American Theology 101: God Helps Those Who Help Themselves
Does the Bible really say "God helps those who help themselves?" Not only does it not say that, it could be argued it says the opposite. Our culture, however, preaches that verse as if it were divinely inspired. And it goes all the way to the top.
The error was compounded:
Obama's spokesman Jay Carney denied that Obama had perhaps gone too far by dragging the Almighty into a fierce political spat.
"I believe that the phrase from the Bible is 'the Lord helps those who help themselves,'" Carney said.
No, that is not a phrase found in the Bible. Not at all. There are quite a few stories of the Lord helping people despite themselves, however. And you know how much bearing that should have on whether to pass a bloated, poorly designed bill?
That's right, no bearing.
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Oct '11
Re: American Theology 101: God Helps Those Who Help Themselves
When I read that Carney quote yesterday, I had an instant mental picture of a scene from the Disney movie, "Ben and Me" - does the quote maybe come from Poor Richard's Almanack?
Apr '11
Re: American Theology 101: God Helps Those Who Help Themselves
This brings to mind another biblical misinterpretation.
May '10
Re: American Theology 101: God Helps Those Who Help Themselves
It has it's origins in Greek literature. It's one of those things that become "common knowledge" or "conventional wisdom" in the culture.
Another of these is "Cleanliness is next to Godliness." That originated with Sir Francis Bacon and popularized in a sermon by John Wesley in 1791. One can assume that the extensive discussion of what is clean and unclean in Leviticus was the inspiration for that ditty.
Aug '11
Re: American Theology 101: God Helps Those Who Help Themselves
That's an "ouch." But I guess I give Obama a pass on this in that I'm not really bothered by the error. I actually appreciate the sentiment (is that weird?). I just don't appreciate the deficit spending.
May '10
Re: American Theology 101: God Helps Those Who Help Themselves
But the salvation of the righteous is of the Lord: he is their strength in the time of trouble.40 And the Lord shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him. Ps. 37:39-40
Emphasis is mine, obviously. False messiahs want trust in person, not Him. Of course, it might have been a different bible in Rev. Wright's church, so let's give him a break. sigh.
Dec '10
Re: American Theology 101: God Helps Those Who Help Themselves
Well....when you start to get bored by fabricating new Government powers and inserting them into Constitution there's not a lot of places to go.
Apr '11
Re: American Theology 101: God Helps Those Who Help Themselves
Let's cut 'em some slack. After all, we already knew they don't read their bibles. Heck, they've clearly only skimmed their Econ textbooks, if that.
Nov '10
Re: American Theology 101: God Helps Those Who Help Themselves
Paul does admonish Thessalonian believers to take care of their own material needs:
But we urge you, brethren, that you increase more and more; 11 that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, 12 that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing.
And also this to Timothy:
8 But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
And consider this, written to the Ephesians:
28 Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need.
So I suppose the idea of providing for self is in Scripture, but perhaps it is not in order to get something from God, but in response to being richly provided for by Him.
Nov '10
Re: American Theology 101: God Helps Those Who Help Themselves
"...but God wants to see us help ourselves... by putting people back to work!"
For Obama, "helping ourselves" means federal government intervention. His misquoting or misunderstanding of scripture isn't nearly as maddening as the thoughtless applause which greeted his claim.
Nov '10
Re: American Theology 101: God Helps Those Who Help Themselves
And/or, our ability to work and provide for self is in a sense God's provision for us--God's "help."
Re: American Theology 101: God Helps Those Who Help Themselves
I never knew that "God helps those who help themselves" meant "Trust in the civil authorities to provide a cornucopia of entitlements." Perhaps he was cut off and meant to say "God helps those who help themselves, via the tax system."
Dec '10
Re: American Theology 101: God Helps Those Who Help Themselves
I think the level of Biblical illiteracy in this country is so extensive, you can tell people anything, and as long as they think they've heard it before but can't place it you could convince them that it's from the Bible. I would wager any amount, that you could get 9, out of any 10 random people on the street to believe a random selecction of Shakespeare was from the old testament with minimal effort.
Edited on November 3, 2011 at 5:41pmSep '11
Re: American Theology 101: God Helps Those Who Help Themselves
I always thought you were supposed to ask for help with everything through prayer.
May '10
Re: American Theology 101: God Helps Those Who Help Themselves
"O King, stick to thine teleprompter, for thou stuttereth much when improvising." -Hezekiah 4:13
Feb '11
Re: American Theology 101: God Helps Those Who Help Themselves
As my wife says to the guests when the food is served, "Help yourselves."
May '10
Re: American Theology 101: God Helps Those Who Help Themselves
Obama, 10/25: The Republican Party's governing philosophy is, "You're on your own." We can't possibly ask people to shoulder that responsibility
Carney, 11/2: God's governing philosophy is, "[You're on your own.]" We can't possibly avoid the duty to shoulder that responsibility.
Feb '11
Re: American Theology 101: God Helps Those Who Help Themselves
In our civic religion, our leaders can and should express gratitude for our nation, and ask for comfort in times of crisis or disaster, and ask for wisdom from outside their inner circle. Yet speaking as God's agent on matters of public policy, whether it's our President invoking God's legislative preferences or Pat Robertson interpreting current events as a wanna-be prophet, seems to me to be risky matter (for the speaker) unless accompanied by a bit more humility and reverence.
God certainly can't be surprised by our capacity to use Him as a celebrity endorsement for our pet causes even as we speak of Him as an embarrassment that cannot be mentioned in free speech in the public square.
Apr '11
Re: American Theology 101: God Helps Those Who Help Themselves
Obama "God helps those who help themselves (to other people's money from the redistributive hands of government)"
Re: American Theology 101: God Helps Those Who Help Themselves
Lutherans would put this in terms of vocation. We serve God by serving others through our relationships with them. God feeds us through farmers, bakers, grocers, etc.
Oct '10
Re: American Theology 101: God Helps Those Who Help Themselves
This reminds me of the phrase "separation of church and state" which so many people believe is actually in the Constitution.
The thing I don't understand is if we are helping ourselves then how is God helping us? Adam and Eve 'helped' themselves, and look where it got them.