Are You Following a Bootstrap Gospel?

I follow a writer online. Her name doesn’t really matter because there are quite a few people online with a similar message: YOU CAN DO IT!

Do you know anyone like that?

I’m going to call her X in this post, for ease and so that there really isn’t any hint as to who she is. Honestly, I have a feeling X and I would have a lot of fun together, plus what she says is great and I’m pretty sure we have the same faith.

I have nothing against X as a person.

X is great at inspiring people, women especially. She says what we sometimes need to hear, seems like a pretty cool woman, and would probably be fun a fun shopping and dinner date.

X is awesome. Got it?

X tells me all this stuff like a Rosie the Riveter with longer hair and a hipper wardrobe.

She gets me fired up to put on my big girl panties, pull up my bootstraps (whatever those even are) and be awesome. She’s vulnerable and real and preaches, “If I can do it, you can too!”

Holla.

(I never say holla, but this is the kind of thing that happens when I think about X.)

But here’s the thing (you knew it was coming, right?): everything I see from her is all I, I, I, ME, ME, ME.

She’s preaching that you and me and your best friend and your aunt and my neighbor, we can be more, we can be our best, we can get it done.

Girl power all the way.

Now, here is the surprise: nothing she says is wrong. Not one single thing that I’ve seen so far.

However, none of it is about God.

It’s all self-focused. Despite her faith, she is preaching this DO IT YOURSELF GIRL POWER and leaving out the one who actually gives the power.

If someone proclaims God’s truths over you and encourages you but forgets to mention God, where does that leave your focus?

I’ll tell you where it leaves mine: on me. And a bit on her. Is that God’s best for us?

Now, if someone gives you all these same truths, and tells their story, but then goes on to tell you that it’s not in their own strength, but in Gods, well, that leads you to God.

We can pull ourselves up. We can put on those panties and pull up those straps and do the hard work, but it will only get us so far.

If we truly want freedom, truth, success, life, or whatever it is we are seeking, we need to go beyond those bootstraps to the One who gives more than we could ever make happen on our own.

The bootstrap gospel is good, and sometimes is even full of things that we need to hear, but it’s not enough. We need the real gospel to truly change our lives. Share on X

And I know you’re wondering who X is. I’m still not going to tell you because I have a feeling we could all name a handful of people like her. Good people, giving good advice. And I’ll keep following X because she has good stuff to say.

But let’s not stop there.

Let’s grab our bootstraps and head right to the cross where we can find the ultimate truth that brings grace and freedom and life. Share on X

Choose who you follow, and choose how to tell your story.

It matters.

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