Of all the terrible lies that are passed off as biblical truth, my favorite is, “You are enough.” It is a well-constructed deception that plays on my ego. It’s exactly what I would say to arrogant Americans if I wanted to build a successful cult.

It seems almost humble. The word ‘enough’ isn’t pompous and flashy. I can declare that I am enough in a whisper, with my eyes lowered. I am not saying I’m better than you. I’m not saying I’m awesome. I’m just saying I’m adequate. I’m merely sufficient. There’s nothing egotistical in that, right?

Wrong.

I am trying to take credit for stuff that I received from God. The talents and abilities that I display are gifts. My sufficiency does not come from my own efforts. The truth is, I am NOT enough. Without God’s grace and generosity, I am nothing.

Christians: you were told to ‘Preach the word.’ There are no passages in the Bible that speak about the sufficiency of human beings. Jesus never, ever, ever, said that his disciples are capable of getting by on their own. He said you are branches that aren’t good for anything when you’re cut from the vine. The Bible says, repeatedly, that you are NOT enough.

So stop preaching things that you didn’t get from scripture.

(2 Timothy 4:2) Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.