Admit It
Donald Miller says that he will not follow anybody who cannot admit a mistake.
Throughout the ages, Christians have been more than comfortable admitting their humanity, almost as a reference to God’s goodness. Until, that is, western civilization and, perhaps, the commercialization of our culture. Now Jesus is a product, and we sell him, and if we are selling a product, the product better work, so we just make things up about how great we are.
This “free market Jesus” — as Don refers to the phenomenon elsewhere — is so pervasive and destructive that it is a wonder we get anything accomplished at all as a church. That we do is a testament to God’s mercy and never-ending grace.
The fact that most of the New Testament was written by a guy who used to go around persecuting Christians should be enough to convince us that God does not use perfect people. (Tip: there are none.) However, the Bible does not outline merely one story of a messed up life being used for His purposes but a myriad.
Don lists many.
Peter denies Christ, but God leaves the incident in the text, Moses is a murderer, but God leaves the story in the text, David cheats on his wife, Lot offers his daughters, Thomas won’t believe his friends who saw Christ alive…
Those of us who have been forgiven much are in a much better place to show forgiveness to others. You will appreciate the trust you build far more than the friends you lose when they find out you are not perfect. They would have figured it out on there own eventually anyway.
