What if it's not about you?

Why is Philippians 4:13 so popular, and why is it so misused and loved by those who are so far off in their priorities? Because it is used in a way that is all about the user; its all about what they are trying to accomplish. It is easily manipulated into any context, anything we want victory in, even if it is outside of the Father’s will. It is very affirming, “I can do”. The latter half of the verse doesn’t matter, right? The context of Paul in humble means in the verse before, of being hungry and suffering need doesn’t really matter, right? Or the next verse, when he praises the Philippians for sharing with him in his affliction, that’s not relevant, right? Surely this is really about a football game, right? 

For every youth pastor out there who is encouraged by their youth's interest in this verse, don’t get too excited. Most aren’t thinking about suffering for the gospel and knowing God will strengthen them in it; they are thinking about success in whatever trivial and momentary thing they want success in. And if Paul happened to have phrase it as “He can do all things through me”, if those first three words were He can do instead of I can do, well, there wouldn’t have nearly as many Tshirts sold. 

The issue is not sports. The issue is the youth pastor not teaching self-forgetfulness, not teaching these young people that it is not about them at all.  It’s about a war, a war that is infinitely more important than that basketball game. We have to be careful about how we present the Word of God to unbelievers and immature believers, otherwise we alter the message and make it about them so that they will accept it. Once we make this about them, it’s no longer about Him. 

Permit me to show one more misused scripture, to show the man-centered Bible showing through by taking a look at Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV) which reads, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Many of these people who will gladly sport this concept couldn’t even find the book of Jeremiah in the Bible, and yet they just know that higher power out there has a great plan for their life. 

You don’t have to be a bible scholar, you don’t even have to properly exegete that passage to know that it has nothing to do with 21st century people that are not submitted to God’s will. Simply skim the verses above it or below it for seven seconds and you can be very certain this should not be a generic promise printed on anything.  God does not have a promise to prosper and bless all people (in the way they understand that concept). God does not even promise this to the church, much less to those who are not submitted to Him. What is the type of promise that He makes to us? Promises of blessings like Matthew 5:11-12, “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

The really scary thing about this all is that physical products both display and deepen identity. That is one of the very positive correlations of wearing scripture; it reminds you of who you are in Christ and is a constant identity clarifier. I hope to write about this more later, but think about it. Cowboys dress like cowboys, soldier like soldiers, skater punks like skater punks. So when people wear Christian gear with a positive verse they identify with (even if that is not the intention of that scripture), they feel like they are standing for their faith, and are increasing their identity as a Christian, even though they may not be one. 

Certainly I’m not saying if you wear a shirt with a verse that is grossly misapplied, you are not a believer, but I am saying that if you put Matthew 10:38 on your back, you're much more likely to be blessed by it, and much less likely to have cultural Christians want to copy you.