Below are three unbiblical statements that some Christians often use
that are not true.
1. God helps those who help
themselves
This statement is not in the
Bible. The intended meaning of this statement is often to encourage men and
women not to sit around when their lives fall apart but to actually do
something. While God-given freewill is noble, this statement overlooks the fact
that often life can crush us to a point that we cannot help ourselves and need
external help. If God's help and goodness to you was contingent on your ability
to help yourself, then you'd be doomed. If God allowed you to breath to the
extent that you help yourself to breathe, you’d die. God helps the helpless. He
says in Psalm 34:18:
“The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who
are crushed in spirit.”
The second error in the statement is that it assumes a direct correlation
between our effort and God's goodness. It suggests that human effort spurs
God's goodness. While certain biblical principles regarding acts like giving
and kindness may mirror this, it is important to note that they refer to God
fulfilling his word (his faithfulness) as opposed to God owing a human being blessings
for human virtue. God is a debtor to no man. And if you didn’t know that,
Beloved, realize that God owes you and I nothing. You even hear some counsellors
say to hurting people, “Have you forgiven God?” How do you forgive one
who hasn’t sinned? God owes no man anything. The Bible in Romans 11:35 says:
“Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him?”
The third error in the phrase “God helps those who help themselves”
is that it undermines the salvation of mankind. We were dead and without any
desire to do good (Ephesians 2:1) when Christ came for us. In fact the
scriptures say that we were helpless. We owe God. Romans 5:6 says:
"For while we were
still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly."
And even after we accept Christ, God taps into our helplessness. Paul the
Apostle tells us in 2nd Corinthians 12:9:
“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made
perfect in weakness."
God isn’t looking for superstars to be channels of his power. He
is looking for vessels that are desperately in need for him; those who are poor
in spirit and in need for the fulfilment that this world cannot give- those who
cannot help themselves. And it is that reason that holds back many unbelievers
from giving their lives to Christ. They want control and do not want to show
weakness. Yet the very act of conversion into God’s child involves admitting
you are a hell-bound lost sinner who cannot save yourself and are in dire need of
a saviour- Jesus. Even our good deeds are not enough to match a holy God. In Isaiah
64:6 we are told that that mere human effort in the backdrop of a Holy God is
filthy rags. So where did the phrase “God helps those who help themselves” come
from? From the book of 2nd Opinions 3:16.
2. Preach the gospel, if necessary use words
It is rumoured that St. Francis of
Assisi said these words, however, there is
no hard evidence to prove that he did. In fact, historians say none of the ancient
manuscripts of his life or his disciples’ have this quote. The author is
unknown. The context of these words is not known. Often it is a stand-alone
quote, meaning it is to be taken at face value. And if it is to be taken at
face value, I’m afraid it is not biblical. The scriptures tell us in Romans
10:14 that the essential message of Christianity, the gospel, cannot be
preached without words:
“How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will
they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a
preacher?”
One may argue, “Isn’t living my life a good way to show God’s
transformative work? Isn’t the phrase pushing us to live our faith and not just
speak it?” Beloved, you are quite right. We Christians need to live out what we
preach so that the world can see the truth and not be discouraged by any
hypocrisy they see. However, Beloved, I put it to you that it is not
enough. As we practise what we preach we also need to preach what we practise.
Your neighbour can see you live out your salvation and easily mistake you for
another “good guy.” The salvation message will not transfer to them through
signs and non-verbal cues. You have to tell them. I heard of a born-again
campus girl who adopted this phrase until she was shocked in her final year
when her bunk-mate in college was asked by another friend about the girl’s
faith. The bunk-mate easily replied, “Oh, she is a Mormon.” The girl defended
herself saying that she was in fact a Christian. Her life showed goodness but
her words did not back it up. The Great Commission by Jesus in Matthew 28:19-20
commands us to “preach” i.e. use words. In 1st Peter 3:15 we are asked to be
ready at all times to explain our salvation to unbelievers i.e. using words. We
ought to remember that words are the tools of spiritual warfare in prayer and
in demolishing ungodly arguments (2nd Corinthians 10:3-5). It was through words that God brought the
world into existence. He spoke the Universe into creation. God communicates his most powerful truths using words-The
Bible.Therefore I give you
a better phrase, Beloved, “Preach
the gospel; and since it is necessary, use words.”
3. The truth will set you free
This phrase is not biblical. I can see you
challenge me already and turning your Bible pages to John 8 to prove me wrong.
Well, let us turn there together, Beloved. The reference is John 8.
John 8:31-32 31 To the Jews who
had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you
are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the
truth, and the truth will set you free."
Note that I said the phrase is not biblical and
not “it is not in the Bible.” The phrase IS found in the Bible in John 8.
However, the phrase is part of a larger portion of scripture. And when you read
the larger portion you understand that the meaning is very different. This is
the danger that occurs with many people who use the Bible sparingly. You lift a
phrase out of the context and soon you can justify anything! Context is
everything when reading your Bible. Imagine if your landlord gave me a message
for you that said, “If you pay your rent before the 5th, you will not be
required to pay rent for the next three months.” Now imagine I came to you
and delivered the last part of the message, “The landlord said, “You will
not be required to pay rent for the next three months.”” You get excited
and tell everyone! But is my message true? Of course not! It’s a lie until it
is complete with the condition set by the landlord. So what happens when you pay
rent on the 6th and then fail to get the 3-month-rent-free offer?
You blame the landlord for being unfair and decry his promises to be untrue.
Many do the same with God, Beloved. They take sections of his word and run with
them and when they fail because of their incomplete nature, they blame the
Lord. Context matters, Beloved. The context of the phrase in John 8 is first to
those who believe in Jesus (v31). It is not to everyone. Secondly, there is a
pre-requisite/condition i.e. Holding to Christ’s teaching proving ourselves
disciples. Once the condition is set, something happens- we know the truth.
After we know the truth, something else happens- we get delivered! Have you
cried foul because the truth has not set you free? Well, that is because you need
to hold onto Christ’s teaching first- believe it, trust it, try it, practice
it, show it, teach it. And get rid of the cares of this world, the deceitfulness
of wealth and the many things that hinder the word from bearing fruit in your
life. After that happens, the revelation of truth will come to you. And once
you act on that truth, you will see your freedom and deliverance. So the next
time someone tells you “The truth will set you free”, respond to them in the words of Gloria Steinem,
“The truth will set you free but first it will piss you off.” Or in more
cultured means “But first it will require of you.”
Do you know of any other statements used by
Church folk that are not biblically true?