Once when having a conversation with someone about Christian things it was said that faith is nothing more than a crutch for the weak-willed and weak-minded people of the world, or in other words that Christians were generally people who could not handle the harsh realities of life and required assistance to be able to get through.
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My response was very surprising for this person when I whole heartedly agreed with them.
Their expectation was that I would want to argue this point, that I would protest against what they believed would be an insult to me. I explained there are many reasons why people come to and embrace faith but at the heart of any genuine Christian response is an acknowledgement that assistance is required.
In 1 Peter 5:6 Peter speaks of humbling ourselves before God. Again this may not sound very appealing to us, this “Why do I have to beg and grovel” mentality can turn many people away from considering faith.
As I have previously written in this column as human beings we have considerable power and influence yet there are harsh reminders that ultimately there are many things in life that we are powerless against such as accident, sickness, injury and death. Sadly we know only too well these things are beyond our personal power to overcome.
Peter states there is an enormous blessing in realising and acknowledging the reality that we are powerless in the face of these harsh realities of life. In fact an acknowledgement of this powerlessness will lead on to humility and humility can enable us to look beyond ourselves to other possibilities.
It is only when we are prepared to acknowledge our injury or sickness and seek assistance that we can be helped by medical professionals. It is only when we acknowledge our and the world’s sin and brokenness that we might reach out for help.
In Matthew 11:28-30 Jesus says; “Come to me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest”…
God does not want us to have a “beg and grovel” mentality but rather to know that through Jesus’ life, death, resurrection, ascension and promised return a path has been opened for us to freely embrace Christian faith and walk with Jesus through this life all the way home to heaven.
If this is a crutch than I will take a set any day.
