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Yesterday, we probably watched one of the best Superbowl games of all time.  Included in the Superbowl hype (4 hours of a pre-game show) was a collection of great commercials that really added to the enjoyment of the game.

Years ago, I remember a commercial from Wendy’s that had included this cranky old grandma type lady proclaiming, “Where’s the beef?”  It was a great marketing tool for Wendy’s square type burger patty.

Today, I feel like that cranky old lady as I write this blog.  I am getting increasingly frustrated at the way that the church (and Christ followers) have destroyed words that should be meaningful to us as we follow Christ.  These words hold great truths but now we are forced to use other words since the words we want to use mean something else.

Here is my immediate list as I sit here frustrated:

* Worship -    It now means the collection of songs that we sing with instruments and that are done by Hillsong, DCB or Tomlin.

* Fellowship -     Anytime that pies, coffee in a big urn and bad church juice is served in a “fellowship” hall.

* Service -    It is now a project that happens once a week or once a month in the form of a program that is planned by the church

* Outreach -     It is a program that we enter into and choose to leave at any time.  “I am now going to be involved in outreach…”

* Emerging -    Even though the world around us is constantly emerging through technology, science and thought, inside the church emerging is viewed as a bad thing and a thing to stay away from.  (Could you imagine if doctors and researchers were emerging in their medical practices?)

* Missional -    It is now a brand name that signifies a certain way to do church.  If God has called us to go into all the world, aren’t we all suppose to live a missional life?  On the flip side, missional is now becoming the popular term to describe some efforts that the church is doing with the programs that they are running…

There’s my list and my beefs…Where’s the beef?

Do you have any words that you can think of that the church and Christ followers have ruined?

- Matt