Since I was barely out of the womb, I've been in church. Sunday school, bible studies, small groups, sermons. I figure I've got several years worth of hours of teaching soaked in there somewhere. I'm still amazed that I'm still not getting it.
But as I've looked at the familiar Bible characters lately, I'm seeing them differently as I read with an open mind. All those great heros of faith were also involved in the most sordid of sinful ways. Murder. Adultery. Bribery. Lying. Cheating. Gambling, Addictions. The Bible doesn't hold anything back, so why should we? This rosy picture that the world presumes upon the bible and it's adherents just isn't so. We aren't a bunch of goody two shoes.
We are broken, needy people. Just like them.
Why does the bible talk about Noah's drunkenness, David's adultery and Elijah's depression? Why does it show Samson's lust, Adam's complacency and Peter's cowardice? Why not just talk about the good parts. It's because it wants our heroes to be real – and for God’s redemption and grace to shine through.They are real men, with real weaknesses. And they serve a real God, who offers restoration.
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| Romanian 7-year old Julian Stroe has better abs than I do. |
If you’ve screwed up, you might feel that that one act defines who you are. But it doesn’t. A single chapter doesn’t make a whole book. You’re still breathing right here, right now. So that means the story is still being told.
Get down with your bad self! (Sorry, couldn't resist)
ReplyDeleteMy experience with Scripture has been very similar. I've been a student of it all my life. Yet, I'm seeing all sorts of things there that I've glossed over before. Almost as if the stuff were living and active. Or something.
Maybe it has to do with learning Sunday School lessons with cartoon pictures. Sometimes I retain a very cartoon-like image of what was really going on.
You scared me for a minute with that picture. I thought it was actually a childhood picture of you. Thought you were getting way too brave in this season of life.
Good post, David.
We hear all about David and Goliath, but not so much about David and Uriah, hmm?
ReplyDeleteRedemption. Scripture overflows with it.
And I need it.
This is a great synopsis of God's mercy for us.
ReplyDeleteWhat gets my knickers in a knot are the folks who take the "I'm so sinful" attitude and approach. They constantly compare how bad they are with how great God is. ...woe is me.
When we are His, He carries our sins, and we ought to reflect His love and light by our newness in Christ, rather than bemoaning the old man we once were.
(I reckon I just preached to the choir here. Sorry.)
Blessings.
True. All true. And all of those sinful biblical heroes went on to greatness for the Lord. Or, as a friend often reminds me---"God doesn't call on the equipped...He equips the called."
ReplyDeleteA FREAKIN MEN. See?! This is the kind of thing I NEED to be reading right now. Very ENCOURAGING! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteI love it, David!
ReplyDeleteI smiled all the way thru this post!
This is exactly what we, the church, need more of...a good dose of reality to knock our too-tight halos loose and expose the mud hidden beneath our self-righteous robes.
Keep on keeping it real, brother!
I love this! I couldn't handle Christianity if it weren't so. I'm with you the beauty in the Bible is the truthful reality. Abraham gave his wife, Sarah away? You read that and know God loves everyone : )
ReplyDeleteGreat post!
..Outstanding.....i want to print out the last paragraph and hang it up at work..its That Good....
ReplyDeleteSometimes we're not ready to see the big bad. But once we fall on our face a few times, we begin to see our humanity with a bit more clarity. Beginning with ourselves.
ReplyDeleteAnd once we get a look at that, we're ready to see Grace.
And we are all just as filthy as the next man without grace. Life-time christians have trouble believing there isn't a hierarchy of sins. But my sin, even if I'm the purist person on earth, is just as bad in God's sight as the most horrid depraved man. We all fall short. Without the blood washed over us, He can not stand the sight of any of us.
ReplyDeleteThis is funny because I've been doing the same thing this year - trying to read the Bible with new eyes, as though I didn't already know the stories and teachings I've always heard go along with those stories. The result has been seeing just how messed up some of the Bible heros really are! I admit, it's been hard to deal with some of the things I've read simply because I am such a "good Southern girl" and have that mindset...but I'm learning a lot. Even wrote about it in my last blog...I guess great minds think alike - or God is simply leading a lot of us to see things in a new way!
ReplyDeleteDonna
anotherbattlewon.blogspot.com
This is why I like the Bible. It could never get published in the Christian industry.
ReplyDeleteOh, David! And Oh, Megan! LOVE, love, love this. So well said - so true, so encouraging to know that God can use us, warts and all. Sometimes really, really BIG warts, too. :>)
ReplyDeleteAwesomeness!!!
ReplyDeleteDavid - I love the way you are pursuing this idea (and still believe you are building a great book proposal here!). My cynical mind always reads these bible stories now with an eye towards all the unbelievable mess that these people created for themselves. I think of even David, great King David, and all the corruption and sex and disfunctional family relations he ended up with. God uses it all. He uses us all. Somehow. Keep encouraging us bad boys, David.
ReplyDelete(btw I love that photo!)