Ladder Logic

Recently I was blessed to hear a speaker share the common understanding many of us have before coming to a saving faith in Christ. He shared how the system of religious belief that he was raised in led to the understanding that salvation was earned—much like a man climbing a ladder and pulling himself up one rung at a time. As he wisely shared, I mentally reflected upon my experiences with ladders and those who have used them—both physically and spiritually.

As I thought, I realized that there are times when it is best to stay off of ladders. Ladders are useful at times and often seem logical. However, ladders can often be inadequate or simply too short—causing us not to reach our goal. Sometimes they are dangerous to the point of even causing injury. For many, they can cause such a great fall that the one clinging to the ladder may become a victim to even death itself. Using the faithful illustration, I decided to take it a step, or rung, further. I began to contemplate why ladder logic should be avoided—especially when it comes to laboring in God’s harvest-ready white fields (Matt 9:37–38).

As believers, we know that ladder logic should be avoided when it comes to our salvation. The idea of pulling ourselves up one rung at a time to obtain our forgiveness, the goal of salvation, and enjoying the glory of our Lord forever is simply inadequate. The ladder is too short. This is what we present when explaining man’s condition and sharing the gospel with others. The Scriptures convey that our salvation is not of works (Eph 2:9; Gal 2:16; Tit 3:5). We express that this ladder is not only inadequate but also dangerous. All who climb it will stumble—becoming wounded and hurt, they will struggle daily in such logic, not realizing they are still unforgiven and under God’s wrath in their futile, painful labor in ladder logic. With each step, they slip and fall short of God’s glory (Rom 3:23; James 2:10), never reaching their goal. Consequently, straining to reach their goal in ladder logic, they lean and fall to their demise—missing their only means of obtaining salvation in the Lord Jesus (Jn 14:6; Acts 4:12). For these reasons, we avoid ladder logic when ministering in God’s field and sharing the good news of God’s glorious gospel with others. Salvation simply is impossible outside the work of Christ.

But as we move one step further, we also should avoid ladder logic when it comes to our serving in God’s harvest. It is certainly true that we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works and that we should walk in them (Eph. 2:10). However, embracing or conveying any thought of pulling ourselves up one rung at a time in our Christian service is certainly something we should avoid in our Lord’s harvest fields. As in our saving, this ladder also comes up short in our serving. Eternal glory and reward will not be obtained by embracing such logic (Rom 11:36; 1 Cor. 10:31). The fruit of our labors is obtained only in Christ (Jn 15:5). The very service we conduct in God’s harvest is by his very grace working in us (1 Cor. 15:10). As with all ladder logic, it can be quite dangerous to embrace the notion that we can pull ourselves up one rung at a time in our service for God. If we embrace or convey this logic before others, they may be injured, seeking to labor in God’s field without the very Lord of the harvest as they reach for the next rung. We, therefore, reject such logic and show our reliance on God by praying “earnestly to the Lord of the harvest” (Matt 9:38) in dependence on Him. We meditate in God’s Word and apply it (Joshua 1:8; 2 Tim 3:16), handling it rightly as workers who are not ashamed (2 Tim 2:15). We understand that ladder logic in our service can cause a fall in the lives of those following behind us that may result in great injury. Depending on themselves rather than God and His Word, they may experience the loss of reward (1 Cor. 3:12-15). For others, it may be much more fatal, even bringing them to a false premise of believing they are God’s child by thinking they are performing His work on their own. While climbing the ladder one rung at a time, some may never experience God’s salvation or be known by Him—serving Him in name only (Matt 7:22-23). For this reason, we avoid ladder logic in our serving as laborers in God’s great harvest while displaying and exercising our dependence on Him. Serving God is simply impossible outside the work of Christ.

As I reflect upon these thoughts, it is interesting to note that each year, there are more than 164,000 emergency room-treated injuries and 300 deaths in the U.S. that are caused by falls from ladders. Most of these deaths are from falls of 10 feet or less.[1] As the statistic suggests, ladders, although useful at times, can be dangerous if used wrongly. Ladder logic may have its place, but it certainly is not in our saving or in our serving in God’s harvest. It will prove to be not only inadequate but also dangerous and even fatal. May God give us the grace to step off our spiritual ladders and help others do the same as they serve Him in His field of harvest.

[1] Accessed January 24, 2004, https://www.nachi.org/ladder-safety.htm

Ron David is the pastor of Townsend Bible Church, Newburgh, IN.

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