CHRISTIANITY OR CHRISTIANESE
Wayne J. Edwards, March 20, 2025
Several years ago, I was summoned to a home where an older woman was dying of cancer. As I entered the door, I was greeted with a life-size cardboard cutout of Elvis Pressley and a recording of his voice that said, – “Thank you very much!” There were pictures of Elvis on every wall, letters with his signature, and one of his “Apachie Neckties” hanging over the door to her room. As I entered her room – you guessed it, the air was filled with the music of Elvis singing those great old gospel songs. This dear woman loved Elvis, but the stark reality is, did Elvis even know her name? Her house was filled with Elvis’ memorabilia, including baskets full of souvenirs and mementos from an Elvis concert she had attended in her earlier years. The imagery of Elvis was everywhere, but Elvis was not there.
Too many people who claim to be Christians are just involved in “Christianese.” They enjoy the benefits of being involved in the Christian way of life but have yet to surrender their lives to the Lordship of Christ. They have “Christianese” music playing in the background, at home, and in the car. They wear “Christianese” clothing with images of Christ or their favorite verse of scripture on them. They wear the colorful bracelets that represent their latest cause. They have the latest “Christianese” books and magazines on the tables and a “Christianese” Bible study workbook through which they are working with a few of their “Christianese” friends, with whom they will gather on Sunday morning for a “Christianese” worship service, with the newest “Christianese” music and an inspiring “Christianese” sermon to encourage their “Christianese” lifestyle – while they sip their favorite latte. The imagery of Christ is everywhere, but Christ is not there.
A dear friend just returned from the mission field in a far eastern nation. She said one of the most disturbing things she saw was the younger missionaries’ lack of genuineness. It was as though they were committed to their “vision of missions” but not to the true essence of missions. Regrettably, too many who claim to be Christians are drawn to their “vision of Christianity,” i.e., “Christianese,” but not to Christ. This is not just a matter of preference but a dangerous diversion from the true path of faith.
In 2 Timothy 3:5,7, Paul warned Timothy that in the last days, those who claim to know Christ will have a “form of godliness but deny its power – always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.” In Titus 1:16, the Apostle wrote, “They profess to know God, but by their actions they deny Him.” In Matthew 15:7-9, Jesus called them “hypocrites” – “These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. They worship Me in vain; they teach as doctrine the precepts of men,” – i.e., “Christianese.”
In Revelation 3:14-22, the Apostle John posted the letter Jesus had written to the church in Laodicea, which represents the last of the seven stages of the Church Age. The Laodicean church was wealthy and involved in many good works, but since they were “neither hot nor cold” about the significant spiritual issues, Jesus said the church made Him sick to His stomach. This is the church that will be vomited out of the Lord’s mouth and into the Tribulation. However, in verse 20, Jesus issued this final call: “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they will be with me.”