Why Not?

A lot of Christians have this attitude about only having the ability to act or perform, when they act "with God."

It often comes out in statements like, "I can't do this without God." Or, "...it without God."

I think the root of this belief is very good... even noble.

But I'm not sure it's accurate.

Maybe it stems from John 15:5 where Jesus says,
"I am the vine and you are the branches. If you abide in Me and I abide in you, we will bring forth much fruit, but without me, you can do nothing."

But we do things without Him all the time, don't we? We're not robots... we're not just plugged into Him and when we get separated from Him we don't just get unplugged and shut down. Though, it seems like that might be nice sometimes... considering some of the things we are completely able to do and have done when we are without Him.

No, if that scripture is the root of it (I won't pretend to be a Bible scholar), then I think that phrase is taken out of context. Jesus didn't just say, "...without me, you can do nothing."

It looks like what He said is, "...together we bear much fruit, but apart you can't bear any."

God made us very capable.

We can do many things. I think even good things, without God.

But what comes of it?

Have you ever talked to someone who used the "can't without God" thing as their... litmus test of "hearing" God? Like they're into something (and to you it may not seem that great) and their attitude is that they must be in His will because they wouldn't have been able to do it at all without God? Yet their entire situation reeks of misery and is like a... vacuum of energy just hearing about it. That's the flaw of the "can't without God" attitude.

I know that there are things I can do without God. Maybe even this trip to Africa. I could probably borrow a bunch of money to get there and go through all of the physical and practical training, and there's a really good chance I would survive. Probably even get some cool stories out of it.

But to what gain?

There are hurting and suffering people in this world, and I don't just want to make an effort, I want to make a difference. I won't do this thing without Him.

Not because I am unable, but because I am unwilling.


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On a totally unrelated note:

One of my coworkers at Borders Books, Chris, is a video game designer. When he heard about this trip he got excited about an idea for a video game about a missionary (me) with sort of Indiana Jones-ish attributes (flattering). And "I" wander unawares into a village...

...infested with zombies!

Not to mention, a vampire element.

"I" can fight the zombies and vampires, but my convictions keep me from hurting any human enemies... but, I can build up my "conversion" power and potentially convert enemies into allies against the forces of darkness! (Cheesy?... yes.)(Biblical?... eh, no.)(Great video game potential?... absolutely!)

Can it get better? Yep.

For the instances where my zombie/vampire slaying skills just aren't enough, Kim-possible joins the scene (another coworker... who oddly enough, also has a heart for missions (you just can't know how rare and unlikely that is in the Boulder area)), her convictions... and ninja skills... have no problems with incapacitating even the mortal foes... and fighting the good fight.

Chris himself will be in the game as the computer/communications/hacker/genius/skeptic guy, striving to keep his Holy Pals from being... martyrs.


So Chris, here's a shout out to you and your binary brilliance.