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Things are getting pretty sexy around here. Like my new wheels? Since surgery to reconstruct my ACL and repair two meniscus tears, this is the way I have to motor-scoot. No weight bearing for 4 weeks. Ouch. I use the walker around the house because it is more stable than crutches and has this handy lime green bag attached that allows me to carry small items from one sedentary spot to the next. On my rare excursions outside of the house, I will use crutches. Because…well…isn’t it obvious?
Unless you are a long-time subscriber to AARP magazine, you probably can’t relate with having to use a walker to navigate. But I would be willing to wager that many of you have had the misfortune of a short-term relationship with crutches. Cue the sympathy violins, please. Crutches are a hassle. They are slow, unsteady and chaffe your armpits! Let me add – uncomfortable and awkward.
Do you know what else has been uncomfortable and awkward? Calling on friends, family and church members to pick up my slack. When you cannot stand on one of your only two legs, you can’t cook, tidy the house, work (in my case), drive, or even safely bathe (BIG shout out to those who have helped with that. I will be discrete to protect your identity). I’ve had to swallow a big, ugly ball of pride to ask for so much help. So I wish for you an extra jewel in your crown if you have brought a meal for my family, toted me to therapy, helped keep my house clean and organized, or taken care of (including entertaining) my kids. I think I will refer to this posse as another crutch. I certainly have been leaning on them and without them, I would fall flat. Scripture says, “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.” Eccl 4:9-10
To continue my “limping” analogies (see what I did there?),I have often heard unbelievers “ridicule” Christians by referring to God as a crutch. Former governor of Minnesota, Jesse Ventura once said, “Organized religion is a sham and a crutch for weak-minded people who need strength in numbers.” Other celebrities like Larry Flynt, Ted Turner and even Sigmund Freud have agreed. Instead of arguing against the notion that God is a crutch, I would instead agree that He is – but that it’s a good thing. A GREAT thing. We give crutches a bad rap. I get so frustrated with them because I want to do things on my own, but I am not whole enough. Without the help, I would fall flat on my face. I would be rendered practically useless. Because I have a knee injury, I wouldn’t even be able to crawl. I would be relegated to pulling myself around on my belly. Completely unable to elevate myself above the ground. Lower than low. I would argue that the same is true for those who try to navigate this world without a relationship with Jesus Christ. Don’t hear me say that it’s not possible to acheive success (by the world’s definition) on your own. There are many who have money, fame, good jobs, nice cars, big houses, attractive spouses and smart kids who aren’t disciples of Christ. But all those things are fleeting. They won’t last forever. They won’t give your life meaning and purpose. They won’t truly satisfy. They can bring temporary happiness, but not lasting joy. In the end, only Jesus’ death on the cross brings eternal significance. “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved – you and your household.” Acts 16:31
So is God a crutch? Do only the weak need Jesus? Yes. Because we are all weak. But in Him we are made strong. “And He has said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.’ Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.” 2 Corinthians 12:9