Flawed but Functional - Martin Wiles

For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession. Deuteronomy7:6 NIV

Sin had ensnared another victim. He was flawed but functional. 

I listened as the newscaster gave a piecemeal report. The leaders of a noted mega church were meeting behind closed doors. The pastor had planted the church sixteen years before on a college campus. From a small start, it had grown into a mega church with numerous satellite campuses. Thousands flocked to its campuses weekly. The following morning, I listened to the newscaster again. This time, the news was grimmer. The pastor had been accused of alcohol abuse and asked to step down.

Had church leaders polled church members for advice on how to handle the situation, they would have received a wide variety of opinions. Some would have wanted him to stay, some to leave, and some to take intermediary actions between the two extremes. What would happen to his ministry was also up for grabs. Opinions of those in leadership positions would determine whether he ministers again.

Though God proclaimed his Old Testament people as holy, they were often anything but. They dabbled in the pagan worship rites of their neighbors while trying to worship God simultaneously. Their repeated pattern was faithfulness followed by rebellion. Flaws decorated their lifestyles, just as they did the pastor of this mega church.

Flaws are inevitable. I was born with a flawed nature. Christ gives me a new one at salvation, but he doesn’t immediately perfect me. I’ll have to wait for heaven to experience that. In the meantime, I’m flawed like the Israelites and the pastor—and all people. I journey toward experiential holiness, but flaws keep me from reaching it in this life.

But the news isn’t all bad. We may be flawed, but we’re still functional. Though this pastor abused alcohol and had to step down, God can give him power over his addiction and use him again. God used the Israelites despite their rebellion. King David committed adultery, murdered, schemed, and lied, but God still found room in his service for him. And God has continued to use me, even though I’ve made many missteps into areas I should have avoided.

You may be flawed, but you are still functional in God’s service.

Father, thank you for using me even when I fail to be all you want me to be. 

I invite you to try my book Hurt, Hope, and Healing in eBook or paperback. If you seek hope and healing because of the hurts you have faced, this book is for you. Click on the title above to order your copy. And thanks to all our faithful followers who share our posts on Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin.

Transformation Killers - Martin Wiles

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  Romans 12:2 NKJV

 

We were on the precipice of a breakthrough when I heard those infamous words: “We’ve never done it that way before.” Transformation killers. 

 

Every church I’ve led wanted transformation of some sort. I witnessed it before accepting the position, but the key leaders also saw it. 

For one, it was size. They had dwindled to thirty-five people. Young adult families with children had moved away. The church needed new programs. At the next church, a new building lay on the horizon for some. The current one had deteriorated. Bats filled the belfry. No bathrooms existed upstairs. The next church was steeped in traditions that were killing the church's future. 

 

As the other leaders and I attempted to enact the changes necessary for transformation in appearance, attitudes, and attendance, we were often met with resistance: We’ve never done things this way before. We can’t afford for people to leave. How will we pay for it? Are we large enough to support this program?

We All Need Transformation Sometime

 

Churches periodically need transformation because those of us who go there need transformation. Instead of conforming to the world's destructive attitudes and evil actions, Paul says we should transform or renew our minds so that it reflects Christ’s thoughts.

Watch the Transformation Killers

 

Discouragement, fear, unforgiveness, and pessimism are all transformation killers. Naysayers will always be present when transformation lies on the horizon. Their lists of reasons why transformation can’t take place can be lengthy, but they are all designed to discourage enthusiasm, whether they realize it or not. Discouragement can spread like a raging wildfire and bring pessimism with it. Both will kill excitement.

 

Fear is sometimes behind transformation resistance—fear of change, fear of the different. But God isn’t the author of that spirit. He gives a spirit of power, love, and a sound mind. Belief, faith, and trust will drive away the fear of transformation.

 

Unforgiveness will also kill transformation by preventing us from working together to make it happen. It can be old feuds or conflicts between personalities.

 

Give God any mindset that keeps you or your church from being transformed.

 

Father, renew my mind daily so my actions will move me into the areas of transformation you desire.

I invite you to try my book Hurt, Hope, and Healing. No one escapes life's hurts, but we can move beyond them to hope and healing. Click on the title above to order your copy. And thanks to all our faithful followers who share our posts on Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin.

Flawed but Functional - Martin Wiles

For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession. Deuteronomy 7:6 NIV

Sin had ensnared another victim.

I listened as the newscaster gave a piecemeal report. The leaders of a noted megachurch were meeting behind closed doors. The pastor had planted the church 16 years ago on a college campus. From a small start, it grew into a megachurch with numerous satellite campuses. Thousands flocked to its campuses each week. The following morning, I listened to the newscaster again. This time the news was grimmer. The pastor had been accused of alcohol abuse and asked to step down. 

Had church leaders polled church members for advice on how to handle the situation, they would have been given a wide variety of opinions. Some would want him to stay, some would want him to leave, and some would have given intermediary actions between the two extremes. What will happen to his ministry is also up for grabs. Opinions of those in leadership positions will determine whether he ministers again.

Though God proclaimed His Old Testament people holy, they were often anything but. They dabbled in the pagan worship rites of their neighbors while trying to worship God simultaneously. Their repeated pattern was faithfulness followed by rebellion. God designated them as holy—and expected them to be, but they rarely were. Flaws decorated their lifestyles—just as it did the pastor of this mega church.

Flaws are inevitable.

I was born with a flawed nature. Christ gives me a new one at salvation, but He doesn’t perfect me immediately. I’ll have to wait for heaven to experience that. In the meantime, I’m flawed like the Israelites and the pastor—and all people. I journey toward experiential holiness, but flaws keep me from reaching it in this life. 

But the news isn’t all bad. I may be flawed, but I’m still functional. 

Though this pastor abused alcohol and was asked to step down, God can give him power over his addiction and use him again. God used the Israelites in spite of their rebellion. King David committed adultery, murdered, schemed, and lied, but God still found room in His service for him. And He has continued to use me even though I’ve made many missteps into areas I should have avoided.

You may be flawed, but you are still functional in God’s service. 

Prayer: Father, we thank You for using us even when we fail to be all You want us to be.

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