Rooted in Righteousness?
I would like to point out a weakness in our churches today: we do not understand what it means to be broken. I believe we see this played out in a number of ways. Today, I want to speak of something I have seen in myself, witnessed while attending ACU, and continue to encounter as I work with young adults. Many people raised in the church tend to avoid brokenness while applying ridiculously high expectations of themselves, and it results in people who are absolutely torn apart on the inside wrestling with guilt, denial, and loneliness.
For example: Paco is born and raised within the church. Paco is a goody-two-shoes. Paco has a track record of making wise decisions. But in college, Paco falls victim to pornography. In time, his addiction gains absolute control over him. It effects the way he interacts with women and threatens to deeply harm his relationship with a spouse someday. But Paco cannot imagine confessing his struggle. He cannot imagine the people he would disappoint. He cannot imagine what good Christian people would think about him. And the years go by. Years in which he could have experienced healing. Years in which he could have been restored. Years in which he could have become whole in the Lord, attaining the full potential God had in mind. Instead, Paco’s heart is an absolute mess. He is a slave to sin. He is ridden with guilt. He believes many of Satan’s lies. And he feels very alone on his journey. His potential in the Lord is thwarted, and Satan is pleased. He has established such high expectations for himself, that he cannot admit—even to himself—that something needs to give. And his heart is wrenched with the tension for decades.
I just finished reading a book entitled Broken in the Right Place, by Alan Nelson. It’s a great book that speaks to the natural and necessary path of spiritual brokenness. Here’s what I want to say: it frightens me to think how many Christians are not seeking spiritual wholeness. It frightens me to wonder how many of us Christians are not allowing Christ to display His healing power in our lives at all. Opposite of the title to this blog, I want my children to be rooted in brokenness—an understanding that God’s power is displayed most perfectly in broken lives made whole.
Truly, there is great pain in brokenness. But the body of Christ exists in part to share the journey of brokenness, healing, and wholeness. I think it helps us understand the necessity of brokenness when we work backwards: our purpose is to glorify God; God’s power is displayed most perfectly in broken lives made whole; we must communicate how God has healed our wounds; we must allow God to heal our wounds; we must face our own wounds. The first step to spiritual wholeness is spiritual brokenness.
So, what can we do in our churches to release ourselves from these high expectations? What can we do to create environments where brokenness is expected and handled appropriately?
