Every season of Christian ministry gets faddish. Eventually, all the conferences and resources and vocabulary that once felt fresh become stale and jargon-esque. I’ve been traveling a lot the last two months, and I’ve noticed the massive proliferation of the following terms, words that now are devoid of power.
Intentional
Storyteller
Re-think
Journey
Beautiful
Conversation
Missional
Community
Gathering
Formational
Don’t get me wrong—these words aren’t “bad.” My concern is that people employ these terms thoughtlessly in an effort to sound, ironically, thoughtful. But jargon doesn’t rejuvenate; neither do clichés reveal the fresh movement of God’s Spirit. We should think less about “re-thinking” Christianity and do more to stay in step with Jesus in our ordinary, everyday lives. Then we’ll find it easier to use words like love, faithfulness, and self-control.