Slang dictionary
come to Jesus
[kuhm too jee-zuh s]
ŗŚĮĻĶų does come to Jesus mean?
In the name of the father, the son, and the holy spirit. Amen. šĀ Uhh …Ā
Outside religious contexts,Ā come to Jesus refers to a meeting or moment where one undergoes a difficult but positive and powerful realization or change in character or behavior. Ā
Where does come to Jesus come from?

Early record ofĀ come to JesusĀ comes in the 1870s, when the phrase was used to mock Christian proselytizers as notĀ practicing what they preached.Ā The phrase evidently emerges from 19th-century Christian revivalism, which pushed for personal conversion to Christianityāto turn away from the devil and save their souls by coming to Jesus.Ā In the early 1900s,Ā come to Jesus described the clothing worn by these preachers (e.g., a come-to-Jesus collar).
Ok … enough religious history.
By the 1970s, the expression had become a metaphor for a transformative meeting or momentālike aĀ hard talk, a wake-up call, facing the facts, an intervention, seeing the light.

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Just as finding Jesus is said to save a person’s soul, a come-to-Jesus meeting or momentĀ results in new, though difficult, understanding or behavior (i.e., changing one’s ways).
By the the 1990s, the expression had become familiar enough to stand for such a meeting or moment all on its a own (e.g., Our son needs a come to Jesus about doing well in school or People need a come to Jesus about their smartphone addiction).
Come to Jesus is often seen as a business or workplace clichĆ©.Ā Supervisors, for instance, may have a come to Jesus meeting with employees if performance needs serious correction. Come-to-Jesus moment won Forbes’ magazine’s cheeky 2013 Jargon Madness competition, which pitted overused corporate buzzwords against each otherĀ Ć la March Madness basketball brackets.

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Examples of come to Jesus
They better have a come to Jesus meeting in the locker room cause this is not working out

Who uses come to Jesus?
For all its secular ²¹±č±č±ō¾±³¦²¹³Ł¾±“DzԲõ,Ģżcome to JesusĀ keeps its religious currency, urging lost or struggling souls to find their way in Jesus Christ.
Dear friend, this week, may God open the right doors for you and shut the wrong doors for you in Jesus name. May His uncommon favour assist you through out the week in Jesus name. Psalm 121:2, Psalm 124:8, Revelation 3:7.
Come to Jesus today. Blessings!— Pastor Magnus Maduka (@magnusinspire)
SATAN HAS PERSUADED THE WESTERN WORLD TO ABANDON THE BIBLE AND ITS TEACHING…. REPENT AND COME TO JESUS NOW BEFORE THE GREAT TRIBULATION…
— hans muller (@ulexon)
We need to come to Jesus – come to know him more intimately.
— Becoming Christlike (@christliketoday)
Outside Christianity, come to Jesus sees wide use in secular contexts. It can used in a lighthearted way to call out one’s personal behavior or some everyday annoyance.
Having a come to Jesus meeting with myself to focus and do homework that I had all week to do.. š©
— Candice (@CBNL13)
Gonna have a come to Jesus meetin' with these construction dudes if they don't hurry up and finish me. Summer's here, yo.
— Tree Of Five Seasons (@FiveSeasonsTree)
It can be used in a more serious way for situations at home and work that need to change.
My mom is having a come to Jesus meeting with me this morning about morals, judgement, and the way she was raised. Iām half asleep trying to get my makeup on. Iām not into talking this early yāall.
— Haley Boggs // š (@h_bizzoggs)
I hate my job & my boss isn't too spectacular either. At 2:45 today we're gonna have a come to Jesus meeting. -Grab your popcorn.
— āKayla Phillipsā (@kaylajanea)
From politics to business, come to Jesus is a common cry for folks to do better. Ā
All politicians are dirty as hell. None of them have ever had a come to Jesus moment.
— Krystin Cuccia (@cucciakrystin)
You are an employee of a media giant whose current business model sucks. CNNās ratings go lower and lower. It is not about journalistic integrity. It is about rebuilding a larger share of the cable news audience. A losing proposition like CNN needs a Come To Jesus Meeting pronto.
— Gary Pettis (@GaryPPettis)
More generally, come to Jesus can be used as a synonym for a realization or epiphany, big or small.
My dad and I just had a come to Jesus moment and he reminded me who I was, so Iām sorry to anyone whoās dealt with me this past year :/ Iām going to be better š
— chloš„ (@xchloeeex2)
I just had a ācome to Jesusā moment but like in that āI want to throw away all my shit so I donāt have to move itā way. Same thing right?
— Danielle (@MaybeImmaMess)
Note
This is not meant to be a formal definition of come to Jesus like most terms we define on Dictionary.com, but is rather an informal word summary that hopefully touches upon the key aspects of the meaning and usage of come to Jesus that will help our users expand their word mastery.