“I Can’t”

The most common excuse that people give for not obeying a particular commandment of God? “I can’t”

Let us say, for example, that the commandment is “Pray.” In fact, this is included in the second commandment, “You shall not misuse God’s name.” In other words, you must use God’s name rightly. You must pray. It is what He wants you to do, and it is what He commands. So, if I were to ask, “Why do you not pray?” the most common excuse I am likely to hear is “I can’t.”

“Why can’t you?”

“I am too busy. I don’t know what to say. There is no place quiet enough. I just can’t concentrate.” That list could go on and on. I am not so much concerned with the list, though, as I am with the two words, “I can’t.” The same is true for any sort of disobedience:

• You must stop living with your boyfriend (6th Commandment). “I can’t stop.”
• You must let go of your anger (5th Commandment). “I can’t let go of it.”
• You must attend the Divine Service (3rd Commandment). “I can’t go.”
• You must stop getting drunk (5th Commandment). “I can’t. I’m addicted.”

Spiritually speaking, the reasons do not matter. The “I can’t” is what matters. For, when God says, “Do it” and I say “I can’t. It’s impossible”, I have transferred the guilt from myself to God. God is the One who made a mistake here. He should have known better. He should have been more considerate. He should not be so stern, so un-loving. But, if God cannot be trusted to know what is best for me, I will have to trust myself. I will determine what is right and good and of what I am capable. In a word, I will be my own god.

There is the rub. I surmise that what lies behind every “I can’t” is the willful choice to be one’s own god, which is idolatry. The truth is there is no such thing as “I can’t” when it comes to God’s commandments. There is only “I will” or “I won’t”.

Thus, if you are spiritually lethargic or bored, if God seems distant from you and you continue your religious life for mere perfunctory obligation, is it because you have been saying to God “I can’t”? You may have thought it was innocent, perhaps even humble, but it is not. With those two words, you have said no to your God and walked your own way.

What are you to do, then? You will have made very significant progress if you can at least turn your “I can’t” into “I can”. You can pray. You can stop having sex with a man who is not your husband. You can choose not be angry. You can come to church. You can follow the commandments. God is not asking the impossible out of you. He loves you and wants only the best for you. But, up to this point, you have simply said no to Him. You have not trusted Him. You can what He asks; you just haven’t.

This makes all the difference! “I can’t” points the finger at God; “I haven’t” points the finger at myself. “I can’t” makes me the judge. “I haven’t” makes God the Judge. “I can’t” is a deflection; “I haven’t” is a confession, a real Christian confession. Jesus Christ doesn’t forgive what you “can’t” do. He forgives what you “haven’t” done. He forgives sins. He absolves guilt.

The commandments of God are clear, and they are, in fact, do-able. Why have we not done them? Because we are sinners, both with Adam’s inherited sin and our own willful sins. We choose our own way. But God in Christ will not let our sins stand in the way. He intervenes. He calls us back again and absolves us in mercy. Because He is our God, because the Absolution is real forgiveness, because we desire to trust Him and follow after Him, we make confession and we are absolved. Our guilt is actually removed.

If you are ready to hear the Lord’s concrete word of forgiveness, spoken into your ear by the order and in the stead of Jesus Christ, then see me for individual Confession and Absolution. Spiritually dry and lethargic? This may be just the thing. Take the risk. God is good. You can trust Him.
Affectionately Yours,
Pastor Melius