Self-Help Is No Help Really

I preached a strong message yesterday. Looking back on it, I agree, it was strong. Being an introvert at heart, something such as that is never "easy" for me. My introverted tendencies may surprise you, but I am much better in front of large crowds than one on one or in small groups. So as I would rather go back to reading books and writing future sermons, I want to first be self-critical. I am a sinner in need of grace.  But by God's grace I am fiercely committed to the gospel as well as committed to seeking the protection of the local church I shepherd. 

Paul's words to the Ephesian elders in Acts 20 fuel me. This passage below and 2 Timothy 3-4 often keep me awake at night.

Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all, for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God. Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears. And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. I coveted no one's silver or gold or apparel. You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities and to those who were with me. In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” (Acts 20:26-35 ESV)

Today, I want to share why I believe self-help driven teachings are ultimately no help. This was not the focus of the message yesterday, but it was a part that caused some cordial discussion in the social media world.  I realize that this may not be not be popular, but I do think it is needed or I would simply let it fall as it may. I also realize that when one posts a message like this you may get accused of being a sin obsessed-Pharisee that doesn't believe in the power of prayer. I'll get to that later. Or being an angry little man. I'll get to that later as well.

The Background: Acts 4 - the religious leaders of the day try to stop Peter and John from proclaiming the gospel. They did so by attempting to discredit a miracle, stop others from seeing the disciples had been with Jesus, and by threatening them that they must adapt their message from being Jesus (gospel) centered to being about anything else. I then shared that I believe that this is still a major tactic of satanic scheming today and a very good one at that. This plan to stop the movement and multiplication of disciples involves getting preachers/teachers to rely on manufactured strategy rather than the supernatural God, allowing church attenders to believe you can meet Jesus and not be changed and made different in some way (progress will happen), and by changing the content of the message to not be gospel centered thus removing it from its power (Romans 1:16). Sounds ok right?

Then I shared in essence that I believe this is all very rampant in our day. We are often taught to only think rational and deny the supernatural. We are often offended by scripture that declares that God doesn't leave us to our sin but is changing us and calling us to lead lives of grace-driven effort. And that I DO think many popular teachings are dangerous and often gospel-less.

And here is why. Messages that focus on the necessity to go self-actualize your potential, speak your future into existence, or think positively and your life will follow are actually LAW not GRACE.

I do believe that many who proclaim these sorts of teachings weekly sincerely want to help people who feel beaten down by life and who feel guilty for their failures and mistakes. But the “positive” message is in actuality this: Do better. Try harder. Believe you can succeed. In other words,  just do it! God will help you, of course, but you have to make it happen. 

Though many proclaim these are positive sermons, I believe they are  negative. It is like telling the aids orphan to “just snap out of it!” Or  giving people burdened by sin, guilt and despair more reason to despair when they fail to succeed, lose health, or their spoken words are not actualized (which by the way is Carl Roger's Humanism--more on that later)

I do not think that more willpower will solve our real problem. That message is Law--what the Pharisees clung to over Jesus'  sacrificial death for sinners. It shouts, "You must perform!" There is no actual gospel in this message, even if you attach Jesus' name to it.  It is frankly more reminiscent of a Care Bears episode, a Nike slogan, or the american dream.  The only “good news”  in that message is telling self-centered people (of which I am one) to look for salvation in more narcissism.  And I believe it is ultimately speeding up death.

Those are strong words...

What about the power of our words?

Below is an excerpt of teaching from Jared Wilson that helps us think rightly about this question. You can read his full post here. 

There are three biblical ways words can bring life:

1. We can generally agree that the tongue is a powerful force. Just read James 3. But you don’t have to be a charismaniac to realize that words can hurt or comfort. Encouragement edifies; nagging and criticism do not. Many of us still carry wounds from words said to us in our past.

2. Also, those of us of the Reformed persuasion are quick to affirm the supernatural power available in the written Word of God spoken. The gospel is power. When God speaks, things happen. And the Holy Spirit uses the foolishness of preaching to stir dead men’s souls and waken sleeping men’s senses.

3. Those of us of the continuationist persuasion can agree that God sometimes heals people through humbly administered gifts of healing and the laying on of hands, and nearly all Christians can agree that God sometimes heals people through the effectual prayers of the saints. In both cases things change when words are spoken, but in neither case is the speaker’s tongue the source of creative power. God is.

In all three of those senses, speaking words is powerful and life-giving. But in no biblical sense is merely speaking words God’s way of creating material or medical prosperity. In no sense is this formulaic. In other words, it does not follow that if someone is experiencing major setbacks it is because they aren’t “speaking words of prosperity over” their lives. Likewise, it does not follow that everyone who does speak such words will reap circumstantial goodness.

Jared goes on to write....

The gospel doesn’t traffic in circumstantial goodness. Most of the New Testament, in fact, presupposes circumstantial badness.

The Word of Faith view of the power of the tongue is owed more to the world of The Secret or genies in rubbed lamps.

So, what do we call the idea that by speaking certain words you can create realities? That’s called incantation. That’s called sorcery. It’s called witchcraft. And that is a damnable offense.

To put it simply, it is the object of our faith rather than the quality of our words that is ultimately determinate. We are to pray, ask, and call on God and give Him glory for the "yes," or trust His "no."

If you take the word of faith movement to its logical conclusion, a parent must take the blame if a child dies of disease. Do you feel the crushing weight of that law?

Biblical Gospel or Humanism? 

I am deeply convicted that Biblical gospel preaching is much different than humanism. Humanism focuses on the inherent good inside of us and human potential. This sounds terrific. But the biblical diagnosis of the heart apart from the supernatural grace of God is bleak. 

The heart is deceitful above all things,and desperately sick; who can understand it? - (Jeremiah 17:9 ESV)

Our heart apart from God's grace tricks us and deceives us into thinking that our desires are pure. It tells us that what we want is good and that God approves. However, many of our ways seem right in our own eyes but still lead to death and Hell. We must be mindful. 

From Jesus' lips, 

For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone.” - (Matthew 15:19-20 ESV)

We have a heart problem that cannot be corrected by trusting in our own potential or performing simple outward behavioral modification (in fact I have met several morally upright non-Christians).  Our heart must be supernaturally changed by God via the Holy Spirit through repentance and faith (which are two sides of the same coin), as we turn from ourselves and to Christ's sufficient work for us on the cross to satisfy God's wrath and reconcile us to God.  

A few more questions that tend to be brought up...

Is it a sin to be rich? 

This question often gets asked in these discussions. No. Nor is it a sin to have a large church, write books, and take speaking engagements. I have taught out what is below many times. I hope this helps.

Here are some common errors in regards to wealth

1.  Prosperity Theology – teaches those who are rich are more righteous than those who are poor

a.  Jesus instead gives stiff warnings that those with wealth will have a tendency to attempt to base their     justification in works and wealth

b.  In the words of a famous rapper Notorious BIG, “Mo Money, Mo Problems.” (kidding, smile, try not to rap it outloud)

c.  The early disciples were righteous in Christ and lost everything for Him, even their lives.

2.  Poverty Theology – teaches those who are poor are more righteous than those who are rich

a.  When you really think about it, God himself is wealthy. But He is wealthy and generous.

b.  God does use wealthy people in the Bible: Abraham, Solomon, Joseph of Arimethea, and his own ministry is supported by two wealthy women named Johanna and Susanna (Luke 8:3).

c.  Jesus doesn’t say stop creating wealth in this passage. He does say give to the poor and come follow me.

d.  Jesus isn’t against wealth, but He does demand worship and radical generosity from the wealthy.

Is it ever ok to be angry? Are we not called to love our enemies?

Yes and yes. There is righteous anger all throughout the Bible, as well as challenging messages given. And often the most loving thing you can do is guard against error by confronting dangers with conviction. This is different than seeking harm and is actually part of the pastoral task as directed in the pastoral epistles. Hopefully, this is what I did. But remember, I am a sinner in need of grace that has heart issues outside of the supernatural grace of God.  But by God's grace I am fiercely committed to the gospel as well as committed to seeking the protection of the local church that I shepherd. 

Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, -(Ephesians 4:25-26 ESV)

Self-Help is No Help Really??
Why would I choose this title on a post such as this? You certainly can see improvement in your career and personal goal achievement through a stronger work ethic. I shout in agreement that young men need to recover their grandfather's work ethic more than they need to recover their grandfather's clothing style. But sheer will-power pales in helping us deal with the hardest things in life. In these instances we must rely and rest  in God. And self-reliance is wholly opposed to the radical free grace God gives to repentant sinners. .

So Christian...
If you work hard and fail to get the promotion or lose your job due to unforeseen circumstances, God still loves you in Christ. If you go broke and scrape your pennies together to buy canned-goods, God still favors you in Christ. If your path in life involves suffering, remember that Jesus is described as the suffering servant in the Bible (Isaiah and Mark)-- all while God the Father still favored and loved Him.

And if your child develops Spinal-Muscular-Atrophy, and you pray fervently for years to no avail to watch her slowly die, God still loves you and loved her in Christ. 

Note: You can listen to the sermon here