None of us are exempt from the trap of “rude religion.”

Last Example. 

I recently heard someone close a rebuttal or “rebuke” with “Clap Back King.” It was a deplorable display of ego, pride & religious bravado. I discovered rude religion can be found in…

What is a euphemism? It’s a word or phrase that substitutes a more pleasant notion for an unpleasant one. A euphemism replaces blunt or harsh words/statements with something mild. It basically takes something offensive and makes it acceptable.

This is where we must exercise wisdom…everything offensive isn’t meant to be made acceptable.

The nature of euphemisms is to flip the bad in a positive light, but some things just can’t be flipped and it’s deceptive to think it can be. Yet more and more we are embracing them. While I believe it’s important to be aware of the culture we live in and the language, we must avoid adopting the culture over our conviction to God.

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Consider these popular phrases:

• Clapback (Clapback King or Queen)

• Churchy

• Petty (King or Queen Petty)

Why is it “so bad” and what do they mean?

These are all phrases that sound “okay” but represent something far more threatening. Embracing them only masks character flaws and spiritual influences in our lives that need to be addressed. These phrases act as a crutch making the behavior it endorses appear acceptable. Instead of drawing our attention to the needful thing, they counter a continual commitment to Christ’s transforming power!

• To clapback is to fire back. Firing back is antagonistic…Christ taught us not to resist evil, which provokes or incites it. If I must respond, it should be done in the spirit of meekness (Matthew 5:39-42).

• Churchy…hmm, this is an interesting term, but it conceals the “system of religion” and glorifies the piety of  those who live by it. No flesh is to glory before God (1 Corinthians 1:27-29)

The term “churchy” makes having the “form of godliness” more popular than a true relationship with God. (2 Timothy 3:1-5)

• Finally the term petty. Petty is taking something of little significance and making it greater than what it is. Being petty causes one to hold grudges, lash out in fits of rage, manipulate others and seek vengeance.

These meanings are contrary to the teachings believers are to uphold and be accountable to personally. It’s a form of rude religion. Christ was meek and humble. He taught us to be the same way and said we would stand out because of our L•O•V•E (Matthew 11:28-30, John 13:34-35). These sayings don’t support humility or love, instead they rouse pride and cultivate hate.

Why spew hate when you can show love? While hate only begets hate, with love and gentleness you may win your opposers over (2 Timothy 2:24-25) Hate never offers a return, it supports the law of diminishing return. Hates deceives, giving the appearance of winning, while inwardly those in its grips only waste away.

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PRAYER

Father, thank You for Your continued love and commitment to making me better. Thank You for desiring to even know me. I ask You to examine and shine Your Light 🔦🔦🔦 on my flaws. Please show me where I may have operated in “rude religion” and those I may have offended by it. Please show me any area I’ve put the traditions of man above Your precepts. I ask for Your forgiveness, I will ask for the forgiveness of those I need to as able (Matthew 5:23-24) and I even forgive those that have offended me (Matthew 5:39-42).

In Jesus Name, Amen.