A Disagreement with Craig Groeschel.

Usually I’m pretty lock, stock, and barrel with Craig Groeschel. I think his ministry and church are breaking ground in so many areas, helping to transition the Church from modern to postmodern (and post-Christian.)

However, I read some words on his blog today that are just flat out wrong.

Craig writes, “My mom used to tell me, ‘Craig, God made you special. You can do anything you set your mind to do.’ Her words made an impact on me. As a child, I honestly believed what she said was true.” I understand what he is trying to convey here: Have dreams and aspirations for your life. But the notion of “I can do anything if I set my mind to it” is a dangerous epidemic in our culture.

The problem comes when someone – anyone – comes up against a limit in their life. They encounter a task or sport or class or job that is simply beyond them to accomplish. For instance, I am fully aware of the fact that I will never be a Greek scholar. Or a pro football player. Or a chemical engineer. And you know what? I’m okay with that. Peter Scazzero calls it the “gift of limits.” I’m learning to embrace mine.

What Craig is suggesting here (all with good intentions, I’m sure) is something I call it the “Mr. Rogers Syndrome.” Mr Rogers Syndrome occurs when young men and women believe they can do anything if they just try hard enough. Optimism is good. Unbridled optimism is not. When they try and try and try and still fail, an overwhelming sense of doubt, fear, depression, and failure creep in and can cause serious derailment in a person’s life. Why? Because, “if you just try hard enough, you can accomplish anything.”

They tried.
And tried.
They failed.

Am I suggesting, like Dante, “Abandon ye hope, all who enter here”? No. Dreams and aspirations are good and even necessary for a human being to live a fulfilling life. But optimism tempered with a sense of reality is to be desired more than pie-in-the-sky daydreaming.

The reality is I have dreams at this moment that will never be fulfilled. I have plenty that will. You, at this moment, have dreams that will never be fulfilled. You have plenty that will. We cannot be naive enough to think that “whatever we set our minds to” will come to pass. That’s not reality. And I pray everyday that God would teach me about the reality he has created.

I’m not mad at Craig. I just wish he’d be more careful with his words and influence. Aspire to inspire, yes, but also aspire (even more so, in my opinion) to teach people to embrace the limits that God has placed in their lives.

What are some of the limits you’ve encountered in your life? Personality? Geography? Education?

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Contributor: Justin Wise

I am a religious deviant who enjoys coffee, collared shirts, spending time with my wife and son, learning about quantum physics and creatively exploring the riches of the Spirit of Christ. Find more here: JustinWise.me
  • Jennifer
    You are misinterpreting Craig's whole point. He is not saying that everyone can do anything if they try hard enough. He is saying that just a few words can encourage, give confidence, and change a life. Wow.
  • April
    Not sure I agree with you completely. Yes I know that often times we do try and fail. But I also think often we are so unaware of what we are actually capable of we never even try to do the big things. I think there's something unique about the people who actually dare to belive "God made them special and they can do what they put their minds to" They are the ones that have the audacity to dream bigger than most and even if they fall short, they take way more land than the ones who never dared. Sure maybe you'll never be a greek scholar but what happened if you dared to try to be the best you could be and give your 100%? I'm sick of people giving into mediocracy. What ever happened to "with God all things are possible"? Peter walking on water and being the voice of the Acts style church, weak willed and poor in speech Moses leading the people out of Egypt, that whore Rahab getting her name in the faith chapter of Hebrews, little David the Shepherd going to be king eh... or maybe that seemingly illegitimate kid born in scandal on the wrong side of the tracks who turned out to die a scandalous death on the cross. Yeah, what would have happened if they stayed within their known limits?
  • Like you I'll never be a Greek scholar. I'd like to have a master's degree, but my life circumstances prevent me from going back right now.

    The education I do have (B.A. in youth ministry) presents some limits in the secular world. Also, in the ministry I serve, my influence to cast vision is limited because I'm not the executive director - not a complaint, just a reality.
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