The world is a noisy place, and sometimes it’s hard to know what to believe. With so much talk about “fake news” and so many misconceptions, words and ideas are distorted, miscommunicated, and misunderstood on a regular basis. Sadly, Christians aren’t exempt from believing false truths, and it’s time to set the record straight regarding some common lies we readily believe.
Photo courtesy: ©Unsplash
Lie #1: God doesn’t give us more than we can handle.
We’ve all had people say it to us. We’ve likely said it ourselves. Things are going terribly wrong, and this is the little phrase we whisper to keep ourselves from going over the edge. But is it true?
While the Bible does say we will not be tempted beyond what we can bear (1 Corinthians 10:13), that doesn’t mean life will never be more than we can handle. It will. If it weren’t, we wouldn’t need God at all. Let’s be honest—sometimes we humans are so prideful, we need that reminder that we really can’t do everything on our own. The knowledge that we need a Savior is what keeps us tethered to Him, and while none of us enjoys the walks in the wilderness, we can see how valuable they are once we’re on the other side.
Photo courtesy: ©Thinkstock/m-imagephotography
Lie #2: A pastor’s place is on a pedestal.
We love our heroes. I’m as big a fan of Captain America as the next guy. But when it comes to Christianity, God isn’t impressed with our big churches, our big pulpits, or our name in lights. But we humans sure are.
No matter where you are in your Christian walk, it’s important to remember that pastors are people too, and our faith isn’t in them, our salvation isn’t through them. Are they a huge part of our journey? Of course, and they can leave a lasting, indelible, life-changing mark on our lives. But because they’re human they can also let us down. If you put your faith in a man rather than in the Lord, you’re setting yourself up for disappointment.
Photo courtesy: ©Thinkstock/boygovideo
Lie #3: God doesn’t have time for me or my tiny little life.
Sometimes I begin my prayers with “God, I know you’ve got more important things to deal with, but . . .” And yes, He really does have more important things to deal with. Why would he care that my kid has someone to sit with at lunch when there are such horrors as school shootings, mass genocide, and terrorist attacks going on in this world?
I’m not sure why He would care, but I know that He does. A sparrow can’t fall to the ground without Him knowing it. The hairs on our heads are numbered. (Matthew 10:29-31)
Photo courtesy: ©Unsplash
If you take a look at the human body or in nature...
...it’s obvious God is a lover of details. Just as parents care about the things their children care about, God wants to be in the nitty-gritty of our lives.
Think about the other important relationships in your life. The people who know you best are the ones who share in the little things. Invite God in, share your simplest, most heartfelt requests, make Him a part of your daily life. Your relationship with Him will be so much stronger for it.
Photo courtesy: ©Thinkstock/AGrigorjeva
Lie #4: Once you become a Christian, everything is easy.
It’s always such a joyous day when someone decides to live for God, but we’re doing these new Christians a terrible disservice if we let them believe that life is going to be smooth sailing from here on out. Truthfully, it’s more likely the exact opposite.
My husband often tells the story of when he got saved at a Bible camp the summer before his junior year of college. He was riding high after that, thankful his eyes had been opened to the goodness of a God who loved him. He returned to college that fall and guess what? Every single reminder of and temptation from his old life was waiting for him, and these reminders are pesky and loud and they don’t go away just because you tell them to.
Photo courtesy: ©Unsplash
The truth is, there’s a battle for your soul.
I know that sounds super spiritual and maybe a little like something out of a Frank Peretti novel, but with all the lies we believe, this is not one of them. When you decide to enter into a relationship with Christ, it’s like the soldiers of the enemy come out to make sure that doesn’t happen. Life doesn’t get easier, but it does get better. There is nothing like living for God. There’s nothing like knowing you don’t have to go through life alone anymore. New Christians need to be surrounded by veterans who’ve experienced this for themselves, and we need to stop expecting life to be easy. The difference is, we have a God to lean on when our situation is hard.
Photo courtesy: ©Unsplash
Lie #5: I am enough.
We love this one. We print it on mugs and T-shirts. We buy jewelry with this phrase etched on it so we always remember that we don’t need anyone but ourselves. It’s one of the greatest lies of our time, but it’s become a sort of “battle cry” for our generation.
Our faith is largely about surrender, and that starts by admitting we need God. We can’t wade through the confusion, stress, and broken parts of ourselves on our own, and thankfully we don’t have to. Society would like us to believe that we come pre-packaged with everything we need right inside our own selves, but if that were true, there would be no need for God. We would have no reason for faith at all. The truth is, I am not enough—and neither are you. Thankfully, this isn’t a surprise to our Heavenly Father, who is always ready to step in and help us.
Photo courtesy: ©Unsplash
We tend to take the Bible out of context...
...and it’s so important to separate simple, nice-sounding platitudes from the actual Word of God. These are only a few of the lies Christians believe. Can you think of others? What lies have you subscribed to only to discover over time you’d been misled?
Courtney Walsh is a novelist, artist, theatre director, and playwright. Just Let Go will be her eighth inspirational romance novel. Her debut, A Sweethaven Summer, hit the New York Times and USA Today e-book bestseller lists and was a Carol Award finalist in the debut author category. A creative at heart, Courtney has also written two craft books and several full-length musicals. She lives in Illinois with her husband and three children. Visit her online at www.courtneywalshwrites.com.
Just Let Go by Courtney Walsh is now available (Tyndale, June 5, 2018).