Buzz Words
When I did debate (yes, I was/am quite the nerd), there were so many buzz words it was almost like speaking a different language: cross-ex, spread, flow, cutting cards, prepping out, just to name a few. Same goes for consulting. Instead of use, we say leverage, because we want to sound all scholarly and eloquent, when really we just mean use. And instead of saying we’re trying to do too much or that the scope is too large, we use terms like “boiling the ocean.” There’s a part of me that loves using buzz words because it sounds impressive and smart. It’s like validating my intelligence. Using buzz words is often subconscious proof that you are part of a certain community or have reached a particular social status. It’s another way of showing that you understand these secret terms, that you are “special,” and that there are just some people who don’t understand the words that are coming out of your mouth (sorry, couldn’t resist the Rush Hour reference).
Now don’t get me wrong. Buzz words aren’t inherently a bad thing. They are part of society and are probably even necessary in certain contexts. They’re just really annoying sometimes, especially when you feel intimidated and excluded by them, which got me thinking about another part of my life that uses a lot of buzz words: my faith.
Growing up Christian, there were a lot of those basic words with a religious connotation, like holy, prayer, God, Jesus, etc. I thought that was it. But when I got to college, I heard a lot more buzz words and phrases, like brokenness, kingdom of God, healing, social justice, ethnic identity, grace, and redemption. And since I heard them so much, I started using them when I prayed, but mostly because they just sounded so good and fluffy, not because I actually fully understood what they meant. But hey, leaders used them and they sounded so holy when they prayed that I wanted to sound like that too. Except there were a lot of times when I prayed with people that a) the words sounded super fake to my ears and b) what the heck did I even really mean anyway? Wouldn’t it just be easier and more real to say, “God, I’m pretty messed up right now. I need You” instead of “God, please heal me and everyone else in our brokenness. Bring Your kingdom here”? But I hid behind these phrases rather than be honest about how I was feeling with my faith. And I felt the need to, because I was afraid I would look bad if I didn’t talk about God healing my brokenness, even if I felt like He just wasn’t there. The reason was because it just seemed like everyone else had it so together. But most of the time, that’s not true. Everyone’s always struggling with something or the other, and a lot of the time faith is part of those struggles. We just have a hard time admitting it to people because there’s this expectation of being good, of being “Christian.”
But Christianity isn’t supposed to be that way. As human beings, we mess up all the time and as Christians, we should be able to share that with each other without feeling afraid of what others might think. We should be able to be real and honest and not use buzz words to sound good and holy. Because most of the time, we’re not. We get angry. We swear. We judge people and are mean. Buzz words are great and good to describe our faith, but I think overuse of them deters true community. I wish I hadn’t felt the need to use a bunch of buzz words while praying and was brave enough to just be truthful. So that’s my challenge, I guess, to myself, and to everyone else who happens to read this. Be real with others, because likely they feel the exact same way as you. But you can be the first to break out of the buzz words and say what you really mean to say as is: raw, open, and unashamedly naked.
