Today I came across this article on my FB page:
http://jonathanmerritt.religionnews.com/2014/01/16/philippians-413-many-christians-misuse-iconic-verse/#comment-138089
You have to read it to understand what Im about to say.
In essence, the author is saying that people are misusing Phillipians 4:13...people such as Tim Tebow and Joel Osteen. Now I'm not an expert on either of these men but I do know of them and have read a couple articles or interviews...and maybe watched a couple football games. Might I also say that I don't know Jonathan Merritt...I can't assume concretely and eternally what he thinks and believes. Any comments/arguments I make on his article are based solely on his writings here.
This article, written by Jonathan Merritt of the Religion News Service, strikes me as a little off. I kind of grasp the concept at which he is getting at but I seem to disagree with him on many points. I agree with him that context is extremely important but I also think that we can get a little legalistic about it too. Some things are meant to be taken in spirit rather than literally. Therefore, I don't believe you have to be in prison or depths of hell before you can accurately use Phillipians 4:13. I don't believe thats exactly what Mr. Merritt is saying but then...Im not really sure what Mr. Merritt is saying.
1. Isn't he ASSUMING that Tebow is just flinging that verse around to get attention? Perhaps that is the crux of the whole "misuse" problem. We can assume people are using it wrong when they really are not.
2. Didn't Joel Osteen say in that quote that if God says you can, than you can. I find that extremely hard to argue with. What am I missing here?
3. I think a bigger contention is that he says the bible teaches that God is a sustainer when life feels unsustainable. I'll explain later.
4. Is the writer implying he doesn't need God when life is good but he wants him to hunker down with him when life is bad?
Before I go on...I responded to the article...I don't know why...maybe because the thing just bothered me...and I had a moment of weakness. Its usually my mantra to avoid these things...Ive learned from experience. Im hoping Im not missing an important concept here though. Its totally possible...and maybe someone can point me in the right direction if I need it. Anyway...here's the response. Reader beware: This is opinion only from my imperfect mind...in fact, I need to wrestle with my very first statement. I know what I mean but Im not sure how to accurately verbalize it and maybe I'm treading in dangerous waters with it even.
"The beauty of scripture is that even in context, it can mean something different to different people and be more or less valid at different times. This is one reason why we call it the living word. I think this author has went too far and readers should beware. Im not a fan of Joel Osteen…at least I should say Ive never heard the man preach. I know of him and seen him do interviews but thats about it. In the quote, he clearly says: “if God said you can…you can!”. Nowhere does Joel Osteen say anything about using that scripture on a whim to get your next case of beer or whatever. Something the writer overlooks. The truth is if God has shown you a path and gave you a calling, then He will strengthen you. Saying or remembering this scripture to help put aside fears of failing and rejection while you are on that path, doesn’t seem wrong to me. We have the scripture to teach us and remind us. It should be on our minds at all times. We don’t have to wait until we are in prison, being persecuted or when life is tough to remember and say that through all things Christ strengthens me. Because of the Word, we can remember it before we get there. Sometimes our calling is a rough road…i understand paul was in prison when he wrote it…i get that, but none the less he said “in all things”. Really if you think about it…isn’t christ strengthening us always..even in the good times? Just his mere presence in our life strengthens us! He’s not only around when we are in the dumps. I think thats a truth that all christians inherently know. Now on to Tebow…I don’t for one second believe that playing back up quarter back is easy. All of a sudden he’s in the limelight…I don’t believe thats a pretty place to be for a real christian. We all hear the stories of how fame falls hard. Maybe that was his prison at that time…his time of great temptation. Perhaps he was calling on the strength of Christ to keep his humility. You don’t know until you ask him. Its sad to me that this writer assumes the worst of him. Its easy to assume that he was just flinging that verse out there so God could help him win a football game…or just to get attention. Thats what all the haters think. There is actually evidence out there to the contrary. You know, he did a fantastic job…was it luck or was it God? You can decide for yourself. I also don’t believe that Tebow is playing football just because he wants to…but maybe because He wants him to as well. Who are we to say that God doesn’t care if Tebow is on that playing field? Be careful we don’t start applying our man made doctrine to whats happening in the world. Thats probably very well his missionary field…thats his calling. God is probably using him to share his gospel on and off the field…even on TV! (gasp). Guess what…he succeeded. There are more people out there now that know that “in all things, christ strengthens me”. There are a few more people out there that have cracked open that bible they got as a wedding present. Whatever you choose to believe on the subject, God can make lemonade out of anything."
...on with it Sommer!
Ok back to #2...because I think I addressed #1 pretty well in my response and really nobody knows except Tebow.
What am I missing in Osteen's quote? I know that its possible its taken out of context but for purposes right now...what did this author see to disagree with in that quote? What am I missing? Give me something to explore here.
#3 has me going...perhaps this (and #4) is the reason I've gotten riled up. Mr. Merritt says:
"Contrary to popular belief, the Bible does not teach “God will give you the strength to do whatever you set your mind to.” (Actually, anytime a foundational view in your theology begins with, “God will give you”, stop and do a double-check.) God is not a heavenly bellhop or divine sugar daddy or cosmic power plant to fuel your dream-quest. Instead, the Bible teaches, God is a sustainer when life feels unsustainable."I said I would explain and I will. At first glance, I don't really have a problem with what he says. Take it into context and I do (told you that you'd have to read the article). That last sentence, he says the bible teaches that God is the sustainer when life feels unsustainable. Oh MY is that truth!!! but wait...I thought God is the sustainer at all times? What bible have I been reading? Is this something Ive made up in my own mind? Can anyone provide biblical backup to my thoughts? One more thing...didn't he just say that if anything in my theology starts with God will give you...that I should do a double take? I happen to be under the impression that God sustaining me is a gift...maybe I should double check that? After all, God is "giving" me sustenance. Maybe Im dicing words and on the edge of deceit here...I haven't decided yet. Ok...you have to read the next paragraph to understand what made me think of all that.
On to #4...
"And if you’re like me, this is a “good news” message. Because my experience is that life is messy and thorny and unpredictable and chock full of disappointments. Most of them, a result of my own doing. I don’t need a God who motivates me to pursue my career dreams or chase down opportunities for personal advancement. I possess that drive on my own. Instead, I need a God who hunkers down in life’s trenches with me, who isn’t afraid to get mucky and messy and wade with me through tragedy and pain and failure."
Is the writer not implying he doesn't need God when life is good but he wants him to hunker down with him when life is bad? If so, I personally disagree and this could be the cause of the rub.
"I don't need a God who motivates me to pursue my career dreams..."
Does that just strike anyone else wrong? I think its the first 6 words...
"I don't need a God who."
BUT...He does need a God who hunkers down with him when life gets rough.
In my humble opinion, Christ gives us the strength to survive our moments of weakness as well as the good times. Who are we to judge wether someone using the verse is going through a moment of weakness or their own personal hell? Just because we can't see it?
I honestly think he is probably trying to say he doesn't need a cheerleader to cheer him on even when he's not following the will of God. But seriously, that could have been said a million times better and that may be just me trying to extrapolate onto someone else...who knows. While I think I get what he's trying to say I have to question this whole idea of only needing God when we are in the trenches. I think because he drives that point home not once but twice. Perhaps the writer just failed to make the other point...that we need God even when things are good...we need Christ even when things are good. Maybe its because I've heard this before...been there before. I've been in that place where God is a convenience...yet it strikes me odd that he is speaking against it at the same time and therefore causes me to be confused. Maybe it was his avoidance and twisting of what Joel Osteen literally said that makes me think otherwise (but then maybe Im missing something there). Maybe its just because the writer didn't find great sources to back up his point.
...or maybe it was the whole dogging on Tebow thing.
In the end...I shall have to give him the benefit of the doubt.
"The God of the Bible—Jesus—is better than we’ve imagined because he gives us what we actually need: strength to survive our moments of weakness and a sense of freedom even in life’s prisons.
Go write that under your eyes."
Sorry Mr. Merritt...it won't all fit under there. (I couldn't help myself sorry)
I personally think Phillipians 4:13 covers that pretty well.
Why? Because I ACTUALLY need Christ even when things are going good...I don't ever want to not need him.
Where did I go wrong here?
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