A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.
Proverbs 25:11

Tuesday, August 21, 2007

Phrase pet peeve


Maybe I am writing on something that does not bother most of you...it has been bothering me...
I have a problem with Christians that say "Good-luck" to anyone and ESPECIALLY each other.
Recently I was in a situation where this phrase was repeated to several Christians that were about to set out on some life changing experiences. They felt the Lord was leading them. It just twisted in my heart when the person sent them off ONE by one with the phrase"Good luck"....to me this reeks of superstition. Would it not just be so easy to say, I (we) will pray for you, or many other exhorting phrases that we use. I see them everyday in blogland. I do not believe personally, that this phrase should be any part of a Christians vocabulary. It seems, shallow and so worldly. I don't know if this is just me....what do you all think?..am I just being to picky? I personally do not want this said to me. Please I want God's guidance and God's will....not a life left up to "LUCK" ?

Deby

21 comments:

Cathy said...

Deby, I agree with you. We receive blessings from God, not "luck."

Saija said...

my husband always picks up on that phrase - muttering to himself "it's not about 'luck'"! ... we don't use it, the good in our lives are blessings from the Lord ...

but sometimes folks may not know any better ... and we just deal patiently with them, as the Lord has been (and Praise His name - continues to be!!!), patient with us!!!

blessings on your week!

Theresa's Notes said...

I don't like to say "good luck" but sometimes it just slips out. It is better to say, "I'm praying for you" or "God go with you" but not good luck.

I agree with you.

TO BECOME said...

No luck involved here just the grace of a loving God. Thanks, Deby, connie from Texas

Sharon said...

You're not the only one! It's a phrase that we pick up on and say, "luck has nothing to do with it...but, by the blessings of God".

Susan said...

Luck is actually a dirivative of the word Lucifer. I just learned this myself about 7 years ago and since that time I try never to use that word.

Most of us have been brought up saying good luck and I still catch myself.....but I do and do not say it.

Our lives are completely in God's hands, if we are His. Plain & simple.
usan

Cherish the Home said...

I agree. Like Penless Thoughts said I grew up hearing and saying the phrase so occasionally it will slip out but I try to never use it because I do NOT believe in luck. Everything in my life is ordered by the Lord.--'Luck' has nothing to do with it.

Because of Christ,
Mrs.B

Jodi said...

I agree with you, Deby. I've become very conscious of not using the term in my writing (particularly in blog comments). I hope I'm as cautious when I speak.

Anonymous said...

Most people say it out of habit but "Don't" literally mean it. I wouldn't take it personally. I hope your not....God Bless....

Karen said...

I agree that in the life of a believer "good luck" is meaningless and kind of opposite of what we really mean and know....that the course of our lives is ordered by God. Unfortunately, when we repeat phrases like, "I'll pray for you", many times these are said flippantly. I don't think we should use that phrase either unless we really ARE praying for that person or situation. I have stopped saying it to people unless I have really made a conscious decision to make time to pray for that thing. Unless we do, it can just become an empty phrase as well.

Lisa's Blessed A Latte said...

Great post...I agree with all the comments...I know when my kids let it slip Ken and I are quick to correct.......I don't like any phrase with "Wish" in it...As a rubber stamper they put it in lots.

Hugs,
Your Little Sis

candy said...

Great post! I agree. I guess sometimes like another comment said it slips out, but I prefer to hear and to say God Bless or I'll pray for you or whatever instead of good luck. It does sound wordly your right.
Actually if someone ever says to my son "your so lucky" ..he ALWAYS comments back "Im not lucky, IM blessed" So there ya go! :) Even a child gets it! :)
Hugs!

Maxine said...

I'm with you all the way on this, Deby. We know that God rule over all. Certainly "luck" is not involved at all. So many interesting things have been coming up on blogs. Thanks for posting about this.

DonnaB said...

I've tried not to use this phrase because I don't think it pleases our Lord.

Melissa said...

I agree...I hate it when ppl will tell me good luck....especially coming from non Christians...I know that they aren't Christians and don't pray and believe in God's help or blessings but it's really disrespectful to me since I am a Christian for someone to say good luck or I'll keep my fingers crosses for you....that just really irks me! something else that bothers me is when someone I know isn't a true Christian-rather they claim it or not but aren't living it-will tell me I'll be praying for you...I want to tell them-pray for yourself first! get your heart and life right with God first then you can pray for me...ya know what I mean? Maybe I'm wrong but that's just how I feel. The best thing to tell a person when they are going through a time in their life is God bless and I'll be praying for you....if you aren't a Christian and don't believe in God's power to bring that person through-then keep your mouth shut! anything else you say will just be disrespectful and probably upsetting to that person.

Tracy said...

Deby,
Awhile back you asked me about a pattern number for a blouse. It was a McCalls 5050.

I agree about the luck. There is no such thing. It's all God's providence!

Sis. Julie said...

It rubs me the wrong way as well. But then there are alot of phrases that are used by Christians that get all over me. We expect such things from the lost world but shouldn't from Christians. But then I have to remember that most aren't even taught about these things. That is where we who have been taught need to teach others.

Barbara said...

I agree with you, who is interested in "luck" when we have the guidance of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

A Captured Reflection said...

I so agree with you, and thanks for visiting my blog. Yours looks great and I look forward to visiting. When I was working in Scotland with YWAM we had a guy- Johan from the Faroe Islands, he used to get packages of dried fish sent over from 'home'. He was an awesome man of God.

Michelle-ozark crafter said...

I never thought of it like this. You are so right! i am going to try and quit saying it. Thank you for the wake up call! Another thing hubby and I don't like is coincedence. We believe in God-incedences ourselves!

Rebecca said...

A pet peeve along these lines is getting loads and loads of e-mails from Christians who implore me to "forward this e-mail to all your friends and good luck will be yours" or "I know it's true because my s-i-l's good friend's niece came into a windfall after forwarding this message." Makes my blood boil and wonder how they can even think about sending on such tripe. Thanks for the chance to vent!