Christianity Is A Crutch For Weak People (Defending Christianity)

Christians, if they’re bold with their faith, are easy targets for criticism. It seems like everyone has something to say about Christianity, and everybody speaks as if they’re experts about our faith. Apparently, reading a blog post or two and watching clips of Richard Dawkins on YouTube makes one a theologian. Perhaps, the most common criticism is that believers are hypocrites. But there are so many more. For instance, another common accusation aimed at the Church is that Christianity is a crutch for weak people. Well, friend, what do we say to that?

What Does “Christianity Is A Crutch” Mean?

First, there is a lot packed into that small expression. What do we think of when we think of a crutch? Certainly, we don’t have visions of healthy people who have it all together. I think of Tiny Tim, Bob Cratchit’s sickly son in the beloved novella, A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens. I think of hospitals, doctors, accidents, and the need for healing. Health and strength, however, do not come to mind.

Beliefs About The Christian

If someone says your Christianity is a crutch, then they are insinuating several things.

1. There is something mentally wrong with the Christian. She must be weak-minded to need “religion.”

2. The Christian must have issues with morality because she needs the Church to tell her what’s right and wrong. She can’t control herself and do what’s moral and good without the oversight of her religion.

3. She needs someone to manage her “spiritual” health. A Christian doesn’t understand the spiritual realm and needs a church to walk her through it. She has no spiritual life of her own.

4. People who become Christians are not strong enough to stand up for themselves and their beliefs. Therefore, they join a church for safety in numbers and the strength of the group.

The Accuser’s Beliefs About Herself

Second, this accusation says a lot about the accuser. Calling Christianity a crutch isn’t meant to only put down the Christian and/or the Church. It’s also a way of speaking highly of oneself and creating a false dichotomy between Christians and unbelievers. The accuser is saying:

1. I am too intelligent to fall for Christianity. I don’t need or want anyone to tell me what to do, think, or believe.

2. I’m already a good person, therefore, I don’t need help figuring out right from wrong. My moral compass is correct, and I usually do the right thing. I have plenty of self-control.

3. Religion is man-made. I understand spiritual things. I’ve tried out and researched different religious and spiritual disciplines, and I can tell what I practice and believe is true based on my personal assessment of it. My heart tells me I’m right.

4. I’m a strong person, and I don’t need to belong to some club with people telling me what my life should be like. I answer to myself alone.

The underlying belief throughout the entire claim that Christianity is a crutch is that the one giving the criticism is correct. But says who? That person! How in the world does that person think she has all the answers? Maybe she has researched and read about various religions, but I would venture to guess that people who make this accusation against Christianity have not studied the Bible. Some have, of course, but how many have watched a TikTok video, read a Facebook post, and then decided that was all they needed to know?

Maybe Christianity Is A Crutch: So What?

While I was in graduate school, I was at a friend’s apartment one night with a group of classmates watching Grey’s Anatomy. Of all the ladies I went to school with, this friend was the only Christian. Eventually, her faith came up in conversation, and one of the more outspoken guests said, “Christianity is a crutch, and I don’t need that. I can take care of myself.” If you knew her, you’d know this comment was exceedingly ironic, but more notably, my friend froze.

This Christian friend called me later, and though I wasn’t saved, she wanted to talk about the exchange at her apartment with this classmate. My friend was disappointed in herself because she wanted to reply in the moment, but she choked. I listened, and despite not believing in God at the time, I felt for her because I realized she had missed a major opportunity to share this significant part of her life with someone else.

The biggest takeaway from that phone conversation, though, was one simple sentence. “Jesus is my crutch, and I definitely need Him!” It’s seventeen years later, and I still hang onto those words. Her honest admission played a role in my salvation because I don’t think I could have come to Christ without knowing how spiritually helpless I am without Him. She helped me understand that.

But was she right? Is Christianity a crutch, after all? No…and yes.

Two Ways To Think Of A Crutch

Christianity isn’t a crutch if we’re defining it as something we add to our lives to help us along. Christ didn’t die on the cross and defeat death so we could be “better people.” Jesus isn’t a self-help guru. He’s the Savior of mankind. So, we shouldn’t dare think for even a moment that we can just add a dash of Jesus to our broken and sinful lives, making everything better. He’s not here for the assist. You get it?

On the other hand, what if all we mean by crutch is that we are broken and need to be repaired? What if the crutch, so to speak, is what permanently corrects our walk? That definition can work for me. However, the most important part of the entire conversation is our fallen nature and need for salvation. I don’t care what word someone uses to explain that. Go ahead and say I need a crutch and am weak. I don’t care. Tell everyone that I’m not enough. You’re not wrong! Spoiler: None of us are enough, and we all need to be saved.

The Bible Says You Need Help

Mankind is lost. Despite what the world teaches, we’re not inherently good, and we can’t save ourselves. That doesn’t have to be bad news, though, because God sent us Jesus to be our substitutionary atonement. We can have eternal life and be restored to God if we accept Christ as our Savior.

“There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.”

Romans 3:11-12

“And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.”

Ephesians 2:1-3 (ESV)

Anyone claiming she doesn’t need anyone or anything doesn’t understand her condition as a human being. She doesn’t know how helpless she is concerning her spiritual well-being. So, of course, she looks at believers and rolls her eyes. It’s no wonder she scoffs and condescendingly declares that Christianity is a crutch for the weak. But Christian, this woman can be saved, too. Don’t take offense to her ignorance. Lovingly give her truth.

“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Romans 6:23

Jesus Gives Us What We Need

I can be a proud woman. Too self-reliant. Too introspective. Self-involved to a fault. Unreasonably confident. As I seek to accomplish anything in my flesh, though, I learn and relearn the same lesson. I am limited, but when I walk closely with the Lord and the Spirit leads me, I can rest easy and be confident in the infinite God who loves and cares for me.

“And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”

2 Corinthians 12:9

“Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Matthew 11:29-30

“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

John 16:33

Have you met a believer who takes the verses above and truly adopts them into her life? I’ve never seen an unbeliever as comfortable in her own shortcomings, peaceful in every circumstance, and unburdened by life’s troubles as the Christians who have fully embraced God’s promises and their own weaknesses.

Final Thought

Of all the criticisms thrown at Christians, claiming we’re weak and Christianity is a crutch should hardly register for us. Simply put, it’s not a valid criticism, and it’s made by people who don’t know God or even who they themselves truly are. Rather than get defensive or angry, use that accusation to share the gospel. Don’t regret letting the opportunity pass you by like my friend did. Own your weakness and insufficiency, but don’t neglect the rest of the story. We’re weak and insufficient, but we have a God with infinite power, perfect love, and who wants us to be His children.

What do you say? Is Christianity is a crutch?

Want More?

Christians Are Hypocrites (Defending Christianity)

Image courtesy of Towfiqu barbhuiya via Unsplash.