Jonathan Merritt - On Faith and Culture
Meet Jonathan
Articles
Books
Speaking
Coaching
Newsletter
Contact
  • Meet Jonathan
  • Articles
  • Books
  • Speaking
  • Coaching
  • Newsletter
  • Contact
Culture

How Christians Misuse Philippians 4:13

On July 27, 2009, the cover of “Sports Illustrated” featured an arresting image of Florida Gators quarterback Tim Tebow. The headline—“Tim Tebow: Man of Many Missions”—riffed on the way he’d created a fan frenzy with his unique blend of faith and football. The championship quarterback seemed poised to jump off the glossy cover with pursed lips that oozed determination and a simple Bible verse scribbled within the black grease underneath his eyes: “Phil. 4:13.”

Tebow’s highly churched Southern fan base didn’t need to look up the passage. No, most of them knew it by heart: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

Philippians 4:13 is one of the most popular verses in any of the 66 books of the Christian Bible, having been printed on millions of key chains and t-shirts, cellphone cases and coffee mugs. (If one wanted to argue the trinketization of Christianity, this Bible verse would be a good starting point.)

But it also one of the misunderstood, misused, and misinterpreted.

Like Tebow, Philippians 4:13 functions as a kind of mystical incantation for many Christians. They recite the passage when they need to draw power from another place to defeat an enemy or conquer a difficult task. It’s a talisman like Green Lantern’s ring or He-Man’s sword.

Need an example? Joel Osteen, pastor of the largest evangelical mega-church in America provided the following commentary on Philippians 4:13 in the January 21, 2013 edition of his “Today’s Word” devotional:

Most people tend to magnify their limitations. They focus on their shortcomings. But scripture makes it plain: all things are possible to those who believe. That’s right! It is possible to see your dreams fulfilled. It is possible to overcome that obstacle. It is possible to climb to new heights. It is possible to embrace your destiny. You may not know how it will all take place. You may not have a plan, but all you have to know is that if God said you can…you can!

I’m not trying to use Joel Osteen as a punching bag—surely enough Christian commentators have already done enough of that—but rather using him as an example of the way many Christians today understand and interpret this verse. For them, the “all things” that Christ empowers them to accomplish includes fulfilling their dreams, climbing to new heights, and embracing their destinies.

Do you want that job promotion? To find your soul mate? Have better sex with your spouse? Make more money?  No problem. You can accomplish “all things through Christ.”

Unfortunately, this way of interpreting and applying Philippians 4:13 couldn’t be further from its actual meaning…

CONTINUE READING…

[ad name=’a-faith-of-you-own’]

January 25, 2014by Jonathan
FacebookTwitterPinterestGoogle +Stumbleupon

Learning to Speak God From Scratch

Coming August 2018. Pre-order today.
Subscribe to hear from me each week on the top 5 religion stories.
Tweets by @JonathanMerritt
Jonathan Merritt

Trending Posts

  • Considering Seminary? Here Are 5 I Recommend.Considering Seminary? Here Are 5 I Recommend.
  • Is The Christian Music Industry Flipping on LGBT Issues?Is The Christian Music Industry Flipping on LGBT Issues?
  • Why Hillsong won’t take public position on LGBT issuesWhy Hillsong won’t take public position on LGBT issues
  • Desiring God, mental health, and the truth about ‘chronological snobbery’Desiring God, mental health, and the truth about…
  • The Troubling Trends in America’s ‘Calvinist Revival’The Troubling Trends in America’s ‘Calvinist Revival’

On Instagram

Unable to communicate with Instagram.

Follow Jonathan

TAGS

Art Bible books Christian Christianity christians church Controversy Culture Death Donald Trump ethics Evangelical evangelicalism Evangelicals family Film gay marriage Gender gospel History Homosexuality Jesus Jesus Christ Jonathan Merritt justice LGBT Love Marriage Merritt Ministry Music politics Race Racism religion Russell Moore Scandal Scripture Sex Sexuality Southern Baptist Convention theology trends War
 

“If we wake up to our current realities and return to our foundations... the faith's best days may yet lie ahead.” Jonathan Merritt, The Atlantic

Jonathan Merritt
Tweets by @JonathanMerritt
© 2015 copyright // All rights reserved, Jonathan Merritt