The Two Worst (so-called) Christian Sayings

While reading a friend’s Facebook page recently, I ran across the saying “God never gives us more than we can handle”. Really? Then what do we need Him for? If God never pushes us to our limits, if He never tests us with adversity, if He never takes us to the edge of the cliff, then what reason do we ever have to reach out to Him? Think about how much pressure this ill-conceived notion puts on the believer: The Christian encounters a stressful or difficult situation. He begins to feel the strain and frustration. He begins to be afraid or even panic. Then he remembers this ever-so-helpful saying! But wait, it’s not working! “What’s wrong with me? I must not be strong enough! No, it’s not me, its God! This challenge is too tough! I thought God would never give me more than I can handle! He’s a liar!”

See? The saying implies that God created you and walked away. It implies that He gave you a certain amount of fortitude and resistance to stress, and He is now throwing you into situations and watching you squirm. It implies that you will endure and conquer all these challenges by yourself. This is completely contrary to scripture. The saying should be, “God never gives us more than we can handle with His help.” But rather, let’s just skip the saying altogether and quote scripture instead: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Phil 4:13, emphasis mine). Even more applicable is, “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me” (2 Cor 12:9). God doesn’t give you strength so you can take the credit for your victories. He wants to be your strength so that He might be glorified through you. He wants to leave you mystified at the end of the day, shaking your head, smiling and saying, “That had to have been God…”

The other one I often run into is “Everything in moderation”. Great! I can do whatever I want as long as I only do it a little bit! Yay! Just a little bit of deceit. Just a little bit of porn. Just a little bit of theft. It’s only a white lie. It’s just Maxim magazine. It’s only a twenty from the register. “C’mon, Ben, that’s not what it means! You’re being ridiculous!” Really? Then why does it say everything in moderation? I have no idea where Christians get this from, but it’s probably the most destructive, perverse, Hell-spawed bit of twisted advice I’ve ever heard – and Christians say it all the time. And you know what? Satan loves it. You’re doing exactly what he wants. The more you compromise, the more often you give in, the less disciplined you become, the easier it is for him to gain a foothold in your life. Eventually, that foothold will become a stronghold. Ultimately, that stronghold will become a stranglehold. Pretty soon, you’ll have compromised yourself into divorce court. Pretty soon, you’ll have ‘little-bitted’ your way into prison. Pretty soon, you’ll have ‘moderated’ yourself into a full-blown addiction.

Beloved, the life we’re called to as Christians is not a moderate one. It doesn’t involve people-pleasing or fence-riding. It has no room for political correctness or mealy-mouthed, pluralistic responses to questions regarding our convictions. It is a black and white life of uncompromising absolutes where choosing grey leads only to folly and destruction. The Bible tells us in Revelation, “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth” (3:15-16). A life lived in the middle means an eternity spent without God – and that’s not something I’m willing to risk.

In Him,
Ben
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