There is an expression that is quite common in America these days, although I don’t think I’ve ever heard it used in Australia.
It’s the expression ‘a come-to-Jesus moment.’
And it is used, in the US at least, without any reference to Christianity or anything remotely spiritual or religious.
It is used these days to mean when someone has to make a decisive and significant direction-changing decision.
It is often seen as a business or workplace cliché.
For example, in an American business magazine in 1999 there was a statement that: ‘most retailers remain in denial about the power of E-commerce. There will be a “come to Jesus” moment when the people owning all these bricks and mortar will realize they're stuck.’
The Oxford English Dictionary puts it this way: ‘a significant shift in the current way of thinking about or doing something.’
So why is the expression ‘come-to-Jesus’ used to label an important, direction-changing, decision?
The answer is to be found in the 1870s when the phrase was used to mock 19th century Christian evangelists who called for personal conversion to Christianity—inviting individuals to find personal salvation by coming to Jesus.
The famous Billy Graham Crusades of the second half of the 20th century were the much same—although Billy used slightly different language: he invited his hearers to ‘make a decision for Jesus.’
So, this ‘come-to-Jesus’ phrase began life as a mocking expression and has remained a mocking expression ever since.
When used in a context that has no reference to Jesus Christ (or any claims he might make a person’s life) it remains a mocking, dismissive phrase.
Is it blasphemy?
My guess is that, strictly speaking, it is.
If you look at the Ten Commandments, blasphemy breaks number three on the list: ‘You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.’
From the 16th century to the mid-19th century, blasphemy was held to be an offence under British common law.
In fact, in England blasphemy laws were only officially repealed in 2008 (2024 in Scotland!)—although the law had not been acted on for many years.
The point about blasphemy these days is that you run the risk of offending any believer who is in earshot.
I suspect the casual, secular, mocking, derisive use of ‘come-to-Jesus’ in America is intended to do exactly that.
So, perhaps it’s a good thing it’s not common in Australia.
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