Vulnerability

Monday was not a great day. It wasn’t a jump off a bridge, cut your wrists kind of day; but it wasn’t good. I didn’t make it to prayer Monday night, but I did ask for prayer relating to how my day had not been great. My normal inclination would have been just to say I couldn’t make it and not to admit that I was struggling. 

I was prayed for on Monday night, and Tuesday was much better. For example, one of my toughest cases, in which I represent a friend, made a turn in our direction and will now likely be resolved exactly as we hoped. It was better in other ways as well. 

It’s interesting that when I met people who had been at the Monday night prayer, they asked if I was feeling better and assumed that I had been sick. I guess in our society it’s okay to admit you are ill, but not so much to discuss being under spiritual attack or emotionally strained. These admissions make us vulnerable and that’s something we avoid.

Nonetheless, I am convinced that our willingness and ability to become vulnerable to one another is critical to our success as individuals and as the church. Let me try to explain. We know, as Christians, that our goal is for others to see Christ in us. We sometimes assume that means we need to always appear to be happy, healthy, holy and in control. Nothing could be further from the truth. That doesn’t demonstrate Christ; that demonstrates hypocrisy. 

For example, our church, like many others has a period on Sundays which we call fellowship time. During this period, a couple of hundred folks roam about the congregation, greeting each other, shaking hands, asking about each others lives, and lying about our current condition. Oh I know that sometimes, we are doing great and everything is fine, but that’s not true all the time. In fact, I dare say, it’s not true most of the time. I understand that a brief meet-and-greet period may not be the best time to share our inner most struggles, but we have to find a time and a place to do it. 

You see in order for others to see Jesus, that have to see us as we really are: struggling sinners saved by grace. In that condition, Jesus can be clearly seen. In the fake, everything is fine. I am all dressed up and really holy condition, Jesus is never seen.  Jesus told us in the way we love each other, we would be identified as His. We love each other when we truly know each other and care for and lift up each other in spite of our conditions.

Vulnerability is tough especially for us guys. But if we don’t learn to practice it and to respond properly to it in others, we will miss the great commission Jesus has for us. That just wouldn’t be right.

Be blessed.

Nick