Wholeness: Stopping Short

In a previous post, I made this statement "God the Father created us, the world broke us, and Jesus the son can recreate us." I repeat it now to elaborate on why we fall short of that last state that leads to wholeness.

People putting their brokenness up on a proverbial pedestal is becoming the norm. So much so we even have people applauding this self-destructive behavior, as well as demonizing anyone who discourages them. We even see the church getting fixated on our own brokenness. Granted, facing our faults is a part of the process of finding wholeness, as I have indicated often over the course of this series. But for the disciple, this is but a doorway to greater glories, not the end, or a state to get stuck at, but frequently do. In a way, our brokenness can be the ultimate excuse, this is one of the reasons why the world loves their brokenness so much, it can rationalize their parasitic behavior. But, we as the church need to go further by moving beyond that to transformation, instead of stopping short of the born-again experience.

I’ve alluded to this idea of stopping short throughout the series. We as the church often stop short at the cross, never even approaching the resurrected life. We stop short at Easter but never putting the period of Pentecost at the end of the sentence. In a similar way, by indulging our brokenness, but never seeking renewal through it, we are stopping short of wholeness. Which means we are stopping short of genuine holiness as well. In a way, we are inadvertently denying Christ as a re-creator by doing this.

Those that embrace their brokenness as their true self, and use that as a rationalization or excuse for their horrible behavior towards others are inevitably the users and abusers of this world. A pattern that ensures an additional generation of parasitic behavior. We as the church should seek better, and serve as a better example. If we don't step up and break this cycle, nobody will. But, we have to be brave yet humble enough to do that. This is likely the main reason we stop short as disciples, we lack the courage to face the most humbling thing of all, our own hearts. For many, this thought makes our brokenness seem attractive.

The Visual PARABLEist

And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit -2nd Corinthians 3:18

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. -2nd Timothy 4:7

Don't get so caught up in your initial glory that you forget to finish the journey.