A Philippians 4:13 Christian

In the last couple years, I have seen a new classification of Christians. It is someone I call a "Philippians 4:13 Christian." We all know that famous verse: "I can do all things through Him who gives me strength" (NIV). I'm seeing it on an increasing number of Twitter bios and Instragram posts. It can be found on t-shirts, cell phone cases, mugs, keychains, and it's even made it's way on to Tim Tebow's eye black.

For a clear example of how this verse is yanked out of its context and misused to promote a propserity Gospel, see Joel Osteen's Today's Word from January 21st, 2013: "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!"

My wife and I enjoyed one of her favorite activities yesterday, snake hunting. She has yet to catch a snake this week and so I was determined to find her a snake and make her day. According to the logic above, all I needed to do was keep quoting Philippians 4:13 to myself and boom! I'll find a snake! Either that's not what this verse means or God is a liar in telling me I can do things when I can't.

Owner of the new clothing line based on this verse, "True Strength," Aaron Simpkins affirms that's not how this verse works: "I hope people don't just take it as, 'Let me throw up a prayer real quick then I'll get this 1200lb squat.'" If this is not how this verse works, then what does it mean?

Let's take a look at its context, the verses leading up to it. In Philippians 4:11-12, Paul says, "Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need." Paul is trying to share the secret of being content in any circumstance, whether in abundance or need.

When he gets to 4:13, he explains the secret in this more literal translation from the Greek, "In all circumstances I am strong in Him who strengthens me." His point is that whatever circumstance he finds himself in, he has strength and contentment in Christ.

Compare this to the Stoic philosophy of his day, which said, "Man should be sufficient unto himself for all things and able by the power of his will to resist the force of circumstances." We need to be careful to not use this verse to promote a Stoic philosophy of sufficiency in ourselves. The point of this passage is self-insufficiency.

Compare this the materialist philosophy of our day, which says, "Never be content; always want more. If you see something you want, you are strong enough to go get it." We need to be careful to not use this verse to promote materialism and discontentment. The point of this passage is that Christ does not fuel your discontentment, but rather fills it.

This passage is a declaration of dependence on Christ. It is an admission that anything I do, I do in the strength of Christ. I can be content in any situation because I am content in Christ. Therefore, it is also a confirmation that everything I do is done for the glory of Christ, not my own. Paul is reiterating this message also found in the following verses:

• "So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." I Corinthians 10:31

• "But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong." II Corinthians 12:9-10

• "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might." Ephesians 6:10

• "May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy." Colossians 1:11

• "And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him...Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ." Colossians 3:17, 23-24

• "I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service." I Timothy 1:12

The truths of this passage are close to those found in the first chapter of Philippians: "It is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." If Philippians 4:13 ranks among your favorite verses, that is just fine. In fact, that's great! But make sure you are using it to declare Christ as your all in all and your life as a sequence of moments for His glory.

Two Years, Five Lessons

Well, it's been over two years since my last post. With a busy schedule, I decided when marriage began, I needed to trim other responsibilities to make time for marriage, blogging being one of them. Vacation has given me some extra time to get back on the blogging train.

Heather and I celebrated our second anniversary yesterday. We agree that marriage has been wonderful and sanctifying. Besides Christ, Heather is the clearest picture of grace for me. So after two years of marriage, we've decided to share what little wisdom we have gathered. I understand this list is amateur and could be completely opposite given twenty more years of marriage. But hopefully these reflections can benefit those single and looking for marriage, dating and considering marriage, or engaged and waiting to be married. So here are five things I've learned from two years of marriage. 

1. Love is best unconditional.

I do not love Heather for any reason. This may be shocking for you, but if you ask me why I love my wife, my best reply is this: "I love her because I love her." Certainly I could say it's because of her inspiring humility or constant servant attitude; or maybe because of her stunningly good looks and her gorgeous eyes; I could even say because of her support and love towards me. But I do not love her for any of these reason. I like her for these reasons. But I do not love her for any reason. That would be conditional love.

Conditional love means in order for a spouse to maintain the love they receive, they must keep up the conditions for that love. This adds pressure, tension, and fear to a relationship. Instead, we strive for unconditional love towards each other that God the Father models to us. In this way, we know, no matter what, we love each other. Through changes, through honesty, through moves, moods, arguments, and Saturday mornings in our pajamas, there is always love.

2. It's never personal.

Plain and simple, every argument, each angry moment, each mistake and misunderstanding, it's never personal. If Heather doesn't want me to go somewhere or if I forget to do the dishes, we have no intention of ever personally attacking each other. Remembering this makes every argument (there will be arguments) shorter and have less potential for explosion and pain. 

3. You'll get out what you put in.

My wife and I are dog people. We enjoy training our dogs and talking about how other people train their dogs (or not). When I was a professional dog trainer, the people that annoyed me the most were those that put zero time and effort into training their dogs and came in looking for the solution in a magic cue or an hour with a trainer. Sorry, that's not how it works. In dog training, you'll get out what you put in.

Same thing with marriage. It would be foolish to not spend any time with my wife or put any effort into our relationship for a month and then wonder why our relationship is failing. If you have a bad relationship, it's quite possible you haven't been putting much into it.

4. Humans are boring and lazy.

Why is going to the movies such a popular date? Because humans are not interesting enough to go on too many dates without external entertainment. No matter how interesting you think your boyfriend/girlfriend, fiance, or spouse is, they are boring. If you're waiting for marriage and dream of every waking moment simply staring into your spouse's eyes, you're a glutton for boredom. The fun of a relationship will wear off because humans are boring.

Humans are also naturally lazy. This is our default state. You may think that your future spouse is anything but lazy since he works out constantly or she studies all the time. But what happens when you ask him to do something from which he gets no physical benefit or you ask her to do something that does not help her achieve her goals? Laziness.

This is not a knock on Heather or me. This is simply the fact of the matter. So do yourself a favor, and don't expect anything different. Humans are boring; humans are lazy.

But it doesn't have to be that way because...

5. Marriage is not about you or your spouse.

It's about Christ. Relationships fail when people enter them looking to get something for themselves. They'll last for a while, but there's not enough to give. Being boring is a condition of our insufficiency and being lazy is a condition of our selfishness. Jesus is the only real cure for both. So marriage isn't about just loving someone and being loved; it's about loving Christ because He first loved us. Only then will we have hope to live for something greater than ourselves and greater than each other. Only then will we see the benefit of not being lazy in sanctifying ourselves to be more like Christ.

Marriage is all about the glory of Christ. The more I've realized that in my two years of marriage, the more joy and enjoyment I find in marriage.

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I pray this list was of benefit to you. I'd love to hear how you would change it or add to it in the comments.