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The Simms Dictionary
Coined words for a Christianity that’s alive, honest, and Spirit-led.
Church & Institutional Critique
noun
The monopoly one person holds over the church microphone every Sunday. When one man dominates all speaking, the body of Christ is reduced to a single mouth.
“Giving a pastor mic control causes him to be seen as a college style teacher more than as an approachable, listening, and caring shepherd.”
noun
The mass exodus of believers leaving institutional church. Inspired by “Brexit,” it names what’s been happening for decades across Western Christianity as people leave buildings but not Jesus.
“For the past few decades, there has been a whole lot of Chexit going on in America.”
noun
A passive version of Christianity unable to produce inner peace and lasting transformation. What churchianity becomes when the Spirit is quenched and spectators replace participants.
“Perhaps church should be like a theme park where people take action and actually do things, not like a parking lot where nothing happens!”
noun
The corruption of Christianity by political power. When allegiance to a party or nation replaces allegiance to the risen Jesus.
“Churchianity’s been around for centuries. Now we have politicsianity. Let’s put Christ back in ianity.”
verb / gerund
The act of attending church services as a substitute for daily, surrendered, Christ-following life. Doing church without doing Christianity.
“Churching without discipling is often hindering for Christ-following.”
noun
Spectator-mode Christianity. The comfortable version of faith that requires nothing but showing up and sitting down.
motto
Make Church Ekklesia Again. A call to return to the original Greek meaning: an interactive, Spirit-led assembly of participants, not a programmed religious meeting run by one man.
motto
Make Christianity Discipleship Again. The insistence that following Jesus means daily obedience and relational surrender, not weekly attendance and passive listening.
noun
Jesus’ Town Hall Meeting. Ekklesia understood through its original Greek context: a democratic assembly where every citizen participates, except the leader is Jesus Himself, speaking through His Spirit.
Truth & Honesty
noun
A truth-teller. The opposite of a liar. Someone who speaks what is real with compassion and courage.
“English needs a word for a truth-teller, so I’m inventing one. Be a realer.”
noun, plural
Honest statements. The opposite of lies. What flows from the mouth of a realer.
verb
The act of telling truth with compassion. Harder than lying. More creative, more effective, more freeing.
“Creativity can be used to tell lies, but it’s far more effective when it’s used for realing.”
Awe & Wonder
adjective
What awe should be: ordinary. A daily state of wonder and amazement at God and at being alive.
“Living in this amazing world, awe should be awedinary.”
adjective
Able to be frequently awed by the living God. A heart condition. If yours isn’t awedible, something has gone numb.
adjective
Forced awe. Which is impossible. Real awe flows spontaneously from a heart open to wonder. It can never be manufactured by a program.
noun
The awe of God. What Christianity should train people in, instead of merely theology (the study of God). You can study God without being stunned by Him. Theos-awe won’t let you.
verb
To live saturated in Spirit-led awe. A wordplay on olive (oil being a symbol of the Holy Spirit).
“When you let the Spirit lead you throughout the day, you’ll awe-live.”
exclamation
What modern Christianity said to wonder when it chased away the glory of experiencing Jesus. A sneeze that expelled the sacred.
Vision & Discipleship
noun
The opposite of deconstruction. Seeing what the risen Jesus is actually building and aligning your life with it. Without see-construction, you’ll stay lost in your own self-focused sea.
“We need to see what the risen Jesus is building and align our life with Him.”
noun
The ability to humbly receive insight, ideas, and wisdom directly from God. A relationship built on ongoing revelation, not just historical information.
“I strive to be good at what I call revelationship.”
exclamation / blessing
To eagerly expect good things to happen in your life. A word of encouragement and faith spoken over someone.
noun, plural
Short, simmering statements of truth and provocation. Aphorisms that jog the mind and unclog the heart.
Free Gas for Your Think Tank -- Short Reflections, Lasting Encouragement 