Irresistible FaithSample

 What if the failure of Christians actually turns out to be the best argument for Christianity? What if the failure of Christians, in the end, is the thing that makes the Christian movement irresistible to billions of souls all over the world? The resurrection story represents the inauguration of a new world order, one in which a new community forms based not on how well God’s people follow his ways, but on how fully God forgives them of their failure and inability to do so.

Stories that tell of Jesus coming first to the likes of Mary Magdalene and Peter with the assurance of forgiveness, unfailing love, and life everlasting are stories that highlight his tender heart toward screw-ups. They are a taste of heaven brought down, signs and shadows of the world that is to come. . . .

As my friend Ray Ortlund often says about his own place in the resurrection story, “I am a complete idiot, my future is incredibly bright, and anyone can get in on this.” These words from Ray are referred to as the “Immanuel Mantra” by the church he pastors, Immanuel Church in Nashville, Tennessee.

Truly, we Christians can be idiots—we can utterly fail to seek, understand, and follow the life-giving ways of God. But what does Ray’s mantra say about our future—not just as individuals, but as a people? Furthermore, how does our future as a people gathered in Christ from every nation, tribe, and tongue (Rev. 7:9) impact the way we treat each other—with all our flaws and sorrows and sins—in the here and now?

First and foremost, the resurrection seals the fact that God has moved our judgment day from the future to the past. We who are in Christ are obligated to stop judging one another and instead get about the work of loving one another.