Doesn't it seem that all Christians ever have are a bunch of Catch Phrases?

Question

I mean when it comes down to it, it seems to me that all Christianity is a series of Elaborate Catch Phrases and bible verses. I find the most simple minded people I know say things that I know they themselves could not think of on their own. It seems like they are all just repeating what they heard in Church. Does it seem this way to anyone else? And what are some of your favorites?
Mine are "well they aren't real Christians Then"
And "God Is love"

Answer 1

God will get you for that!! (couldnt resist)

Answer 2

All people have catch phrases, everyone from all walks of life. Even the term "catch phrase" is a catch phrase.

I've chatted with many a foreigner, and boy, I didn't realize how many catch phrases I use in normal speech! I had to speak clearly and plainly and not rely upon slang and American phrases. Really, everyone uses them.

As for the catch phrases you're talking about, I think it's a thing that Christians are saying it. Hell, if they couldn't think it up themselves, but they learned it in church, that's more power to them. They learned something, and ues it in everyday speech!

It can go both ways, though. If someone asks a Christian a question but s/he hasn't any answer except for " 'Cause God said so" isn't good enough. S/he has the obligation of 1) saying they don't have the answer, but 2) they will GET the answer.

Answer 3

YES!!!!
Reason: We are trying to put complex things in easy to understand statements.
Examples:
1. "Real Christians" then
F=S->W
You are save by having faith/trusting in/believing that Jesus paid the penalty for your sin. A saved person then is born again (spiritually) to do good works. Therefore, you know a Christian by the fruit of their faith (although all Christians do sin, and all are at different places spiritually speaking). Read John 3:16; Ephesians 2:8-10; James 4.

The phrase "Real Christians" is a simple way/jargon to explain something or a way to make a quick point without bogging down people with a lengthy explaination...unless you want clear, drawn out explainations.

2. "God is love" is found in the Bible- 1 John. And in the context of the passage talks about how we are to love people because God is love. A person who claims to be a Christian and hates his brother, is not a Christian.

Hope this helps. It is done, a lot of times, either out of love for people, or a fear of people (Christians are also human after all).

Answer 4

Well the "God is love" part IS from the Bible, but the "real Christians" thing is not, and it isn't even appropriate because only God can determine that.

It's true that we do quote from the Bible quite a bit, but that is because it's the book we live from. The words written there are how we base our life, it's how we form our opinions and our thoughts.

Please understand that there is so much more to being a Christian than what you see written here ... you see only flat words on a screen, rather than the beauty of a life changed for the better :)

Answer 5

Our global culture often communicates everything in catch phrases, or what is often termed as "key phrases". Western culture especially enjoys using short phrases from movie and book lines to express emotions or concepts. Key phrases are often taught as a very good practice in marriage and family relationships to reduce conflict by encapsulating long lectures into a catchy but pointed phrases. Such as a overworked wife and mother watching her husband come home from work and ignore the kids, might yell "I am not a single parent!". This is a key phrases that likely holds years and hours of angry confrontation, and is simply expressed as a catch phrase to explain her level of frustration.

All that said, why do Christians use catch phrases. Mostly for the same reason. Its a communication tool. The problem arises not for Christian to use key phrases with each other (a simple "give it the Lord" may remind a person a entire retreat weekend of study and freindship and help them immensely), the problem is when Christians use key phrases toward or against people who dont beleive as they do.

Catch phrases are meaningless to someone who has not agreed on the depth and hours of discussion that are rolled into a catch phrase.

As a crisis and grief counselor, I might hear the comment "well you know all things work out for the best" said to someone who has just faced incalculable loss. Taken from the bible, this phrase used at this time is insensitive and heartless.

I can understand your frustration of catch phrases, especially when that all someone says. But it occurs in every aspect of our culture and every sub-culture. Young people, teens, bowling buddies, surfing bugs, snowboarders, Christians, we have our own speak

Answer 6

I think you may have encountered some well-intentioned Christians that didn't really know how to respond. If you're really interested, let me try to answer. I'm a Christian, and I don't think I have any "catch phrases."

I believe that all people are created by a God who intended for us to live with Him forever.
I believe that all people sinned against God, and that separated us from Him.
I believe that God loved us unconditionally, to the point where He made a plan for us to be reconciled to Him through Jesus.
I believe that out of unconditional respect, God allows each of us to choose whether to accept that or not.

Unlike many vocal Christians on here, I'm going to treat you with the same unconditional respect that my God treats me with. You can accept it or not. I hope that you will, but if you don't, I won't like you any less or make any slurs against you.

Answer 7

No, that's not all we say. Have you ever heard "thou shalt not worship false gods"? Yup. That's a good one.
If I wasn't a Christian, right now I would be making a comment on how stupid some of the questions on here are. I mean, c'mon, you must be really bored. Catchphrases? Puh-lease.
And if I wasn't a Christian, right now I would be saying something like "I'll think of you burning up in hell while I'm up in heaven". Yup. Have fun with that. Meanwhile I will be praying that God will take away my frustration for you and that God will touch your heart and you will want to be his best friend.

Answer 8

Do you know what a real Christian Is, NO you don't. You just think you do. The only thing you said made any sense is God is Love, But are we to love the works of the devil, no, see you can not even decern the right decision to look at something.

Answer 9

If the Word of God is a "catch phrase," then I'm incredibly happy that He opened my ears to hear it, eyes to see it, and heart to love it, and I'm more than happy to repeat it.

Answer 10

bwahahah catch phrases? XD thats one way of putting it.

I can't help but get tickled at them everytime they go off about bible verses. One time this Christian chick found out about me bein agnostic and she started raggin on me, so I snapped at her that the bible was nothing more than a comic book made by man and she ACTUALLY said:

"A virgin woman is able to have a baby of god who ends up saving the world. I don't think any MAN could come up with that!"

Do they HEAR themselves when they talk? I had to walk away, simply because of the fact my ma' always said it was impolite to laugh in somebody's face.

Answer 11

Isn't it funny that you can put all Christians in a nice box and consider them the same. The only "simple minded person" is one who generalizes a group of people to make a point. Your logic is a complete failure.