Bumper Sticker Theology

Let go and let God.

I have been given this advice several times, by several (well-intentioned) people, and in several different situations. I have often wondered what it really means, and what it truly advocates. What am I to let go of? What am I letting God do? While this pithy cliché is cleverly worded, is it truly a Biblical principle?

This expression was popularized by Charles Gallaudet Trumball, a strong advocate of Keswick, deeper-life theology. He advocated a radically passive view of sanctification by faith alone that practically eliminated the need for any sort of human effort. He taught that the reason the average Christian does not attain victory over sin is that he or she tries too hard.

In this view, spiritual maturity and holiness can be attained completely and instantaneously. The supposed key to this instant sanctification is to just get out of your own way and stop trying to live a godly life and trust God to change you without any effort on your part. The assumption is that you cannot try and trust at the same time. Our effort, struggle and diligence supposedly does nothing more than “frustrate the grace of God” and makes Christ’s power “futile.”

This view is a form of the erroneous doctrine of quietism. Quietism is a totally passive approach to sanctification. Quoting Phil Johnson, “It teaches that sanctification cannot occur until we give up striving for it. It is an attempt to become holy by abandoning all effort and simply trusting in God to remove the temptation to sin.”

Quietism requires a secondary leap of faith after salvation. You are saved when you believe, but then you are made perfect and holy after you really, really believe. This creates two separate classes of Christians, the merely saved and the true disciples. Also, this trusting without trying approach suggests that we should defer obedience until we get the right feeling. It leads to the hunt for some ecstatic experience or some miraculous event whereby sin is totally eradicated from our life. This quick-fix, no-effort-required mentality sets the stage for future failure and guilt when temptations and trials do come (and they certainly will). I have to admit that this idea is, at first, quite appealing. Oh if only I could be completely rid of the cancerous sin that plagues my flesh. But is this quick-fix, instant-holiness, termination-of-all indwelling-sin-though-passivity a Biblical promise?

Philippians 2:12-13 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.

This passage highlights the delicate balance in the process of sanctification. On the one side, it emphasizes human responsibility to work out our own salvation. On the other hand, God is sovereignly working in us to make us willing and able to do His good pleasure.

Maintaining this equilibrium is crucial. Stressing one aspect more than the other leads to certain error. An overemphasis on the human responsibility leads into the bondage of legalism. An overemphasis on God’s divine work leads to the errors of quietism

The Bible teaches that sanctification is a process in which the believer actively cooperates with God. Spiritual growth is accomplished by practicing obedience though faith in Christ. Through the regeneration of the Spirit, we are now dead to sin and alive to God (Rom. 6:11). Now therefore, we must not let sin reign in our mortal bodies (Rom. 6:12). This does involve “letting go”our pride, selfishness, and sinful will. But this surrender is a work of proactive faith, not passive conviction. We are commanded to do the will of God, not sit on the sidelines and wait for it to happen.

One aspect of God’s will for each of us is our sanctification. “For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality” (1 Thess. 4:3). Abstinence from sin is certainly not a passive act, it is a dynamic action. Sometimes the not doing is more difficult than the doing.

Scripture also commands us to flee youthful lusts and pursue righteousness (2 Tim. 2:22). We are not instructed to kick back and wait on righteousness to come to us. We are to “seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness” (Matt. 6:33).

Fleeing temptation is an act of obedience that results in spiritual growth and being further set apart from sin. Never are we promised that God will abolish all temptations in our lives. Instead, He promises to never allow us to be tempted beyond what we can bear, and in that temptation He will always provide an emergency escape rout ( Cor. 10:13).

In his epistle to the Ephesians, Paul explained that we as Christians have been saved for the purpose of good works. Thankfully, God has sovereignly prepared them beforehand, but it is our responsibility to walk in them (Eph. 2:10). Again, we can clearly see the tension between human responsibility and divine sovereignty. It is not a case of either/or but of and/both.

My intention is not to imply that our active obedience and good works can be accomplished apart from faith in Christ. Indeed, we are enabled to follow Christ in obedience only because of His strength. Obedience purely from our own strength and for our own credit is legalism. Only through acknowledging our own weakness can we be strong in Christ (2 Cor. 12:10).

It is imperative for our spiritual growth and sanctification that we maintain the equilibrium between responsibility of active obedience and pursuit of righteousness, and reliance on God’s power, strength, and regeneration.

for His glory.
DJ