Episode 48 – Disciple Up

Disciple Up # 49
The Cruel Curse of Christian Cliches
By Louie Marsh, 3-21-2018

What’s coming up –

THIS EPISODE -The Cruel Curse of Christian Clichés

49 – 3-28- Tales From the Scrypt – The Easter Story

55 – 5-9- 1^st Anniversary!

Don’t know what I’ll do – if you want to say anything about the impact of this podcast on your life in it’s first year e-mail, put it on FaceBook, etc.

NEW SEGMENT – WOULDA-COULDA-SHOULDA

Thoughts on last week’s topic that I missed including.

I probably didn’t stress enough that being transparent with others starts with being transparent with yourself! This is why it’s such a boost to our spiritual and emotional growth and our overall growth as a person.

The Disciple Up Low Down On Why Clichés Matter.

THE CLICHES:

“God needed another angel.”

God doesn’t NEED anything – because He’s God! See my sermon from 2-25-2018

“When God closes a door, He opens a window.”

But if God closes a door in your life, there’s no guarantee He’ll open a window. He may not open anything. He may want you to realize you have the wrong address.

⁶ And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. ⁷ And when they had come up to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them. ⁸ So, passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas. ⁹ And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” ¹⁰ And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them. Acts 16:6-10 (ESV)

“The greatest distance in the universe is the eighteen inches between your head and your heart.”

This isn’t Biblical and displays the anti-intellectual strain in large parts of fundamentalism. It’s bad – God designed your heart and mind to work together!

“You’re never more safe than when you’re in God’s will.”

Jesus seems to disagree:

¹⁶ You will be delivered up even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and some of you they will put to death. ¹⁷ You will be hated by all for my name’s sake. ¹⁸ But not a hair of your head will perish. Luke 21:16-18 (ESV)

Look at all the Christian martyrs including all the Apostles except John!

Justin Martyr (AD 100–165) was almost certainly reflecting on this passage when he said, “They can kill us but they cannot harm us.”

“God will not give you more than you can handle.”

The problem, though, is that God will give you more than you can handle. He’ll do it to make you lean on Him. He’ll do it because He loves you.

⁸ For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. ⁹ Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. ¹⁰ He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again. ¹¹ You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many. 2 Corinthians 1:8-11 (ESV)

John Newton (1725–1807), the former slave trader who penned “Amazing Grace.” Wrote this in a letter:

“Though our frames and perceptions may vary, the report of faith concerning [the time of death] is the same. The Lord usually reserves dying strength for a dying hour … When the time shall arrive which he has appointed for your dismissal, I make no doubt but that he will overpower all your fears, silence all your enemies, and give you a comfortable, triumphant entrance into his kingdom. You have nothing to fear from death; for Jesus, by dying, has disarmed it of its sting, has perfumed the grave, and opened the gates of glory for his believing people.”

“God helps those who help themselves.”

Ever hear of the Gospel? Salvation by Grace? This isn’t all false but reflects a mind set upon earning God’s approval by works.

“Let go and let God.”

As J. I. Packer once put it, “The Christian’s motto should not be ‘Let go and let God’ but ‘Trust God and get going.'”

“Everything happens for a reason.”

Yes, that scientifically true but that doesn’t mean it’s a good reason or a healthy one or that God intended it to happen.

“God said it. I believe it. That settles it”

True BUT – that shouldn’t discount struggles

“Sowing a seed” when you mean give money

That’s “My Truth”

The Christian Side Hug

Really? We can’t just hug people naturally?