Dump the Christian Cliches

Today I’d like to deal with Christian clichés that have found room in the Christian church. First, what is a cliché? A quick Google search will tell you that a cliché is a phrase that betrays original thought or a trite, stereotyped expression, usually expressing a popular or common thought or idea that has lost originality, ingenuity and impact by long overuse. Now a cliché can be true or it can be false. I’ll just be dealing with those cliché’s that are false and leave the corny ones for another day.

One phrase that I’ve come across lately is that we are all theologians, it’s just a matter if you are a good theologian or a bad one. I like Titus 2:1 but you must say the things that are consistent with sound teaching. One sentiment you will come across if you’ve been in the church for any time is people don’t need more theology, they just need Jesus. We know the problem with this thinking is that it assumes that we can have Jesus apart from reference to theology or Scripture.

I’ve actually had people tell me that they don’t need all that Bible stuff, and they then tell me that they have Jesus, and that’s all they need. I always reply, which Jesus do you have? The Mormon Jesus, the Jehovah Witness’ Jesus or the prophet Jesus as found in the Koran.

Here’s the great danger in divorcing the person Jesus from the Scriptures…you end up with an idol which makes you an idolater. Now back to those Christian clichés that are false.  They divorce truth from the Scriptures which is always dangerous.

The one cliché that is heard often is let go and let God.  Let go of what? Let God do what? The danger here is that it relieves the Christian of any sense of duty or action that God tells him to take. For instance the Bible tells us to flee fornication, see (1Corinthians 6:8). The list goes on how we are commanded in Scripture to stop, start, or flee sin. How about, let him that stole steal no more, (Ephesians 4:28).  Do you see that the let go and let God has no Biblical warrant?

Someone might say, well we should let go of our worry and let God take care of whatever you are worrying about. That might work, but even here if someone is doing things that cause their worry they are responsible to get that area straight before God.

How about this one: God hates the sin, but loves the sinner. We really need to rethink this erroneous cliché. We are quick to tell those in sin that God loves them, but hates their sin. This may give non-believers a warm, fuzzy feeling but it is not true. The sin of the sinner cannot be separated from his person. Sin is not some abstract entity, no; sin is the very fabric of who the sinner is.

My theological concern is that the cliché is doctrinally ambiguous. It makes it sound as if God is only angry at some abstract entity, but God is angry with the sinner, see Psalm 7:11  God is angry with the wicked every day. Sin is inextricably tied to persons…at the second death when the unbeliever is thrown into the lake of fire it will not be just his sin, no, it will be the sinner who will be thrown into the lake of fire.


Instead of telling the sinner that God hates their sin but loves them, share the gospel with them. The good news that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners from God's wrath.

The Real Battle is Within

To borrow the words of the Apostle Paul the Christian life is a fight. Why? What are we fighting? Well, it not so much what, but who are we fighting. I think any Christian who has journeyed long enough knows that the battle is inside of him. The battle, the real war is not outside somewhere, but in his very being, in his own mind and heart.

Let me define the battle for us. This battle cannot be won with guns, and swords. This battle cannot be won at the ballot box or by what political party is in charge. This battle cannot be won by our friends or our families or even us; and this is because the enemy is sin, and sin can only be defeated at the cross.

The Bible from front to back tells a story of how man fell. From Adam and Eve’s disobedience in the Garden to the final uprising of man in the book of Revelation we see man is in a bad way. Some of the language used to describe man throughout the Bible is really quite disturbing. Jeremiah tells us that the heart of man is deceitful and desperately wicked (Jeremiah 17:9). Jesus said from within the hearts of men come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder and adultery (Mark 7:21).

The Christian knows this battle all so well. The fight can be tiring at times and frustrating. Just when you think you have a victory up comes that ugly old man reminding you that you will need God’s grace until the Captain of the battle calls you home for final rest. Recall the words of Jahaziel as he encouraged King Jehoshaphat; do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s (2 Chronicles 20:15).

Think about that. Think about what the Apostle Paul said when he humbly confessed that when he is weak Christ is strong (2 Corinthians 12:10). Paul even delighted in his weaknesses. Why would anyone delight in their weaknesses? Well, Paul found out that when he was helpless against sin, and that sin was much bigger and stronger than his will to fight it, he realized at that moment that Christ was big…that Christ was strong, oh what a blessing Paul discovered.

Scottish pastor Robert Murray McCheyne left us with on quote that has become quite famous, and for good reason. It goes like this: “For every look at yourself, take ten looks at Christ.” This quote is short and will sticky and it can keep us from discouragement and tiring in the fight against our own sin.