"You know, Susan, the Bible says 'God helps those who help themselves'"... i sat with a friend over coffee not too long ago and this was the theological underpining of her side of our discussion. In my mind, i thought: "It does? Really?" i silently ran through all the verses that i have memorized (which didn't take long). i did a quick mental survey of themes from Scripture to try to recall where that phrase would fit. i came up empty...but i didn't trust my own theology and i let it go.
Since it bugged me even after i left my friend, i did what all good theologians do. i googled it :-). Seems that the phrase: God helps those who helps themselves either came from Aesop's fables, Benjamin Franklin, or some ancient Greek tragedy (thanks, Wikipedia). In any case, it most certainly did not come from the Bible.
As i thought about it later (i'm slow...i know), it occurred to me that the idea that God helps those who help themselves is actually completely unbiblical and is not consistent with the Gospel at all. How grateful am i that God helps those who are completely helpless? That He stoops down and reaches in and "helps" those who actually do really stupid, really wicked, and really self-destructive things? Consider Romans 5:8 "While we were still sinners, Christ died for us".
God helps those who cannot help themselves. That is the Gospel.
Beyond the obvious and specific concern that i might have around this particular discussion, my friend's genuine mistake illustrates a point that is increasingly on my mind...and it's one reason for my belaboring the story of Martha for so many weeks.
We are increasingly not a generation of thinking women.
Case in point. We have been told, and we have believed, that the story of Mary & Martha is about two personality types: the godly and thoughtful and quiet and devoted-to-Christ sister and the bossy, pushy sister whose priorities are hopelessly out of order. One blog i saw recently called this the "Martha syndrome". Rrrrrrrrrrrrrr. However, at the risk of repeating myself, Luke's account of Martha's encounter with Jesus is not God's indictment of busy women. It is, instead, his tender invitation to abundant life in the midst of diligent and faithful (and busy) service. If you don't believe me, read the rest of Martha's story --- from John 11 & 12.
Sisters. We must be diligent and serious about our theology. Too many of us have relegated biblical thinking to seminarians and scholars...and our theology is slipping. We don't have the time or the inclination to study on our own...and our theology is slipping. We are watching sitcoms, listening to advertisers, and singing along to music that is completely contrary to all that is holy and profitable and gospel-promoting. And our theology is slipping.
And so someone says that the Bible says "God helps those who help themselves". And we believe it.
And someone writes a catchy caption on facebook, and we "like" it. (Just a cursory look at FB affords more than two dozen quotes, captions, cartoons, or ads that other people have "liked" and "shared" on my wall...doesn't anyone have anything original to say anymore?)
And someone makes a video about "loving Jesus and hating religion" and it goes viral.
And someone tells us that we must be more like Mary than like Martha. And we sigh in defeat.
SERIOUSLY?
Perhaps more than ever, this generation of women must be thinking about what we listen to, what we read, and what we repeat. i am not sure that we appreciate the subtle influence of the culture --- not only on our habits, on how we spend our time, and on how we invest our money, but on our faith. Where did we pick up the idea that "God helps those who help themselves"? That's capitalist thinking that has invaded our faith. How is it possible to "love Jesus and hate religion"? That's postmodern thinking that has invaded our faith. Why do we think that, as women, we should be "more like Mary than like Martha"? That's sociological thinking (aka "personality tests") that has invaded our faith.
i understand that doctrine is not flashy and hip. i know that the clarion call to the study of theology will sound as if we are blowing the dust off a weighty, irrelevant volume from a bookshelf full of more captivating titles.
But even as i say that, my thinking conscience cries: Malarky!
Theology. Theo = God. Logos = knowledge. Theology = the knowledge of God.
HOW IS THAT IRRELEVANT?
i am in danger of getting on a soapbox here. Suffice it to say that i honestly believe that, without some serious course correction, the church will suffer if its women do not engage with one another, with their families, and with the world in a way that reflects sound doctrine and good theology. What would happen if we stopped quoting one another in favor of quoting Scripture? What if our advice and our encouragement and our admonishment came primarily from God's Word?
God helps those whom He chooses to help.
A much less popular sound bite. But one that is actually rooted in Scripture* and proven throughout history. i am forever grateful that He chose me, and i desperately want to represent Him faithfully to my generation. To do so will require thoughtful, disciplined study.......
The bottom line? i think i need a hiatus from facebook theology.
*See Deut. 7:7, 10:15; Nehemiah 9:7; Psalm 78:70; John 15:16, 19; Ephesians 1:4
