Author's Note: This was written three years ago. But I feel it continues to bear relevance to our current worldwide situation, especially during the time of Covid-19).
Did you know there are (at least) three sayings that well-meaning Christians often quote as if being from the Bible that actually aren't? Taken together they can form quite a trifecta of mistaking a well-meaning slogan for scripture.
God is my co-pilot.
This classic bumper sticker from recent decades never seems to go out of style.
But, the saying has its origins, according to the Dictionary of Christianese, in the 1940's.
It was the title of a book by Col. Robert L. Scott, that detailed his experience as a fighter pilot during WWII. The book was wildly popular after publication in 1943 and in 1945 it became a film after Warner Brothers snapped up the rights to the story. (The movie featured a young Alan Hale, AKA The Skipper from Gilligan's Island.)
This slogan can lead one to think that God stands ready to help you co-direct your life. Rubberstamping the decisions you've made without much forethought or inclination to determine what God may actually have in mind.
In actuality and by definition, God (if you believe that there is a supreme being) can't be anyone's co-pilot.
The First Commandment reinforces this (the one that states,"I am the Lord your God, you shall not have other gods before me.") That doesn't sound much like a deity that's interested in playing second fiddle to anyone.
The Book of Proverbs offers further details, and suggests "the beginning of wisdom is fear (or reverence) of the Lord."
God helps those who help themselves.
This one can be a natural follow from the co-pilot premise.
After all, if you're in the driver's seat, your destination and how you arrive there is pretty much up to you.
And the first order of life's business, under this mind-set, becomes keeping an eye out for yourself. (Can you imagine the danger inherent in a group of people who believe this individualistic/nationalistic way of life?)
Fortunately, there isn't a single scripture that even remotely reinforces this kind of thinking.
On the other hand, there are tons of scriptures that advise the exact opposite. Take for instance, Luke 10:25, where the writer records a time when Jesus was speaking to a crowd and a young lawyer tested Jesus by asking, "Teacher what must I do to inherit eternal life?" Jesus turns the question around, asking the lawyer, "What is written in the law? What is your reading of it?" The lawyer answers, "You shall lovc the Lord your God with all soul, strength and mind, and your neighbor as yourself."
Jesus tells him, "Do this and you shall live."
But the lawyer (wanting to justify himself) asks Jesus, "Who is my neighbor?"
Jesus recognizes the lawyer's attempt to find a loophole for what it is. He answers by telling the parable of The Good Samaritan, which describes a person who goes out of his way give aid to a stranger lying on the side of the road, naked and beaten after having been robbed. Every person in the crowd listening to Jesus that day knew Samaritans were considered despicable. So the crowd was being asked to view an enemy as being loving and kind.
This was a radical type of love that Jesus was espousing. In one parable Jesus addresses both the self-help issue and the broader issue of "who is my neighbor?" It seems as if Jesus is saying that our neighbor includes far more than those individuals who act, look or think like us. In fact, it would include anyone, anywhere. Even extending the definition to include refugees and immigrants. The exact opposite of what the present administration in Washington is proposing by seeking to cut immigration in half.
Pull Yourself Up By Your Own Bootstraps
This is a direct spin-off from God Helps Those Who Help Themselves. But it goes a bit further, implying that we somehow possess the means of "salvation" on our own.
Although this particular saying doesn't sound like a Bible quote, many people who profess to be followers of Jesus seem to act as if it's our own efforts that "save" us.
And, of course, there is nothing in the Bible or Torah for that matter, that would give credence to this idea. We seem to have collectively forgotten Martin Luther's reminder (from one of Paul's epistles) that it is only by grace - unmerited favor - that we are able to be in relationship with God in the first place.
The book of Job (one of the oldest books in the Bible and Torah) deals with a person who experiences a huge reversal of fortune. He loses everything, and a few friends stop by to pin the blame on him. Job questions God, even going as far as to tell God it would have been better if he hadn't been born.
In essence, Job declares his innocence, after enduring a ton of affliction, and asks God, "Do you even know what you're doing?"
Immediately Elihu (one of Job's friends) tells Job to slow down and recognize who he is accusing.
Then, God answers Job directly.
(In case you're not familiar with the book of Job, in the end, it turns out well. In fact, after Job humbles himself and prays for his friends, God blesses Job giving him twice as much as he had before his affliction.)
This is not a God who demands that Job somehow has it within himself to restore his own wealth and health.
In North America today, there are a growing number of Christians who are fans of the "prosperity Gospel." This gospel teaches that God wants us all to be financially/materially prosperous. All we need to do is believe it and then spring into action, putting ourselves first. It's the spiritualization of the American Dream and it's just not true. At its worst, this train of thought can result in extremely selfish and nationalistic thinking (i.e. making America "great again," at the expense of every other nation on earth.)
God never promises us material wealth. Jesus certainly never promised his followers that everything would be easy after he left earth. In fact, he said just the opposite, warning that there would be trials and persecution. Jesus taught that a successful life was one in which a person pursues righteousness (being defined by Merriam-Webster, as "acting in accord with divine or moral law.") And it has never been popular to go after the morally correct thing.
It's important to recognize that God doesn't promise us a stress-free life. But God does promise that we will get through difficulties and spiritually prosper us if we stay humble remain focused on God and each other.
What a relief to know we don't have to go through life alone, pulling ourselves up, relying only on our own resources!
As Mother Teresa said: "The world is lost for want of sweetness and kindness. Do not forget we need each other."
This classic bumper sticker from recent decades never seems to go out of style.
But, the saying has its origins, according to the Dictionary of Christianese, in the 1940's.
It was the title of a book by Col. Robert L. Scott, that detailed his experience as a fighter pilot during WWII. The book was wildly popular after publication in 1943 and in 1945 it became a film after Warner Brothers snapped up the rights to the story. (The movie featured a young Alan Hale, AKA The Skipper from Gilligan's Island.)
This slogan can lead one to think that God stands ready to help you co-direct your life. Rubberstamping the decisions you've made without much forethought or inclination to determine what God may actually have in mind.
In actuality and by definition, God (if you believe that there is a supreme being) can't be anyone's co-pilot.
The First Commandment reinforces this (the one that states,"I am the Lord your God, you shall not have other gods before me.") That doesn't sound much like a deity that's interested in playing second fiddle to anyone.
The Book of Proverbs offers further details, and suggests "the beginning of wisdom is fear (or reverence) of the Lord."
God helps those who help themselves.This one can be a natural follow from the co-pilot premise.
After all, if you're in the driver's seat, your destination and how you arrive there is pretty much up to you.
And the first order of life's business, under this mind-set, becomes keeping an eye out for yourself. (Can you imagine the danger inherent in a group of people who believe this individualistic/nationalistic way of life?)
Fortunately, there isn't a single scripture that even remotely reinforces this kind of thinking.
On the other hand, there are tons of scriptures that advise the exact opposite. Take for instance, Luke 10:25, where the writer records a time when Jesus was speaking to a crowd and a young lawyer tested Jesus by asking, "Teacher what must I do to inherit eternal life?" Jesus turns the question around, asking the lawyer, "What is written in the law? What is your reading of it?" The lawyer answers, "You shall lovc the Lord your God with all soul, strength and mind, and your neighbor as yourself."
Jesus tells him, "Do this and you shall live."
But the lawyer (wanting to justify himself) asks Jesus, "Who is my neighbor?"
Jesus recognizes the lawyer's attempt to find a loophole for what it is. He answers by telling the parable of The Good Samaritan, which describes a person who goes out of his way give aid to a stranger lying on the side of the road, naked and beaten after having been robbed. Every person in the crowd listening to Jesus that day knew Samaritans were considered despicable. So the crowd was being asked to view an enemy as being loving and kind.
This was a radical type of love that Jesus was espousing. In one parable Jesus addresses both the self-help issue and the broader issue of "who is my neighbor?" It seems as if Jesus is saying that our neighbor includes far more than those individuals who act, look or think like us. In fact, it would include anyone, anywhere. Even extending the definition to include refugees and immigrants. The exact opposite of what the present administration in Washington is proposing by seeking to cut immigration in half.
This is a direct spin-off from God Helps Those Who Help Themselves. But it goes a bit further, implying that we somehow possess the means of "salvation" on our own.
Although this particular saying doesn't sound like a Bible quote, many people who profess to be followers of Jesus seem to act as if it's our own efforts that "save" us.
And, of course, there is nothing in the Bible or Torah for that matter, that would give credence to this idea. We seem to have collectively forgotten Martin Luther's reminder (from one of Paul's epistles) that it is only by grace - unmerited favor - that we are able to be in relationship with God in the first place.
The book of Job (one of the oldest books in the Bible and Torah) deals with a person who experiences a huge reversal of fortune. He loses everything, and a few friends stop by to pin the blame on him. Job questions God, even going as far as to tell God it would have been better if he hadn't been born.
In essence, Job declares his innocence, after enduring a ton of affliction, and asks God, "Do you even know what you're doing?"
Immediately Elihu (one of Job's friends) tells Job to slow down and recognize who he is accusing.
Then, God answers Job directly.
(In case you're not familiar with the book of Job, in the end, it turns out well. In fact, after Job humbles himself and prays for his friends, God blesses Job giving him twice as much as he had before his affliction.)
This is not a God who demands that Job somehow has it within himself to restore his own wealth and health.
In North America today, there are a growing number of Christians who are fans of the "prosperity Gospel." This gospel teaches that God wants us all to be financially/materially prosperous. All we need to do is believe it and then spring into action, putting ourselves first. It's the spiritualization of the American Dream and it's just not true. At its worst, this train of thought can result in extremely selfish and nationalistic thinking (i.e. making America "great again," at the expense of every other nation on earth.)
It's important to recognize that God doesn't promise us a stress-free life. But God does promise that we will get through difficulties and spiritually prosper us if we stay humble remain focused on God and each other.
What a relief to know we don't have to go through life alone, pulling ourselves up, relying only on our own resources!
As Mother Teresa said: "The world is lost for want of sweetness and kindness. Do not forget we need each other."
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ReplyDelete"This is not a God who demands that Job somehow has it within himself to restore his own wealth and health." - god does not demand anything... but he has certainly given us the capability to act in a manner promotes our health/wealth and those of others.. I hope you're not suggesting that one shouldn't take responsibility for his own wellbeing and rather be completely dependent and expect others to do everything for them?
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