My father died of cancer when I was 7, and the 3 years he was sick we went to prayer meetings and faith healings all over east Texas and Louisiana. When he died, I woke up and said “God just took my daddy away”, and that’s pretty much how it felt and how I thought of it for decades.
I didn’t blame it on God, however; in my magical thinking, child mind I decided that it was really my fault - I either didn’t pray hard enough, or maybe I just wasn’t a good enough girl to have my prayers answered.
You’re the first and, to date, ONLY, pastor who has made me feel like I can belong to God too and I never had to be perfect to be loved. Thanks. 🙏
This headline made me cackle laughing, because one of my recurring jokes about a certain type of conservative Christian man or woman, but really mostly the men -- which I actually stole, but with permission -- is that these are people who were taught their entire lives that “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me,” and took the "all things" part a LI'L BIT too literally.
A lot of modern Christianity has turned Philippians 4:13 into divine pre-workout: add Jesus, attempt anything, expect results. Then when the cancer remains, the job disappears, or the miracle never arrives, the suffering person is left wondering whether their faith was defective. The verse is not “Christ will help me win.” It is “Christ will remain with me when I don’t.” That is less useful for motivational merchandise, but far more useful beside a hospital bed. God is not a vending machine for favorable outcomes. God is the presence that does not abandon us inside the unfavorable ones.
Ahh those 5 am (5:19 Keeling standard time) workouts lol. And I too was heartbroken by this verse taken out of context. Never got the opportunity to have a starting role. D3 bench rider lol. But oh what God had in store for me was so much better. Thanks for this reminder Zach.
Exceptional title for this post! It made me smile.
I had to look up if we went to the same seminary (we didn’t) because I remember one of my professors saying, “A text without a context is a pretext to a prooftext.”
Philippians 4:13 is a great example of a verse often taken out of context. Jeremiah 29:11 is one that ruffles my feathers.
Thanks for this! I plan to write about the letter to the Philippians in a couple of weeks, and you've really inspired me. My first thought after reading your essay is that so many readers put the emphasis on the "I can do" part, and miss that it's Christ who strengthens.
I attended a Christian high school, and we played other Christian high schools in sports. I always wondered what paradox would occur when a wide receiver and a safety both went up for the same catch, each quoting, “I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHO STRENGTHENS ME,” each simultaneously channeling an Angels in the Outfield style divine intervention and rendering the outcome of the play a logical paradox.
Years later I finally got my answer with the 2012 Seahawks Packers “Fail Mary” play with a simultaneous touchdown and interception.
Many moons ago I would clarify this taken out of context understanding by saying that if they allowed me to go through their emails and pick and choose what sentences or words I could use to explain their understanding of, well, anything, would that be fair, would it give a clear understanding of any issue a person felt strongly about? Of course not. But that is how people want us to believe is correctly understanding these ancient narratives. It’s ludicrous. Here, close your eyes, flip the pages and put your finger down and I will tell you what that means.
One of my favorite Bible verses is Philippians 2:12 or 13 where Paul encourages us to work out our own salvation. There are no magic words to say that will make things better, just the work we're given to do on ourselves and in the world.
The difference between Jesus helping us obtain everything we want and Jesus sustaining us when life does not go the way we hoped is enormous. Reading this verse in context does not weaken its promise—it makes the promise far more honest and durable. Christ’s strength is not proven by our ability to avoid suffering, but by His presence with us inside it.
In Seattle, a father glances at his phone before waking up his daughter for school. Another cyberattack has disrupted the network of a hospital overnight, while financial markets are struggling to account for fresh geopolitical instability.
In London, a nurse starts a 12-hour shift during a rare summer heatwave. Ambulances are overwhelmed, while patients with respiratory ailments compounded by smog and heat struggle to breathe.
In Tokyo, an engineer boards a train to help develop artificial intelligence-driven manufacturing for the next generation. His work promises increased productivity and growth but he questions whether society is prepared to manage a changing work force, as AI integration leads to rapid obsolescence of skills and human jobs.
Three different locations. Three ordinary individuals. But they all operate within the same intertwined global context.
We are facing a number of complex challenges that no longer respect borders.
Conflict in one region poses risks to international energy supplies and shipping routes. A single cybercriminal located halfway across the world can steal millions in minutes. Disinformation can now sweep across social media platforms more quickly than accurate reporting. Environmental damage in one part of the planet risks climate effects in all regions.
According to UN estimates, over 120 million people remain displaced globally as a result of conflict, persecution, or political violence. Over 7 million lives can be attributed to air pollution each year, based on WHO data. The International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has warned that rising temperatures will lead to greater numbers of heatwaves, floods, wildfires, and droughts, while the World Economic Forum continues to report on risks of geopolitical instability, environmental collapse, cyber insecurity and the rampant spread of misinformation.
These aren't separate problems. These are interlocking crises.
A compromised environment affects food security which in turn fuels migrations and political instability. Trade and foreign investment stagnate in periods of geopolitical tension. Malicious digital attacks can degrade public trust and essential services. Economic uncertainty reduces opportunities for workers.
And this affects our children most profoundly.
Youngsters exposed to higher levels of air pollution are more susceptible to conditions like asthma. Displacement during conflict forces children out of school, while children raised during times of economic instability have fewer opportunities to reach their full potential.
But history is not solely about struggle.
Humanity's past has also shown us the power of science, innovation, responsible governance, and international cooperation to triumph over the seemingly insurmountable. Vaccines have long since eradicated diseases once rampant, safe water systems have saved uncounted lives, and we now use satellites to predict natural disasters and improve disaster relief. Artificial intelligence is rapidly accelerating scientific discoveries; from medicine to fraud prevention and even discovery of new materials and drugs.
Technology does not guarantee the future.
It is a tool to shape it.
The crucial variable is how wisely we choose to employ the tools we develop. Our governments, for their part, should continue to invest in scientific research, in cybersecurity, in clean energy and infrastructure, in education, and in public health. Companies must be encouraged to balance profitability with resilience; by protecting their supply chains and customer data while demanding transparent operations. Our academic institutions should continue to champion discovery and research, while also teaching future citizens and workers how to function in a world where human capabilities intertwine with artificial intelligence, biotechnology, quantum computing, and other complex technologies.
Our local communities have a responsibility too.
Every single one of them can implement measures to build resilience, through efforts like ecological restoration, improved internet access for all, and strengthening local emergency planning and education for vulnerable residents. Individual action appears minuscule, but it helps drive market demand, inform public policy, and create strong societies.
The following decade is not just a judgment of which nations are economic winners.
It is a judgment of humanity's capacity to construct institutions that can manage unprecedented power safely.
While the United States, United Kingdom, Japan, and every nation have distinct issues, all share a shared imperative: to build a future in which progress fosters belief, growth preserves dignity, and advancement connects rather than isolates people.
History rarely notes the generation that recognized and acted upon the signs of peril ahead.
It is the generation that witnessed those signs and courageously addressed them while the going was still good that we choose to remember.
The future is far from certain.
It is built, brick by individual brick, innovation by innovation, community by community, generation by generation.
The question is no longer whether the future will be different.
The question is whether we have the wisdom and courage to make it a better one for our children.
It's also important to remember that context includes who the author was. The author of the passage cited here was a pastor, a man, fully human, who never met Jesus Christ. It's foolish (not to mention un-Christlike) to use the words of a mere human - albeit one who was later canonized by a bunch of other humans - to do harm to other people and the planet. The fact that his writings have survived the ages makes them historical but there is little reason to have faith that Paul's words are divine.
I'm a follower of Christ and a skeptic of all Bible words because the words have been twisted for evil purposes for so long.
"come out from them and be separate" (2 Cor. 6:17) was the verse that sent me to (Christian) college clear across the country, but it was there that my deconstruction began and wouldn't you know it, I am now pretty separate from the white conservative Christian spaces I grew up in. mysterious ways indeed.
Zach I know many scriptures are taken out of context. How do you feel about Gods promises like he is faithful. Do we need to do any wrestling with that, like if he is faithful then i will see good. I guess Im wondering should we take everything in the scriptures carefully or can we depend on His promises ? Thanks
My father died of cancer when I was 7, and the 3 years he was sick we went to prayer meetings and faith healings all over east Texas and Louisiana. When he died, I woke up and said “God just took my daddy away”, and that’s pretty much how it felt and how I thought of it for decades.
I didn’t blame it on God, however; in my magical thinking, child mind I decided that it was really my fault - I either didn’t pray hard enough, or maybe I just wasn’t a good enough girl to have my prayers answered.
You’re the first and, to date, ONLY, pastor who has made me feel like I can belong to God too and I never had to be perfect to be loved. Thanks. 🙏
Gosh I’m so sorry, Laurie. That story breaks my heart. But I’m really glad you are healing now
It’s been a long road, and I still have a ways to go. But I no longer believe I’m unworthy of God’s love, and that’s a great place to be
This headline made me cackle laughing, because one of my recurring jokes about a certain type of conservative Christian man or woman, but really mostly the men -- which I actually stole, but with permission -- is that these are people who were taught their entire lives that “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me,” and took the "all things" part a LI'L BIT too literally.
Haha it’s so true 😂
A lot of modern Christianity has turned Philippians 4:13 into divine pre-workout: add Jesus, attempt anything, expect results. Then when the cancer remains, the job disappears, or the miracle never arrives, the suffering person is left wondering whether their faith was defective. The verse is not “Christ will help me win.” It is “Christ will remain with me when I don’t.” That is less useful for motivational merchandise, but far more useful beside a hospital bed. God is not a vending machine for favorable outcomes. God is the presence that does not abandon us inside the unfavorable ones.
Amen!
So much harm has been done by taking Scripture out of context.
SO much
Ahh those 5 am (5:19 Keeling standard time) workouts lol. And I too was heartbroken by this verse taken out of context. Never got the opportunity to have a starting role. D3 bench rider lol. But oh what God had in store for me was so much better. Thanks for this reminder Zach.
Exceptional title for this post! It made me smile.
I had to look up if we went to the same seminary (we didn’t) because I remember one of my professors saying, “A text without a context is a pretext to a prooftext.”
Philippians 4:13 is a great example of a verse often taken out of context. Jeremiah 29:11 is one that ruffles my feathers.
Thanks for this! I plan to write about the letter to the Philippians in a couple of weeks, and you've really inspired me. My first thought after reading your essay is that so many readers put the emphasis on the "I can do" part, and miss that it's Christ who strengthens.
I attended a Christian high school, and we played other Christian high schools in sports. I always wondered what paradox would occur when a wide receiver and a safety both went up for the same catch, each quoting, “I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHO STRENGTHENS ME,” each simultaneously channeling an Angels in the Outfield style divine intervention and rendering the outcome of the play a logical paradox.
Years later I finally got my answer with the 2012 Seahawks Packers “Fail Mary” play with a simultaneous touchdown and interception.
Zach this was a great read…
Many moons ago I would clarify this taken out of context understanding by saying that if they allowed me to go through their emails and pick and choose what sentences or words I could use to explain their understanding of, well, anything, would that be fair, would it give a clear understanding of any issue a person felt strongly about? Of course not. But that is how people want us to believe is correctly understanding these ancient narratives. It’s ludicrous. Here, close your eyes, flip the pages and put your finger down and I will tell you what that means.
One of my favorite Bible verses is Philippians 2:12 or 13 where Paul encourages us to work out our own salvation. There are no magic words to say that will make things better, just the work we're given to do on ourselves and in the world.
with fear and trembling, no less.
The difference between Jesus helping us obtain everything we want and Jesus sustaining us when life does not go the way we hoped is enormous. Reading this verse in context does not weaken its promise—it makes the promise far more honest and durable. Christ’s strength is not proven by our ability to avoid suffering, but by His presence with us inside it.
Three alarms go off at 7 A.M.
In Seattle, a father glances at his phone before waking up his daughter for school. Another cyberattack has disrupted the network of a hospital overnight, while financial markets are struggling to account for fresh geopolitical instability.
In London, a nurse starts a 12-hour shift during a rare summer heatwave. Ambulances are overwhelmed, while patients with respiratory ailments compounded by smog and heat struggle to breathe.
In Tokyo, an engineer boards a train to help develop artificial intelligence-driven manufacturing for the next generation. His work promises increased productivity and growth but he questions whether society is prepared to manage a changing work force, as AI integration leads to rapid obsolescence of skills and human jobs.
Three different locations. Three ordinary individuals. But they all operate within the same intertwined global context.
We are facing a number of complex challenges that no longer respect borders.
Conflict in one region poses risks to international energy supplies and shipping routes. A single cybercriminal located halfway across the world can steal millions in minutes. Disinformation can now sweep across social media platforms more quickly than accurate reporting. Environmental damage in one part of the planet risks climate effects in all regions.
According to UN estimates, over 120 million people remain displaced globally as a result of conflict, persecution, or political violence. Over 7 million lives can be attributed to air pollution each year, based on WHO data. The International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has warned that rising temperatures will lead to greater numbers of heatwaves, floods, wildfires, and droughts, while the World Economic Forum continues to report on risks of geopolitical instability, environmental collapse, cyber insecurity and the rampant spread of misinformation.
These aren't separate problems. These are interlocking crises.
A compromised environment affects food security which in turn fuels migrations and political instability. Trade and foreign investment stagnate in periods of geopolitical tension. Malicious digital attacks can degrade public trust and essential services. Economic uncertainty reduces opportunities for workers.
And this affects our children most profoundly.
Youngsters exposed to higher levels of air pollution are more susceptible to conditions like asthma. Displacement during conflict forces children out of school, while children raised during times of economic instability have fewer opportunities to reach their full potential.
But history is not solely about struggle.
Humanity's past has also shown us the power of science, innovation, responsible governance, and international cooperation to triumph over the seemingly insurmountable. Vaccines have long since eradicated diseases once rampant, safe water systems have saved uncounted lives, and we now use satellites to predict natural disasters and improve disaster relief. Artificial intelligence is rapidly accelerating scientific discoveries; from medicine to fraud prevention and even discovery of new materials and drugs.
Technology does not guarantee the future.
It is a tool to shape it.
The crucial variable is how wisely we choose to employ the tools we develop. Our governments, for their part, should continue to invest in scientific research, in cybersecurity, in clean energy and infrastructure, in education, and in public health. Companies must be encouraged to balance profitability with resilience; by protecting their supply chains and customer data while demanding transparent operations. Our academic institutions should continue to champion discovery and research, while also teaching future citizens and workers how to function in a world where human capabilities intertwine with artificial intelligence, biotechnology, quantum computing, and other complex technologies.
Our local communities have a responsibility too.
Every single one of them can implement measures to build resilience, through efforts like ecological restoration, improved internet access for all, and strengthening local emergency planning and education for vulnerable residents. Individual action appears minuscule, but it helps drive market demand, inform public policy, and create strong societies.
The following decade is not just a judgment of which nations are economic winners.
It is a judgment of humanity's capacity to construct institutions that can manage unprecedented power safely.
While the United States, United Kingdom, Japan, and every nation have distinct issues, all share a shared imperative: to build a future in which progress fosters belief, growth preserves dignity, and advancement connects rather than isolates people.
History rarely notes the generation that recognized and acted upon the signs of peril ahead.
It is the generation that witnessed those signs and courageously addressed them while the going was still good that we choose to remember.
The future is far from certain.
It is built, brick by individual brick, innovation by innovation, community by community, generation by generation.
The question is no longer whether the future will be different.
The question is whether we have the wisdom and courage to make it a better one for our children.
It's also important to remember that context includes who the author was. The author of the passage cited here was a pastor, a man, fully human, who never met Jesus Christ. It's foolish (not to mention un-Christlike) to use the words of a mere human - albeit one who was later canonized by a bunch of other humans - to do harm to other people and the planet. The fact that his writings have survived the ages makes them historical but there is little reason to have faith that Paul's words are divine.
I'm a follower of Christ and a skeptic of all Bible words because the words have been twisted for evil purposes for so long.
"come out from them and be separate" (2 Cor. 6:17) was the verse that sent me to (Christian) college clear across the country, but it was there that my deconstruction began and wouldn't you know it, I am now pretty separate from the white conservative Christian spaces I grew up in. mysterious ways indeed.
Zach I know many scriptures are taken out of context. How do you feel about Gods promises like he is faithful. Do we need to do any wrestling with that, like if he is faithful then i will see good. I guess Im wondering should we take everything in the scriptures carefully or can we depend on His promises ? Thanks