The Christian band, MercyMe, released this song in 2018. Bart Millard, the lead vocalist for the band said this about it: “I will honestly say it’s one of my favorite messages on the record. It’s the way I grew up which was ‘be all you can be, you get what you deserve and work harder and try harder.’ And It’s like, wait a minute, what if somebody (which somebody did), but what if they came and told me ‘hey the works already done the fights already been won, you don’t have to try so hard.’ That’s what makes the Gospel not just the good news but the best news ever.”
The lyrics of the song are:
“Some say don’t give up. And hope that your good is good enough. Head down keep on working. If you can earn it you deserve it. Some say push on through. After all it’s the least that you can do. But don’t buy what they’re selling. It couldn’t be further from the truth.”
Chorus:
“What if I were the one to tell you. That the fight’s already been won. Well I think your day’s about to get better. What if I were the one to tell you. That the work’s already been done. It’s not good news; It’s the best news ever.”
“Some say don’t ask for help. God helps the ones who help themselves. So press on get it right. Otherwise get left behind. Some say He’s keeping score. So try hard then try a little more. But hold up if this were true. Explain to me what the cross is for.”
(Chorus again)
“So won’t you come. Come all you weary and you burdened. You heavy ladened and you hurting. For all of you with nothing left. Come and find rest.”
Raise your hand if you have heard any of these cliché statements from other Christians? I’m raising my hand too; you just can’t see me. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard these statements over my lifetime, even from those that claim to be a part of the true Christian faith. I already know I will get some pushback on this, but that’s because we live in America where these statements have been engrained in us forever. However, as far as salvation goes, these statements cannot coexist with the true Christian faith, so let’s explore them.
“Don’t give up and hope that your good is good enough.”
While the first part of this is an excellent message, the last part is a false hope. Don’t give up hope; your hope is in Christ. (Isaiah 40:31). If you think the above statement has validity to it, I have bad news for you; your best work will never be good enough for salvation. Sin invades every aspect of our lives; in our desires, thoughts, words, withheld words, actions, and inactions. We can’t help ourselves. (Romans 3:23).
Every time you are angry with someone and harbor any degree of hatred or discontent towards them, that’s a sin against the fifth Commandment. Jesus said you have murdered them in your heart. (Matthew 5:21-26). Every time you look at the opposite sex and briefly think any degree of lust towards them, that’s a sin against the sixth and tenth Commandments. Jesus said you have committed adultery with them in your heart. (Matthew 5:27-28).
If you break just one small portion of one of the Ten Commandments in any form or fashion, you are guilty of breaking them all. (James 2:10). My point is this: you are not perfect, nor will you ever be perfect. Only Jesus Christ is perfect and has kept God’s Law perfectly. (Matthew 5:17-18).
“Keep your head down and keep on working; if you can earn it, you deserve it.”
There’s absolutely nothing wrong with hard work. In fact, the Bible even says that anyone not willing to work, let him not eat. This is speaking to doing good works in the name of Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 2:10-13). But this work has nothing to do with work towards your salvation; there’s no way you could earn your own salvation. The only thing we deserve because of our sin is eternal condemnation in hell. For the wages of sin is death. (Romans 6:23).
“Push on through; after all, it’s the least that you can do.”
There is no pushing through your sin. Instead, you should flee from it (2 Timothy 2:22). If your eye or hand causes you to sin, it is suggested that you tear it out or cut it off because it would better to lose a part of your body on earth than to have your whole body thrown into hell. (Matthew 5:29-30). The only thing we can do for our salvation, is NOTHING. Jesus Christ has already paid that debt in full. Don’t reject His free gift; believe and repent and be saved.
“Don’t ask for help; God helps the ones who help themselves.”
This particular statement is the one that gets under my skin the most. Human beings were created to be social creatures. It was not good that Adam didn’t have a companion (Genesis 2:18). We were created to interact with one another, help and encourage one another. If you need help, just ask for it. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness; that is a long-spread lie that has weaseled its way into our society.
It’s not a problem if you can’t do something and need help, just ask. And if God only helps those who helps themselves, then why did Jesus come to earth in the first place? Why did He die on the cross for us then? None of us are perfect. None of us can help ourselves and none of us can save anyone else from their sins. We need help from Jesus.
“Press on and get it right, otherwise get left behind.”
This goes with the first statement above, in that pressing on and getting it right goes along with not giving up and hoping you’re good enough. So, I don’t feel that needs further explanation. However, God does not leave anyone behind. He is always with us (Matthew 28:20). He is above us, beneath us, to our right and left, in front of us, behind us, and even inside us all. He will never leave us nor forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:8). The only way you will “get left behind” is if you reject God’s free gift of love and forgiveness in your life. If you reject Him, you reject the only way to escape hell (John 3:17).
“God’s keeping score, so try hard, then try a little more.”
First and foremost, unlike humans, God truly forgives AND forgets our sins. (Jeremiah 31:34). He is not Santa Claus, checking His naughty and nice list. He doesn’t tally up how many good deeds you have and how many bad deeds you have to see which one wins out in the end. In fact, just one tally mark on the bad deed column would be enough to condemn you forever, despite all your best efforts.
Jesus is the only narrow way to eternal life. On one side is the abyss of self-righteousness and on the other is the abyss of despair; both lead only to spiritual death. The abyss of self-righteousness is filled with the belief that there must be something you have to do to be saved. The abyss of despair is filled with the belief that there’s not enough of God’s grace, mercy, love, and forgiveness to cover your most grievous sins. Both abysses are filled only with lies and those who believed them.
What was the purpose of Jesus coming to earth in the first place if we have anything to do with our salvation? His work of salvation in your life is FINISHED; He completed it 2,000 years ago. (John 19:30). Our salvation is a free gift and there are no strings attached. And there is no sin bigger than God’s love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness. (Romans 6:23).
I love how MercyMe debunks all of these statements with one simple counter-statement in their song: “If this were true, explain to me what the cross is for.”
So, if you’re going to be a cliché Christian, start with “JESUS LOVES YOU!” That’s the only statement that matters.
Soli Deo Gloria!
Philip Frank
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