WWG1WGA
(media.greatawakening.win)
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<facepalm>
You missed the whole point.
the scripture is a clarification and an exhortation that GOD and Heaven RESPONDS. God is not only the Creator. He is also responsive. Thus, YOU knock, HE opens the door.
So, you want the door open? Do you sit and wait for it to open? Or do you (help yourself/take action/take steps to bring about the result you want)?
That is certainly the positive interpretation of that phrase, but is that how it has been sold to the modern world?
That's certainly not the interpretation of most that utter it in my experience.
Hmmm. How else can it really be interpreted.
Saying "God doesn't exist so you have to do it yourself" or "God's not going to help, so you have to do it yourself" would be one thing, but
"Heaven helps those who helps themselves" is simply that helping yourself - aka "taking (some) responsibility for your situation is virtuous" - is good and valuable.
A bit like, get off your ass, and don't wait around being a victim.
I guess my observations may well be overshadowed by my own prejudices in regards to this, but referring to this as a cabalic axion strikes me as .... strange.
In what sense does your experience tell you that most people use this expression?
It’s origin is from the pre-Christian Greeks, was famously repeated centuries later by the most obvious cabalic infiltrator of the founding fathers, and in popular media is oft repeated by some of the most ungodly people in the modern era to reinforce their selfish choices.
The idea goes against much of the Gospel as Jesus often helped those that were the least deserving by the estimate of his disciples and the world.
https://fwsumc.org/the-bible-doesnt-say-that-god-helps-those-who-help-themselves/
https://nationsu.edu/unbiblical-statements-christians-believe-god-helps-those-who-help-themselves/
https://www.adamhamilton.com/blog/why-god-helps-those-who-help-themselves/
Thanks. I believe I understand the theological angle that you approach this from, although I do not agree with it.
"The idea goes against much of the Gospel" - interpretation.
"Jesus often helped those that were the least deserving"... Hmmm. I see. Do you somehow then interpret this expression to mean, "God will not help you if you are not deserving"?
I'm not assuming that you do, but such a view about God helping or not helping on the basis of who or not is "deserving" does not jive at all with my theological perspective, and I personally think it is decidedly Old Testament level mentality, along with the idea that people find themselves in Hell because God is punishing them.
(how God appeared to and interacted with Israel, for example, was predicated on their capacity to relate with God. They could NOT relate with God as the loving compassionate Father. That capacity was unlocked by Jesus. Much like a child's ability to relate to and understand his parent depends on the level of maturity. People very commonly experience this when they have their own children: only then do they grasp certain things about the reality of who their own parents are or were.)
Either way, rather than a theological justification for how you interpret the expression and why you dislike or disapprove of this expression, I'm curious about in what sense your experience tells you that most people use this expression?
It seems like you almost understand the statement as a criticism or judgment: "If you do not help yourself, God will never help you"
I am curious, anyway.