Quote Vs Quote

Rules:

1. Thank the person who tagged you and link back to his or her post. Thanks, Megan! I'm so excited about this tag and have been ever since I saw it. 
2. Find at least 3 quotes you disagree with. Wow, this is going to be hard. Only three? I have a whole pinterest board devoted to proverbs that are actually lies. 
3. Briefly explain why you disagree with each, and counter it with another quote.
4. Tag whoever you like.
5. Include the graphic somewhere in your post.



Lie #1 "I am strong because of my experiences"

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I'll admit, at first I thought, "Yeah! I relate." 
But then I thought, "NO. This is garbage."

Just think about it ... This goes against the whole nature of who Yeshua (Jesus) is. But, no. He wasn't wise because He'd been foolish but because He was wise and He is God. He didn't become strong after being broken on the cross. No, He was already strong before, and that strength is what allowed Him to be broken. He didn't need to ever be afraid to face fear because He knew better. He was perfect, and not because He once wasn't perfect but because God has always been perfect.

All of us have been foolish, weak, and afraid
But not everyone finds the solution to rise above their broken nature.

I am not healed because I was broken, but because I am healed.
I'm not brave because I was scared, but because I decided to act despite my fears.
Foolishness is not unique to a select few. It's the wise that choose to give up their foolish ways and follow God's wisdom.

Having experienced hardships helps to understand others' hard times better, but I should never think that hard times are unique to me thus making me more emphatic. If I actually thought that ... I'd be even more foolish.

This meme suggests that "I am special because I have experienced evil alone and I pulled myself up out of it and shine brighter."

This meme suggests that being broken must happen in order to be whole.

But experiencing evil is not necessary. Evil is a direct result of refusing to choose what's good at the very start, or simply a result of others' sinful consequences falling onto us. Either way, evil doesn't make us better, God does. Darkness doesn't brighten our light, God gives us His light when we put all our hopes on Him.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer is one of my favorite historical figures. He experienced great evil by doing good when no one else would, and he never stopped trusting God. Even in prison, he had complete joy, not because of being in prison, but because of having God ever at his side.

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On a funny note: I love the song What Doesn't Kill You Makes You Stronger. But in all seriousness, that's actually not usually true. Sometimes what doesn't kill you leaves you weaker. Sometimes what doesn't kill you leaves you broken, or scarred, or destroyed in countless other ways. There are many who have gone through harrowing experiences. There are many who have faced death. But there are few who are able to rise out of PTSD and depression. There is much bitter confidence behind the "What Doesn't Kill You Makes You Stronger" line. If it were really true, such a near-death experience would leave one in utter joy with complete gratitude toward God and less focus on self.

Lie #2 "Don't worry about others when your happiness is at stake"

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This is just complete of egotism. Thinking of only what you want hurts others, and in the end, hurts yourself. You do not find happiness by doing evil, but sacrificing your desires for another. You do not find happiness in selfishness but in complete devotion toward God.

Philippians 2:3-4, "Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests but also for the interests of others."

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Lie #3 "Speak your truth; that's all that matters"

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This one is a little more deceitful because it's almost true. In fact, some of you are probably a little confused as to why I have added it here. 

Truth is absolute. And we are to never stop sharing the truth. 

But just because someone is mad at you doesn't mean you are right. Certain lies require righteous indignation. And that anger is righteousness and not a sign of the one speaking as being correct. 

But even if what is being said is true, honesty is never an excuse for being rude. 

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Wow, well this was actually harder than I thought it would be. But it's been fun! I tag Gray, Rakayle,  Brian, and Audrey.

So, what do you think of the quotes I debunked and the quotes I used to combat them? I'd love to hear your thoughts. 

Also, if I didn't tag you be free to take part in this tag and send me the link to the post you write because I'd really love to see more people debating quotes! It's such a fun idea.