I'm a sports person. I've been raised this way, and I truly believe it's in my veins. Heck, I'm from Indiana, from the get-go it was basically predetermined that I would especially love basketball. Add on top of that the fact that my dad is a basketball coach, yeah, it's in my blood.
There is something so great about sports--especially college sports. Sports, in general, are such great opportunities for character growth and maturation. Dad said it best after one of his games: "We play sports because they are a microcosm of life." And it's true. Sports grow us. Teamwork. Work ethic. Integrity. Loyalty. Perseverance. Character. Anybody who plays a sport has the opportunity to grow in these areas and more. Watching Michigan basketball this season was one of my favorite sports moments ever. Ok, ok...pretty big "moment," but seeing those guys--some younger than me, some older--start out so strong, grow, and then finish strong was amazing. I truly believe sports are one of God's greatest gifts.
So in college sports, you'll see kids act like kids. They'll be selfish. They'll taunt, smack-talk, jerk-off. They'll make foolish choices and big mistakes. But in brief moments--ranging from a few seconds, a few minutes, maybe even a majority of the game--we catch glimmers of who the athlete is growing to be and what's to come. That's why when Michigan lost in the National championship game on Monday, April the 8th, I cried, was upset, but was also prouder than ever of "my" boys, and probably couldn't be any prouder had they won. Sure, we lost by six, but building up to that final game, the national audience saw the guys work like a team. Play unselfishly. When Trey had an off game, Spike or Nik stepped-up. When we needed the charge, Jordan got it. When we needed someone to get us a couple points on the board, Karis stepped up. And when we needed that clutch three, Trey got it. Seeing the excitement and hard-work of the guys and coaching staff excited me. Seeing how the guys surpassed everyone's expectations thrilled and made proud. That's why, although sad and disappointed, I couldn't be prouder. And why I"m proud to be a Michigan Wolverine--win or lose. Hail yeah! (A great blog post by senior Wolverine Josh Bartlestein)
God has a plan for this (trial, situation, etc.). This sentiment is Biblical and can be found in Romans 8. I don't think that this is "inappropriate" to say, but I personally believe that this quote and similar variations are thrown around way too often and have become cliched. A lot of times, I think we don't know what to say to comfort somebody during a difficult time and this is what comes out of our mouths first. But sometimes, it seems as if we're saying "Well, you're going through this problem, but just remember, it's not a huge deal because God will work it out to His glory in the end." Yes, it's true that God will work the situation out for his glory in the end, but when we just leave it at that, we come off as insensitive (even if it's unintentional). Several months ago, I was watching one of my favorite shows, Parenthood. Kristina was battling a severe case of breast cancer. Adam--her husband--came into the house angrily exclaiming that the neighbors had the audacity to say this to him. When an unbeliever hears this, they (generally) shut down. Unbelievers don't understand that God has come to redeem this world and that he will come to restore it. They don't understand that the trials we go through are light and momentary compared to the eternal weight of glory (2 Corinthians 4). If they don't believe in God, why would they believe that he would work out a sad situation for his glory? In this type of situation, maybe it's best to just show that, as a friend, you're there. You're willing to help out with physical needs, and if the opportunity presents itself, you can then share the gospel. Maybe no matter who the person is--Christian or unbeliever--it's best to remind them of this, but also remind them that it's okay to grieve and lament. Point them to Psalms of lament. Remind them of God's goodness. But for goodness sake don't just end your sympathies at "God has a plan for this." (Please do not think that I believe this passage has become cliched, I just believe that the way we throw it around has become cliched)
We, as Christians, have a certain set of sayings that we like to throw around in any given circumstance. Some of these are true--but have become so cliche--while others don't seem to actually be Biblical. If you're a Christian and you say some of these things, no, I don't think you're a bad person. I do think it's time, though, that we reevaluate some of the things we say.
Image Via: Google Images
God will never give you more than you can handle. When I first saw this quote, it bothered me a bit, but not too much. Therefore, I didn't really think about it too much. When I started seeing it everywhere (read: Pinterest) and considered it more deeply, I thought: "No, that's not right. I don't think that's actually even Biblical." I'm sure whoever first started saying this had good intentions, but I just don't agree. I think it's more likely that God does give us more than we can handle sometimes. Why? Probably because people frequently realize they need God when they're in the middle of a crisis--when they're on their knees. This isn't always the case, but God uses trials in our lives to build us, shape us, and grow us. It makes sense then that He would give us trials that we physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually cannot find our way through on our own. What are your thoughts on this saying? Agree? Disagree? If you can point me to a verse or passage that says this, I will gladly take back what I've said.
"Please stand up for the poor, help the children of the needy, come down hard on the cruel Tyrants...he rescues the poor at the first sign of need, the destitute who have run out of luck. He opens a place in his heart for the down-and-out, he restores the wretched of the earth. He frees them from tyranny and torture--when they bleed, he bleeds; when they die, he dies." Psalm 72-Various Verses-The Message
God has always been caring for the poor and oppressed. This care is a common thread throughout the Bible--from Exodus and Leviticus to the Psalms and the Gospels. In the Old Testament, God instructed his people not to pick up crops that fell to the ground, so that the destitute among them would be able to come and gather the abandoned fruit. Psalm 9:9 states that "The Lord is a shelter for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble." And Psalm 35:10 asks the questions "Who else rescues the weak and helpless from the strong? Who else protects the poor and needy from those who want to rob them." All of these verses--and the countless others--show the Heart that the Lord has for the poor, the widowed, the orphaned, the oppressed, and the "just plain down-and-out." Before Christ's redemptive work begins in our lives, we are these people. We might not all be physically poor, but in a sense, we are all poverty-stricken. Because of the Fall, our relationship with Christ has been distorted and we are poor in spirit. Where Adam and Eve once literally walked in fellowship with the Lord, we are now--by our own feeble attempts-- trying to reach God. Thankfully, God has always had a heart for the poor and he sent his Son to save us. He came, and in doing so, has piled blessings on us. As a Believer that is being sanctified to become more and more like Christ daily, one specific area I want to look more like Christ is in my care for the oppressed and the poor. Because...
"He loves us without condition, unrelentingly forever. He loves us broken, and he loves making us whole again. And he asks those of us who love him to love others the same way. To choose them. To be agents of his hope, his forgiveness, his grace. He asks us to join him in rescuing others." Christine Caine-Undaunted
