Crab Christians

When William Carey (1761–1834) wanted to come to India as a missionary, he faced strong opposition from other Christians. A well-known person once said to him,

“If God wants to save the Gentiles, God can do it in His own way. Do you think it will happen only if you go?”

When William Carey tried to rise up for God, people tried to pull him down. This kind of behavior is called Crab Mentality.

The term “Crab Christians” is a metaphor. It became popular in Christian circles after around 1950. Many preachers, Christian writers, and spiritual teachers began using this term as a form of social and spiritual criticism.

When crabs are put in a bucket, if one crab tries to climb out, the other crabs pull it back down. The crabs may not know why they are doing it, but this behavior became a picture (metaphor) of people who pull others down when they try to grow.

In the same way, when a believer tries to grow spiritually, some people in the same church pull him or her down through jealousy, criticism, and discouragement. Such people came to be called “Crab Christians.”

In the Bible, King Saul, because of envy, selfishness, revenge, and insecurity, tried to destroy David, who was growing spiritually. Saul used many plans to bring David down.

In the same way, the scribes, Pharisees, kings, and even His own family members tried to pull down our beloved Lord Jesus Christ, who came as the Son of Man and was moving forward with great power and influence.

Before moving forward, we must ask ourselves a question:

Are we like those scribes, Pharisees, or like Saul?

Do we have such qualities in our hearts?

If we do, it will only harm us.

A crab in a bucket may be defeated, but a believer who is truly growing in the church and in the will of the living God will never be defeated. He may look defeated for a time, but in truth, he is not defeated.

When Saul was chasing David and David was running away, everyone thought David was losing. But how could David, who was walking in God’s will, be defeated? He was not defeated at all.

Some people thought our Lord had no beauty or form. They thought He had become weak and worthless.

But our Lord, who humbled Himself according to God’s will, now sits at the right hand of Almighty God as the radiance of God’s glory (Hebrews 1:3).

When God was lifting William Carey up, people tried to pull him down. But William Carey overcame all opposition and came to India. He influenced India with a godly atmosphere. He translated the Bible into 35 languages and laid the foundation for education, social reforms, and the modern missionary movement.

That is why he is called the “Father of Modern Missions.”

To God alone be the glory!

Those who try to pull down growing believers are Crab Christians.

Those who cannot tolerate the growth of others are Crab Christians.

But let us remember this truth:

Obstacles will surely come, but woe to the person through whom the obstacle comes (Matthew 18:7).

A growing believer will never be defeated.

Mark 14:21 says:

“The Son of Man will go just as it is written about Him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.”

Let us examine this message from both sides and allow it to change our spiritual lives.

May God bless you all.

-Elisha Bonnke