Let’s face it, Christians can be weird. There is definitely a Christian sub-culture that people can become entrenched in, and in that bubble things get weird to the outsider.

I was listening to a story from the This American Life archives (yes, I listen to that program a lot at work) about Christianity. One reporter visited New Life Church (pre-Haggard sex/drugs scandal), to learn more about a prayer initiative to pray for everyone in Colorado Springs. The idea is great – praying for an entire community – but I realized how strange Christians can sound to non-Christians.

The reporter interviewed young, zealous believers, and older leaders in the church about why they are praying for the city, how prayer works, and what they believe they are going to accomplish. One young man talked about the demonic battles he can discern in areas he prayer-walks. One woman spoke of the biosphere being opened when we pray and that’s how God hears us.

What amazed me is how confused and creeped out I was.

I believe there is a spiritual war going on. I believe our prayers reach the Heavens. But to a non-Christian all that stuff sounds super weird. Especially when we use words that aren’t really used outside of our spiritual bubble. No one else talks about demonic strongholds. No one else thinks about the end of days.

Christian, when talking to an unbeliever, try this: be sincere and don’t use words they don’t know. Just talk like everyone else, and people won’t think we’re so strange.