Christian Euphemisms

This problem has been bugging me for years now. It is widespread, shameful and dangerous. What is the problem? Christian euphemisms.

If you’re a Christian, I challenge you with this question: “When’s the last time you mentioned the NAME ‘Jesus’ to someone?”.

Think about it.

Or did you use “religion” or “faith”? Why those euphemisms? Why are you ashamed of his name?

Consider this: in a normal discussion on people’s salvation, we should be talking in a way like this: “I pity these people who have not experienced Christ’s grace in their lives, who are not saved and who don’t have Jesus as a friend”.

Yet instead of that we have something like this: “These people are so lost. They follow the wrong faith. If only they knew what religion is right”. Or perhaps it is a tad bit better, but more awkward: “I pity these people, who, you know, don’t know HIM [euphemism], you know, God”.

What the hell, man? I know we all do this, but we should stop. This is shameful.

Another Day in South Africa

 Very short stories on true everyday events in this damn country

Somewhere in 90s

My Grandmother’s brother tied up in his home after losing a fight against three robbers.

2010

Someone breaking into my uncle’s home, clubbing his labrador to death.

2012

My friend and I (both 16 at the time) mugged along the road, held at knife-point while they took our phones.

2016

Someone smashing my friend’s car window, hitting him in the head, taking his stuff.

At our residence people’s cars were broken into three times.

February 2017

People broke into my friend’s home at night, taking everything.

Someone stole my pensioner grandfather’s car battery out of the car. Arguably the thief waited for us to go buy a battery so he could take the car. I waited while my grandfather bought a battery. The store owner where he bought it ripped him off, suspiciously.

Me and my best friend held at knife point to hand over money.

April 2017

Someone breaking into my car, leaving a hole in my car door and a gap where the radio used to be. Oh and the spare wheel and GPS are gone.

June 2017

Two people broke into my uncle’s friend’s house, tying up his family and taking everything. The whole night long his 18 year old daughter was asking them, repeatedly, when they will shoot her.

The black man who sits next to my mother in their work’s bus, accused my mother of racism. She won the hearing, but the written synopsis twist everything against her, saying things like “She says scientifically black men are smelly”, even though that’s a blatant lie (the conversation was recorded). She refuses to sign this document and might end up in court for refusing to do so.

 

Other events

I’ve heard about a number of farm murders the last few weeks. Usually the family members are tortured to death. This is an epidemic.

 

 

Dogged down by “should”

It is almost 11PM and I should get some sleep. I should have studied today, but I wasted time on nonsense. I should have at least read a bit of my apologetics books, but I barely did. I should have started with this assignment ages ago, but my procrastination laziness got the better of me. I should be on top of it, because I should help two friends who need my help with it, they need me. Tomorrow I should read a boring 70 page piece of nonsense for this assignment, but I doubt I will do even that. Next week I should hand in this assignment, my part of a group assignment, a religious studies assignment, and two small other assignments. I should be doing a lot of things.

I really should send two of my friends a message (I haven’t spoken with them in days), but over here my mind retreats into the Bubble of Self.

I really should get a life and stop my thoughts from drifting to a certain girl. I know myself by now: I cannot go a few weeks without getting interested in someone. I really should get over myself, get over her and get over my insecurities.

I believe that this is God weighing all of this on my heart. To whom much is given, much will be required. He has given me more time than most. A better intellect and understanding than most, so I really… should… honor Him by at least using this privilege.

Yet at times it feels as though I’m the only one thinking about my obligations – constantly, while other people just always wing their tests,wing their friendships and wing their faith.

I should really stop overthinking all of this, but it is impossible. If I didn’t, where would I be?