What is Christianease?

Recently I was in a conversation with a few of my non Christian friends. One of them asked me, why are Christians so poly-anna like? I asked what do you mean. She proceeded to say, like some christians talk so un-real, and when bad things happen, give this pat answer. It got me thinking...how do we respond to real life situations..and how does it make us look to the world and to the reality of when tough things happen. She shared with me that a few years ago she lost a very close friend. She cried and dumped on a Christian friend of hers..who said back to her..well, it was obviously "Gods Will, and that no matter what, you should rejoice in the Lord, because God allowed it. She said that she has never spoken to that friend again.

Another friend once asked me, why do Christians always say things like bless you, and praise the Lord, and amen everything, she said it just seems so fake.

I heard the term "Christianese" before..and made it a point that I will not talk it. We need to be real with ourselves and especially our non-christian friends. When there is loss, don't quote scripture, or say it is all in Gods hands or will. Bad things happen..and I don't believe that it is always because God willed it. We live in a cursed world..and things happen that I believe that God hurts too. Jesus wept when Lazerous died.

It is not natural to loose a child, it hurts when disasters happen and 1000's are killed. It is devasting to the family who may loose a job, their home..and be homeless. I hope that I will never say to those people, well it was all apart of Gods plan. Rejoice in the Lord! Praise God, because God will allow good to come. Some of this may be true..but wouldn't it be better to say nothing at all. To weep with those who weep. To agree that I don't know why bad things happen and it just sucks! And yes, it is ok to be mad at God, He can handle it, and He empathizes with us. Just some of my thoughts and tidbits...wondering what others think how we as Christians should respond when bad things happen.

I'm not saying that its wrong to say terms like bless you, amen, PTL...I just believe that we should be very careful in the timing and the situation.