Church-to-English Translation
I want to apologize for all the times you’ve heard a Christian speaking “church-ese” without proper translation. Like with the jargon of any specialty, we get used to terms and forget that not everyone hears them the same way.
That doesn’t make the terms wrong; they came into use for good reason. But there are more common terms that convey the same concepts. I’ll try to explain a few of those on this page.
Term
Translation
Separate; set apart; “other”; used to assert the distance of God above us
Missing the target; failing to meet specifications; rebellion against God; acting as if our lives are our own and He has no claim on us. Separated from God due to that rebellion.
Reverse course; about-face; quit moving away from God and turn back toward Him
Trust; Rely on; Depend on. Not just “Yeah, sure, that net can hold me”, but jumping off and letting the net catch me.
Rescued, specifically from the eternal consequences of sin; reconciled to proper relationship with God via Jesus
Almost synonym for Saved/Salvation. Has the sense of “buy back” a slave, or property that would otherwise be lost.
Consciously choose to confess* our sin*, repent* from it, and put our faith* in Jesus to save* and redeem* us.
* See definitions above
NOT saying that the wrong didn’t happen, or isn’t important, or doesn’t matter. Rather, a conscious choice to let go of the right to punish the wrong-doer, or to hold on to bitterness and resentment.
Un-deserved favor. To give someone something good that they haven’t earned and don’t deserve.
Mercy
Parallel to Grace: To not give someone the punishment that they deserve.
Student, Training: Jesus’ disciples were simply His students who followed and learned from His day-to-day life, as well as His “official” teaching. All of His followers are disciples.
Messenger, envoy, one who is sent on a mission. Generally refers to the eleven closest disciples (minus Judas the betrayer) plus Paul (a bit late to the party but still specifically appointed by Jesus)
Servant, from the Greek diakonos. The first deacons were selected by the early church to handle distribution of donations to the poor among the believers, so that the apostles could be free to continue teaching (Acts 6:1-7).
