Apples of Gold

Math was not my favorite subject in high school. The teacher would introduce a new concept with a simple example or two and send us home with homework that was on a completely different level of difficulty, bearing little resemblance to what was demonstrated in class. My carefully copied notes were of little help and I found myself left to stumble along in a cloud of confusion unless one of my math savvy family members was available to make sense of it all. 

Oversimplification can be a tripping hazard both in math and in life. Imagine you were given a bomb to diffuse and your only instruction was “Just make sure you cut the right wire”.  It wouldn’t matter how proficient the instructor was or how many bombs they had diffused. Withholding key information in this situation could have disastrous results!

As followers of Jesus we are called to be living examples of what true relationship with God looks like. 

Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity. I Timothy 4:12

That is quite a tall order. I certainly have days that I fall short of being a good example. There is another side to this that is seldom talked about. 

We are often guilty of oversimplifying the Christian walk. While we happily display our perfect attendance award or show off our current devotional, we rarely allow the curtain to part and reveal our struggles, failures and lessons learned the hard way. 

Maybe it is our pride, or a desire to impress others but we tend to want to show off our shiny parts. We even tend to exaggerate the good stuff. A few minutes scrolling through social media reveals our attempt to hide our mistakes. Like putting a thick layer of frosting on an uneven, over-baked cake we bury the embarrassing stuff, hoping no one will be the wiser.

Paul took a different approach: 

I will boast only about my weaknesses. 2 Corinthians 12:5

Paul had a long list of accomplishments and numerous stories of God’s miraculous deliverance, protection and provision and yet he was careful to share the underbelly. He allowed us to see that he was a flawed human, just like we are. 

Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. 2 Corinthians 12:8-9

Not many of us would be so quick to stand up on testimony night and  boast that we prayed and God said “No”.  Perhaps Paul knew something we have missed. 

I want you to know, my dear brothers and sisters, that everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the Good News. For everyone here, including the whole palace guard, knows that I am in chains because of Christ. And because of my imprisonment, most of the believers here have gained confidence and boldly speak God’s message without fear. Philippians 1:12-14 

Not in spite of Paul’s suffering, but because of it, a new confidence was birthed in the believers around him. Our struggles hold the same potential. When we allow others to get a glimpse of our true state of chaos and need for divine rescue, it might just spark a bit of hope that perhaps they are salvageable as well. 

The oversimplified presentation of Christianity often hides the very things that others need to see. We might mean well, but our lack of transparency can actually be a tripping hazard to those who mistake our silence for superiority. 

I find great hope in these words that just so happen to be written by Paul:

Don’t fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, or who worship idols, or commit adultery, or are male prostitutes, or practice homosexuality, or are thieves, or greedy people, or drunkards, or are abusive, or cheat people-none of these will inherit the Kingdom of God. Some of you were once like that. But you were cleansed, you were made holy, you were made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.  I Corinthians 6:9-11

Vulnerability shouts from the rooftops, “I was a mess but God turned my life around and he can do it for you too!”.  Vulnerability admits that I still struggle, have bad days and get it wrong. I am a work in progress and so are you. 

And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. Philippians 1:6