Should we ditch this phrase?

[mkgal1]

I'm referring to this:

The phrase? I’m blessed.

When blogger and former missionary Scott Dannemiller caught himself using the words recently, he decided that it was time to jettison them. Here’s why:

“I've noticed a trend among Christians, myself included, and it troubles me. Our rote response to material windfalls is to call ourselves blessed. Like the ‘amen’ at the end of a prayer.

“ ‘This new car is such a blessing.’

“ ‘Finally closed on the house. Feeling blessed.’

“ ‘Just got back from a mission trip. Realizing how blessed we are here in this country.’

“On the surface, the phrase seems harmless. Faithful even. Why wouldn't I want to give God the glory for everything I have? Isn't that the right thing to do?

“No.”

Dannemiller thinks the problem with this phrase is that we’ve lost sight of what a true blessing is. For American Christians in particular, “I’m blessed” comes across as simply a matter of material gain:

“First, when I say that my material fortune is the result of God's blessing, it reduces The Almighty to some sort of sky-bound, wish-granting fairy who spends his days randomly bestowing cars and cash upon his followers. I can't help but draw parallels to how I handed out M&M's to my own kids when they followed my directions and chose to poop in the toilet rather than in their pants. Sure, God wants us to continually seek His will, and it's for our own good. But positive reinforcement?…

“Second, and more importantly, calling myself blessed because of material good fortune is just plain wrong. For starters, it can be offensive to the hundreds of millions of Christians in the world who live on less than $10 per day. You read that right. Hundreds of millions who receive a single-digit dollar ‘blessing’ per day.”

In other words, when we tie “blessing” to prosperity, we belittle those in other parts of the world who can’t afford the basic necessities. Does that mean they’re “not blessed” because they don’t have cars and houses like we do?

But not so fast, says another Christian blogger on the site Chasing Crazy. Let's hold off on getting rid of the phrase. For this writer, “being blessed” isn’t about what we have or some claim to deserving prosperity. It’s about what Jesus did for us:

“Recently there has been a big kerfuffle over Christians saying “I am blessed”. [sic] Many are vowing to stop saying it. I will never stop proclaiming that I AM blessed....~The One Thing Christians Should Stop Saying? - Trending Christian Blog

 

[Inkachu]

I hate hearing that phrase, too. "Hi, how are you?" "OH, I'm blessed!" You know what? If you're a Christian, you're blessed. It doesn't matter what day it is or what's going on. You're blessed because you're a child of God. When I ask you how you are, I'm not asking you to flaunt your "EXTRA SPECIAL CHILD OF GOD" card. I'm asking how you are.

 

[ImaginaryDay]

For me, being blessed can be a cliché at times, which I think is what the article was trying to get at. It's a quick response, and one that (as 'Inka' pointed out) gets us out of having to tell exactly how we are. Sure, blessings can come - and we can thank God for them, but to "be blessed" or state "I'm blessed" as a go-to response may show that we either don't know ourselves very well, or are guarded to the extent that we avoid authentic conversation.

 

[ValleyGal]

Christianese never sat well with me, and seems really non-authentic.

What does "bless" or "blessing" mean? From what I recall, there are two types. One is when you bless someone, you speak highly of that person to them or to others, so that others will have respect and positive regard for them. The other is to speak God's power into someone else's life, as demonstrated in the OT, when the early fathers would pass God's power into the lives of their sons before the father passed - a form of bestowing their spiritual inheritance.

Iow, it is something we should be giving, not bragging about receiving.

I have received two blessings in my life, where God's power was spoken into my life. One was carefully authored, and the other was given without any pre-planning, and both were very significant experiences. In particular, the second, more spontaneous one led to some very significant results, where the first was more of a personally meaningful speech about who God is and his role in my life. I can honestly say that I have been blessed, but very, very rarely in terms of material giftings.

For those of you who have families, one of the greatest gifts you can give to your children is to bless them - a small one every day or every week (or whatever you decide), or maybe a well-authored one as a graduation or wedding gift. What better way is there to make these transitions than with God's power spoken into them?

 

[Autumnleaf]

I rather get rid of, "It is what it is." and "I know, right?".

I'm blessed is a nod to God which is usually a good thing.

 

[ImaginaryDay]

I rather get rid of, "It is what it is." and "I know, right?".

I'm blessed is a nod to God which is usually a good thing.

I know, right? But it is what it is...

 

[bluegreysky]

eh, maybe in the context where it's like you're saying "Hi, I'm better than you"

 

[seeingeyes]

There are others I'd get rid of first, but then, maybe I'm so used to this one that I hardly hear it anymore...

I never say this myself, though. If I ever start sounding like a walking version of the KJV, just pull the plug, I'm done.

 

[LinkH]

I think people should stop using the word about material gain. If God blesses you, He has said something good about you, and that has power. The Israelites were blessed if they kept the law because the LORD spoke blessings over them if they kept the law. The Psalms speak of God commanding the blessing. Some of the blessings spoken over the Israelites had to do with material things, and so did some of the curses.

If God cursed someone they are cursed because God spoke a curse against them.

 

[mkgal1]

I think people should stop using the word about material gain. If God blesses you, He has said something good about you, and that has power. The Israelites were blessed if they kept the law because the LORD spoke blessings over them if they kept the law. The Psalms speak of God commanding the blessing. Some of the blessings spoken over the Israelites had to do with material things, and so did some of the curses.

If God cursed someone they are cursed because God spoke a curse against them.

I try to be sensitive about not using a separate language (Christianese)...because it does seem to exclude others (and has an air of superiority to it).

"God so loves the WORLD".....not just a few favorites (is my belief, anyway).

I do think it's natural for us to tie the word "blessing" to "curses" (not just Christians......but most people). That's another reason to be sparing with it (I think). If someone is going through a tough time.......I doubt it's because God cursed them (and I'd hate for them to think that and be distanced from Him forever because of that).

 

[mkgal1]

Also....in thinking of curses (I don't know why it's usually easier for me to think on things in terms of what they *aren't*.....but anyway......) I believe that has to do with a different "economy" than the New Covenant we are under. I believe "curses" have to do with the Old Covenant of the law. I get that (partially) from Galatians 3:10,13

But those who depend on the law to make them right with God are under His curse, for the Scriptures say, "Cursed is everyone who does not observe and obey all the commands that are written in God's Book of the Law."

But Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When He was hung on the cross, He took upon Himself the curse for our wrongdoing.

IOW....that *is* the Gospel (good news).

I don't believe curse has to do with something like God having some sort of voodoo dolls of people and sabotaging their lives.

For he does not willingly bring affliction or grief to anyone.~Lamentations 3:33

 

[LinkH]

I try to be sensitive about not using a separate language (Christianese)...because it does seem to exclude others (and has an air of superiority to it).

Anyone who starts to learn about the faith has to learn a little Christianese. The word 'grace' is a loaded term. It's Christianese. In English-speaking countries, non-Christians don't use the word the way Christians use it. 'Curse' has a bit of a different meaning in common use of the term in English, like you mentioned about voodoo dolls.

The way I understand it, if no one has spoken a curse, there is no curse. But the Bible does seem to imply that curses could have power. Saul cursed the Israelite who ate before they defeated their enemies. His son did not hear, after being away performing a heroic feet which turned the tide of battle. Then the camp was guilty because of the curse. Saul would have executed Jonathan when he found out, but the people forbade it.

Noah cursed Canaan. David cursed Joab. There is a place in the Bible where someone says something like, 'May it be unto me even so and more if ....' Apparently those people so believed that curses had power that they were afraid even to speak the stock list of bad things that they wished on themselves if they did not do as they promised.

The other tribes had bound themselves with a curse while fighting Benjamin, that whoever gave his daughter to a Benjamite was cursed. So they worked out a plan to have the Benjamites still brides to get around it.

Proverbs teaches us that an undeserved curse doesn't harm the one cursed.

James says not to curse men who are made after the similitude of God.

And Galatians tells us of those who are in Christ being freed from the curse of the law, though those who seek to be justified are under a curse. The law curses whoever does not continue in it. The ones who break the commandments of the law, seeking to be justified by it rather than by faith, have a long list of curses from Mt. Ebal to be concerned with.

I do think it's natural for us to tie the word "blessing" to "curses" (not just Christians......but most people). That's another reason to be sparing with it (I think). If someone is going through a tough time.......I doubt it's because God cursed them (and I'd hate for them to think that and be distanced from Him forever because of that).

The Bible juxtaposes blessings and curses, for example in the passage about the blessings from Mt. Gerazim and the curses from Mt. Ebal. But these things do need to be explained. Some people think of voodoo dolls or Greg Brady getting hurt at the beach in Hawaii when they hear the word 'curse.'

I believe you raised an important point about equating money with blessings. What if someone is made rich by oppressing others? Can we say he is blessed, after reading what the Bible says about such people? He should give glory to God for provision, perhaps, but can we truly say the person is blessed? Blessing and money aren't the same thing.

 

[mkgal1]

Good point about a person becoming wealthy from oppressing others.

It looks to me that the words used in the Old testament are different than the ones used in the NT for "curse" and "cursing". When Jesus walked this earth......He only cursed one thing (the fig tree recorded in Mt. 21:19; Mark 11:14). He only spoke of blessing those that curse us (Matthew 5:44, Luke 6:28).

 

[ImaginaryDay]

Anyone who starts to learn about the faith has to learn a little Christianese. The word 'grace' is a loaded term. It's Christianese.

Link, I'm curious about this first bit. How do you see "Grace" as a loaded term?

 

[LinkH]

Link, I'm curious about this first bit. How do you see "Grace" as a loaded term?

Itally unchurches, what do they think grace means? A woman's name? Something a ballet dancer displays when she dances well?

If Christians talk about it, what do they mean? Unmerited favor? You may hear things like 'an active force' or God enabling you to do something you couldn't do otherwise. The concept of charismata (spiritual gifts) is closely tied to the concept of charis (grace).

Christians say things like, "God gave me grace to endure the temptation." Would someone with little exposure to Christianity be familiar with that use of the term?

Even the words 'saved' and 'salvation' take a little getting used to. We know that God saves from His wrath, from judgment, and Hell. A non-Christians may have no idea what a Christian who comes up to them on the street and asks 'Are you saved?' is talking about.

There are a lot of concepts and a lot of terminology that unbelievers who haven't been raised in church aren't familiar with if they start to study the Bible or learn about the faith.

 

[sdmsanjose]

Dannemiller thinks the problem with this phrase is that we’ve lost sight of what a true blessing is. For American Christians in particular, “I’m blessed” comes across as simply a matter of material gain:

“First, when I say that my material fortune is the result of God's blessing, it reduces The Almighty to some sort of sky-bound, wish-granting fairy who spends his days randomly bestowing cars and cash upon his followers. I can't help but draw parallels to how I handed out M&M's to my own kids when they followed my directions and chose to poop in the toilet rather than in their pants. Sure, God wants us to continually seek His will, and it's for our own good. But positive reinforcement?…

“Second, and more importantly, calling myself blessed because of material good fortune is just plain wrong. For starters, it can be offensive to the hundreds of millions of Christians in the world who live on less than $10 per day. You read that right. Hundreds of millions who receive a single-digit dollar ‘blessing’ per day.”

In other words, when we tie “blessing” to prosperity, we belittle those in other parts of the world who can’t afford the basic necessities. Does that mean they’re “not blessed” because they don’t have cars and houses like we do?

But not so fast, says another Christian blogger on the site Chasing Crazy. Let's hold off on getting rid of the phrase. For this writer, “being blessed” isn’t about what we have or some claim to deserving prosperity. It’s about what Jesus did for us:

“Recently there has been a big kerfuffle over Christians saying “I am blessed”. [sic] Many are vowing to stop saying it. I will never stop proclaiming that I AM blessed....~The One Thing Christians Should Stop Saying? - Trending Christian Blog

When I was a teenager I blew off my college fund that afforded me to go to college without working and in style; like having a new Chevy to use. Instead of going to college I went the party route and all that goes with that. I wound up married with a child and working first in a cotton gin 7 days week and 12 hours a day for $1.75 an hour. I then got a job in a machine shop making $2.75 per hour for 6 days a week and 10 hours a day. That shop had no heat or cooling, was in the desert, and we had insects such as scorpions and snakes come in the shop.

The scorpions and snakes were not the main problem for me but the monotony of being a PRODUCTION machinist was a huge problem. We would get orders fro the Navy to make 10,000 parts and I would do the same thing in front of a hot machine 10,000 times that would take weeks. I was a human robot! Who was to blame for me not finishing college? I WAS. Who took actions to get married and have a child? I DID. Who was responsible for winding up doing a job I HATED? I WAS.

I was becoming bitter and defeated because of my decisions. I finally told God one night in front of my machine that I was not going to be bitter any more and would accept what I had done and be content. I was 21 years old and I almost never talked to God so I remember this quite vividly.

Within a very short time I was approached and asked if I wanted to go back to college to train for a possible position in management. I jumped at the chance as I HATED my current machinist job. There were over 20 people at the college taking that course for the one management position but I got the job. I have had that job for over 40 years and have never had a financial crises. In addition, I really like my job even after 40 years. I, my wife, and my three children have had all the necessities of American life and a few luxuries to boot!

I am convinced that the reason that this party boy that snubbed all the advantages that I had when I was very young, received grace from God and the job has been a financial blessing for decades for my whole family. I only tell people this when it comes up and will give credit to God because He is the one that made such a HUGE difference in my financial life that I did not deserve.

For me the quote below does not apply at all. Maybe it does in other cases but for me the grace and blessings that God did for me included” material good fortune” and I did not reduce God to a “wish-granting fairy”

Who am I going to give the credit to that for the last 40+ years that I have all the financial necessities in life plus some luxuries? GOD gets the credit for His grace and blessing me with financial fortune, even though I did not deserve it, and no one can tell me any different!

“First, when I say that my material fortune is the result of God's blessing, it reduces The Almighty to some sort of sky-bound, wish-granting fairy who spends his days randomly bestowing cars and cash upon his followers

Second, and more importantly, calling myself blessed because of material good fortune is just plain wrong.

 

[LovebirdsFlying]

I think "I'm blessed" came about because people wanted to avoid using the word "lucky." They wanted to make it clear that there is a divine will behind it, not mere chance. In fact, I once heard a radio preacher open up a sermon that way. "Ain't we lucky to be here? Ah-ah-ah! Ain't we BLESSED to be here!" The subtext now can be a bit smug-sounding, which I think is what's off-putting about it.

In general, Christianese does irk me a bit, but I agree with the person who said there are other words that need to go first. "I'll pray for you," for one thing, can be taken to mean, "I don't have any intention of doing anything to help you, but I want to sound like I care." Or, "I'm superior to you and will plead with God to show you the error of your ways." We should be careful with that one, because I don't think we want to convey either of those messages.

 

[ValleyGal]

Who am I going to give the credit to that for the last 40+ years that I have all the financial necessities in life plus some luxuries? GOD gets the credit for His grace and blessing me with financial fortune, even though I did not deserve it, and no one can tell me any different!

Hey, Stan. I fully agree that God should get the credit for our station in life. He absolutely should get credit for giving you a second chance at higher education. You might very well consider it blessing. Personally, I consider it a gift.

When I think of blessings in the material form, I can't help but think that means that anyone who lives in a developed country is then blessed, while those who are in underdeveloped countries are not blessed. However, many people in underdeveloped countries actually perceive higher levels of life satisfaction than those who are in developed countries. They would say their blessing is of a spiritual nature, because for many of them, they do not have the material gifts that we do in developed countries.

If I have God's power in my life in Canada, or if I have God's power in my life in Congo or Liberia, I would still have the power of God, whether material possessions follow or not.

I do think that your situation is a testimony to God's grace for second chances, and that yours is absolutely his gift to you. I also believe that God's power is evident in your life. But personally, I think that material goods is not so much a blessing; otherwise, it's saying that anyone who does not have material goods is not blessed.

 

[mkgal1]

For me the quote below does not apply at all. Maybe it does in other cases but for me the grace and blessings that God did for me included” material good fortune” and I did not reduce God to a “wish-granting fairy”

Who am I going to give the credit to that for the last 40+ years that I have all the financial necessities in life plus some luxuries? GOD gets the credit for His grace and blessing me with financial fortune, even though I did not deserve it, and no one can tell me any different!

I agree.....your story, Stan, doesn't seem to reduce God to a "wish-granting fairy" at all. I think a big difference is that what you're describing is more than *just* a material item----it was an opportunity (one that you had to partner with God in order to receive).

 

[mkgal1]

I think "I'm blessed" came about because people wanted to avoid using the word "lucky." They wanted to make it clear that there is a divine will behind it, not mere chance.

I think so, too.