Words are just words and don’t really make a big impact. Or do they? I believe that the words we choose to speak DO matter. I don’t mean kind or unkind words in this instance. Nope! What I’m referring to are the words and phrases Christians should understand the meaning of when they use it.
Christians use common words and phrases that I am convinced you’d stop using if you understood what they really meant. And while I don’t believe it miffs the Lord when we do use them, they bring confusion to unbelievers, new believers, and especially those coming out of occult and New Age practices.
What we think are just words or common sayings, they understand their connection to the occult and New Age movement they left. It blurs the line for them and others when we are called to be set apart. Unbelievers SHOULD be able to know who we belong to by our actions AND our speech.
25 Common Words & Phrases Christians Should Understand
So here we go. Are you ready? Let’s dive in, shall we!
Vibe
The first word Christians should understand what they are saying is when we use the word “vibe.” “Vibe” is short for vibration and is commonly understood by the New Age movement.Alternatively, vibes are an emotional reaction to the “aura” felt to belong to a person, place, or thing. We’ll talk about the word “aura” a little further down.
Common phrases include, “He gave me a good vibe, sending you good vibes, I was vibing on them.”
Fate
The concept of fate is widely understood in Greek mythology. It refers to three Greek goddesses who presided over the birth and life of humans. Each person’s destiny was thought of as a thread spun, measured, and cut by the three Fates, Clotho, Lachesis, and Atropos. Fate refers to a predetermined course of events. It is a concept based on the belief that there is a fixed order to the universe.
While the Bible does talk of destiny, it is usually a destined outcome based upon our decisions, not fate. Fate is fixed and static. You can’t get away from fate.
Common uses include “It was fate, Fate brought us together. Their fate was sealed, leaving it to fate, a twist of fate.”
Third Eye
In Hinduism, it is known as the “Eye of Siva” and refers to the Ajna chakra. Mme Blavatsky said that the third eye was a real eye in early Root-Races but has now become the partially dormant pineal gland, which resides between the brain’s two hemispheres. The third eye is associated with clairvoyance, out-of-body experiences, visions, and precognition. I added this one to explain the next one, the mind’s eye.
Mind’s Eye
Mind’s Eye refers to the third eye, as described above. It’s a phrase used referring to one’s ability to “see” things (such as visions) with the mind. I see this phrase use a lot in the prophetic circles. Many people will say, ” I saw it in my mind’s eye.” In fact, I used it until I learned what it really meant.
Love & Light
The concept of “love and light” is rooted in Kabbalah, Buddhism, Taoism, to mention a few. When you offer someone “Love and Light,” You are offering “The Ideal Energy Of The Universe And Wisdom.” Jesus is love, and he is light, but this phrase refers to the energy of the universe, not Jesus.
Déjà Vu
Using the term déjà vu is probably as common as they get. But it’s rooted in New Age, and occult and commonly relates to “past life” concepts.
Déjà Vu is the experience that one has witnessed an event that has already happened before. The term was coined by a French psychic researcher, Émile Boirac (1851–1917) in his book, L’Avenir des sciences psychiques (The Future of Psychic Sciences) (1907). The experience of déjà vu is usually accompanied by a compelling sense of familiarity and also a sense of “eeriness,” “strangeness,” or “uncanniness.” In some cases, there is a firm sense that the experience “genuinely happened” in the past.
While we don’t have a more accurate term coined in Christian circles, I like to call them “timeline moments” from our books in heaven. The Bible says that the Lord has written books about each one of us. In Psalm 139:16, it says, “You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.”
When we experience this sensation that “we’ve already been there,” it’s the moment when our lives line up with what’s written about us in our book. It means we are on God’s plan for our lives. Isn’t that amazing!
Karma
The philosophy of karma is closely associated with the idea of rebirth in many schools of Indian religions, particularly Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism, and Taoism.
Karma is a sum of all that an individual has done and is currently doing. The effects of those deeds actively create present and future experiences, thus making one responsible for one’s own life. In religions that incorporate reincarnation, karma extends through one’s present life and all past and future lives.
Common uses include “what goes around comes around, karma is an (expletive),” and “it’s your karma.” The Bible is clear about the principles of sowing and reaping. While they are similar in concept, Christians using karma partners with another deity.
Empath
The word “empath” is commonly recognized in the new age movement. It’s defined as theability to identify with the feelings, thoughts, or attitudes of others. Empath originates in science-fiction literature. Consider it like emotional telepathy. The term is first cited in Scottish author J.T. McIntosh’s 1956 “The Empath,” a story about paranormally empathetic beings, called empaths, that the government exploits to oppress workers.
Related words: telepath and third eye, both of which are occult terms and concepts. “Empath” is a counterfeit term used in New Age belief. The correct term, as recognized in scripture, is God’s gift of discerning spirits. You could also substitute for discerner or discerning.
Oracle
Oracles are mostly found in Greek mythology and are a form of divination. Oracles are often obscure or allegorical prophecy revealed through the medium of a priest or priestess at the shrine of a god.
Greek society consulted oracles as a gateway to knowing the “will of the gods” and as a cosmic information superhighway for understanding what lay ahead. The most famous oracle was the priestess of the temple of Apollo at the sanctuary of Delphi.
Prophets are not Oracles and Oracles are not Prophets. The Bible does speak of “oracles of God,” but that’s referring to the word God or a prophecy, not a person acting as a medium to utter predictions. Malachi 1:1, Isaiah 13:1, Isaiah 14:28, Isaiah 21 & Isaiah 30, to name a few.
Energy
New Age energy expresses itself in terms like chi, prana, or orgone energy. I won’t go into too much detail. Google origins of energy in new-age terms, and a whole lot pops up. However, not ALL uses of the word point to new age concepts. Only ideas pointing to someone or something’s “energy field.”
Common uses include, “your energy is so uplifting, surround yourself with positive energy.”
Diva
Diva or Deva refers to a Hindu goddess. A deva in the New Age movement refers to any of the spiritual forces or beings behind nature. It also sources in Hinduism. So when we call someone a diva, we are actually calling them a demon. That’s no bueno in my book.
JuJu
The word JuJu comes from the French word “joujou” meaning ‘plaything.’ JuJu is a spiritual belief system incorporating objects, such as amulets and spells used in religious practice, as part of witchcraft in West Africa especially the people of Nigeria and Cameroon. The term has been applied to traditional African religions. Other sources indicate it comes from the Hausa language, meaning “fetish” or “evil spirit.”
ESP or Sixth Sense
ESP means extrasensory perception, the perception or communication outside of normal sensory capability. It’s also referred to as telepathy and clairvoyance. Another popular term is “sixth sense.” Both terms are commonly used in New Age and occult circles.
So, no Christian has ESP or a sixth sense. They may, however, have the gift of discerning spirits found in 1 Corinthians 12:10.
Guru
A guru is a Hindu, Buddhist, or Sikhism master/teacher. Guru also refers to Sanskrit to Brihaspati, a Hindu figure analogous to the Roman planet/god Jupiter. Therefore, calling a Christian a “guru” at something means more than saying they have expertise in something. It’s relating them to a Hindu, Buddhist, or Sikhism master/teacher.
Spiritual
Not sure if someone is a New Ager? This one is a dead giveaway. New Agers call themselves “spiritual” rather than Christian. If Christians refer to themselves as “spiritual” rather than Christian, can confuse those who understand what that means.
True Self
I added this because it’s a common theme in New Age text and a term thrown around by New Agers. New Age concepts focus on self. Kind of sounds like pride, doesn’t it?
Universe
Theologically, the New Age typically adopts a belief in a holistic form of divinity that imbues all of the universe, including human beings themselves. There is a strong emphasis on the spiritual authority of the self. Common phrases I’ve heard is, ” I wonder what the universe is trying to tell me,” or “If you believe it the universe will make it happen.”
As Christians, we don’t look to the universe for our answers; we look to the Lord.
Nirvana
I bet when you read this, you immediately thought of the 90s band Nirvana. Nope!
I often don’t hear this term, but I feel it’s important to understand what the word means. In the Indian religions: Buddhism, Jainism, and Hinduism, nirvāna (from the Sanskrit निर्वाण, Pali: Nibbāna — Chinese: 涅槃; Pinyin: niè pán), literally “extinction” and/or “extinguishing,” is the culmination of the yogi’s pursuit of liberation.
Nirvana is defined as a transcendent state in which there is neither suffering, desire, nor sense of self, and the subject is released from the effects of karma and the cycle of death and rebirth. It represents the final goal of Buddhism.
Spirit Animal
Confession time…I’ve used this one before. For example, “he or she is my spirit animal.” It’s said in jest, but not something we should partner with.
A spirit animal is characterized as a teacher or messenger that comes in the form of an animal and has a personal relationship with an individual. Other names might be animal guides, spirit helpers, spirit allies, power animals, or animal helpers.
Mantra
While I am transparent, I’ve used this one too. Guilty! The term “mantra” is used quite often in everyday language. Some common phrases include: “It’s my mantra.” Or, “That’s my mantra.”
Mantras originated in India with Vedic Hinduism and were later adopted by Buddhists and Jains, now popular in various modern forms of spiritual practice, loosely based on practices of these Eastern religions.
A mantra is a religious syllable or poem, typically from the Sanskrit language. Their use varies according to the school and philosophy associated with the mantra. They are primarily used as spiritual conduits, words, and vibrations that instill one-pointed concentration in the devotee. Other purposes have included religious ceremonies to accumulate wealth, avoid danger, or eliminate enemies.
Om
I don’t hear this one often except in jest…unless you’re involved in Yoga. And well, that’s a whole other conversation. But I thought it would be good to add in here.
Om refers to Atman (soul, self within) and Brahman (ultimate reality, the entirety of the universe, truth, divine, supreme spirit, cosmic principles, knowledge). The syllable is often found at the beginning and the end of chapters in the Vedas, the Upanishads, and other Hindu texts.
In the Hindu tradition, the sound of om is said to contain the entire universe. It is the first sound from the beginning of time, and it also encompasses the present and the future. As such, its importance and power are difficult to overstate. It is also a seed syllable, used as a building block for other mantras.
Not in the Cards
I hear this one ALL THE TIME, “It’s just not in the cards for us.” This term is literally referring to tarot cards and fortune-telling. This phrase is not in the…word bank for us Christians! Thought I was going to say cards, didn’t you?
Channeling
A common use of the word shows up in phrases like “It was like I was channeling her.”
The practice of channeling — a person’s body being taken over by a spirit for communication — has been around for millennia. … Channeling involves consciously shifting your mind and mental space to achieve an expanded state of consciousness.”
Channeling, which is also called spiritualism or spiritism, is communication with a so-called intelligent being who promotes spiritual teachings and philosophical discussions.1 Channeling may occur under hypnosis2 and includes the processes of imagination, intuition, claims of inspiration, and premonition. It is seen as the single most important and definitive aspect of the New Age movement.3 The majority of those who channel professes to be the vocal conduit of a spiritual entity to which they have access. The entity and functions temporarily inhabit the channeler as the entity’s mouthpiece.
Conjure
To conjure is to call upon (a spirit or ghost) to appear using a magic ritual.
Aura
The word aura comes from the Latin word aurae, which means a breeze. In Greco-Roman mythology, four gods personified the four cardinal winds. These gods were called the Anemoi. The Anemoi had daughters who were the nymphs of the breezes. These nymphs were called the Aurae. There was also the principal goddess of breezes who was named Aura.
Old Soul (addition to the list)
The origin of the definition “old soul” comes from Taoism, a Chinese philosophical and religious system that is more than 5,000 years old. Under this system, the soul leaves the Tao, which would be a global and natural unity, to acquire experiences. However, as in Taoism, everything should return to its roots; on a journey of eternal return, the ultimate goal of the soul is to return to the Tao, enriched with life experiences.
Thus, the soul would pass for 5 ages or stages; the greater is the age when more perfection is achieved and the higher is the levels of perception of the person. The old soul would be the last stage on earth.
If You’ve Made it This Far, Congratulations!
Well, that’s all the common words and phrases. Christians should know that I have today. You didn’t realize this was going to be a book, now did you? You’re a trooper for hanging in there. Believe it or not, I left some out.
Thanks for following me on the journey all the way to the end. I hope you learned something new. Feel free to share it with your friends. Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE TO MY BLOG, so you don’t miss all the fun next time!
Fun Fact! Did you know that most self-identifying Christians hold what is considered New Age beliefs? It’s true. Many ascribe to reincarnation beliefs, astrology (horoscopes), psychics, and the presence of spiritual energy in physical objects like crystals and sage smudging. Approximately 62% of Christians believe in at least ONE New Age belief.
