JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Q and A Segment explores the question, “Is Christianity a crutch?”

Sometimes, people think of Christianity as a crutch in negative terms to imply that faith is for the weak and for losers. Is it better to rely on ourselves or rely on God to meet our greatest needs?

Physically, crutches are useful for the person who lacks strength to walk on their own. Spiritually, sin weakens us to the point that we are not able to stand before God in our own righteousness. This is why we need Jesus. His righteousness gives us light for our path, strength for the journey of faith, and a way to live in good standing with God.

Isaiah 50, verse 10 says, “Who among you fears the LORD and obeys the word of his servant? Let him who walks in the dark, who has no light, trust in the name of the LORD and rely on his God.”

The Hebrew word for “rely” in that verse means to lean on for support. Charles Spurgeon has said, “That is what you have to do with Christ-lean on Him with all your weight of sin and sorrow-lean on Jesus Christ….do not try to hold yourself up now-throw yourself right on him.

By leaning on Jesus, we are relying on the strength of God for support and salvation in the Year of Exploration.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com