The Freedom of Failure

One of the greatest obstacles to the Gospel is when we pretend we have it all together.

Hide our faults. Talk about our struggles in the past tense. Convince ourselves that if we can’t see our sins, they must not exist.

But this attitude is toxic – and sets us up for even greater failure.

broken glass final

Personally, I have found freedom in finally letting go of the lie that because I’m a follower of Jesus, I’m supposed to have it all together.

In The Spiritual Danger of Doing Good, I share just a few of the times pride caused me to make poor leadership decisions, how I masked workaholic behavior with ministry language, and how I’ve simply made a mess of things.

I’m not sure why sharing such stories was a good idea. But I have been touched by the responses from friends who’ve read it. It’s as if taking off the man makeup and opening up with some of my faults has allowed even deeper friendships and conversations.

Musician Thad Cockrell said, Strengths divide, but faults unite.

Brokenness brings people together and is a prerequisite to understanding the Good News.

At its core, the Gospel is for broken people. It isn’t a message for the people who believe they have it all together. Jesus said, It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick; I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners (Mark 2:17).

We can’t understand Grace unless we recognize we don’t have it all together.  So let’s stop pretending.  And then begin a journey of healing and restoration in complete dependence on our Savior.

Using different language and from another perspective, researcher Brene Brown comes to a similar conclusion in her powerful TED talk, “The Power of Vulnerability.”

[ted id=1042]

If you want to join a community of beautifully broken people, check out People of the Second Chance: http://www.potsc.com/. Mike Foster founded this community to celebrate stories of those who don’t have it all together, who are broken, messed up, but come back with a renewed reliance on God’s grace.

When was the last time, in a trusted relationship, you found the freedom that comes when we stop pretending we have it all together?

 

3 Comments

  1. Greg Murtha
    July 24, 2013

    Peter,

    There’s magic in vulnerability…that is where real relationship is found. Just yesterday I stumbled across the following quote, “All ministry begins at the ragged edge of pain.” Ian Cron, Chasing After Francis.

    Now…we can attempt to avoid pain and avoid vulnerability altogether however if we do we miss the deep joys of relationship and true connection with others. We are much more approachable when we’re real. Frankly…that’s why there is greater community at an AA meeting than most Sunday School classes in the US. Everyone enters an AA meeting broken…Sunday School…not so much.

    Finally, Brennan Manning used to say, “I will not follow a leader who does not have a limp.” I tend to agree with Brennan.

    Keep up the great work my friend!

    Blessings,

    Greg Murtha

    Reply
  2. Cristian Shoemaker
    July 25, 2013

    Great stuff Peter, you are a true leader.

    Reply
  3. […] On the same passage, Peter K. Greer writes: […]

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