Warts and All

Alyssa shared some great thoughts today about Christian growth, maturity, and keepin’ it real. (btw, if you’re unfamiliar with her courtship story it’s a must read! It’s here and here. And, as a mom of 8, her thoughts on the quiverfull movement aren’t to be missed–part 1, part 2, part 3.)

Here’s an excerpt from Alyssa’s article:

Strong is different now then what I use to think. Strong no longer means or looks like it has it all together. Strong is no longer the one with all the right words or counsel. Strong is no longer the one who always wears a smile. Strong is no longer the one who does the “right” standards. Strong isn’t the one everyone thinks it is. Strong no longer looks to me like it did…

But what might take you by surprise is that you will be curious, maybe even drawn to those who say they have the “answers” and call themselves christians – that they know all that you should and shouldn’t do to be a “good” christian – and have the “proof” that it’s right by their outward amazingly well-behaved self.

So true. I prefer to hang out with and learn from real people–the ones who aren’t afraid to be themselves, warts and all! They don’t have all the answers, aren’t always smiling (because, really, sometimes life stinks), and readily admit to their mistakes and shortcomings. The ones who are humble enough to say “I don’t know.”

High outward standards characterize the life of the weaker brother, not the stronger one (Romans 14).