Is Christianity just a crutch philosophy? Or is it something more?

                I’ve heard the argument, and I’ve indeed posted quotes about this, that people are Christians because they view it as a crutch philosophy. In a way, Christianity is a crutch, but not in the way critics and accusers, and even Christians with the wrong idea, think. We can do nothing apart from Christ (John 15:5), so our relationship with him is more of a wooden leg, rather than a crutch that we use only when we need help walking. We are called to lean on God, and not our own understanding. Christianity is here to answer some of the greatest philosophical questions of mankind, but as we are warned in Colossians 2:8 “See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ”. This would mean that we are not to be taken in by the appeal of ideas, but rather the person of Jesus. It is through the relationship with God through Jesus that we are saved, not through the knowledge of arguments about the existence of God or the validity of Christianity. While I do use philosophical arguments, and study them in an effort to understand God, that isn’t the point of Christianity, or any relationship for that matter. I do use these arguments in my ministry and evangelism, but eventually I have to actually talk with people and know them as people, so that God can truly work. My wife has degrees in psychology and counseling, so she knows quite a bit of literature and theory about relationships and people, but she knows that we actually have to talk to people and build those relationships and enjoy those individual relationships, rather than just quoting studies at them when she is talking to people. Indeed, I needed to act on the information that I gathered about my wife to ask her out on a date.

There is another side of this talk, while Christ does give us answers, He is also here to help us and guide us through this life. He and the apostles (inspired by God) wrote to us in scripture that life would not be easy, and that He would be here to help us through it. Indeed, Paul wrote to us many times that God provided for him and the church so that they would make it with God’s help, and not on their own. (Philippians 4:13, Acts 12:3-19, Acts 5:12, Acts 9:17-18). I could go on through this, but we see multiple acts of God that occurred through the early members of the church. But even in a life where we don’t see miraculous releases from prison, survival of ship wrecks, and so on, we are warned that life as a Christian will be difficult (James 1:1-18). Even in this, God will be with us, because this life is not all there is, because we as Christians will go on to be with Him, where our true home is. I would hope that this writing has helped you understand the nature of Christianity a bit more. If you ever want to chat a bit about Christianity or life in general, I am always willing to offer my ears (or eyes if I’m reading an email). May God bless you and have a good rest of your day.