The Gospel of Jesus Christ isn’t difficult. Rather it is “profoundly” simple– a little child can understand its truth. We must acknowledge the obvious. We dare not complicate His Word, John 3:16 is very clear: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
This simplicity becomes a big stumbling block for many. The apostle Paul writes the Corinthians and says it this way:
“Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are,”
1 Corinthians 1:26-28, NIV
We are broken believers. We are the mentally ill, the addicted, the handicapped, the rascal. We come to Jesus and find His love, acceptance and power. He gives all of this (and more) to the desperate. The gospel is meant for us. There is no other place to go. “Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life,” (John 6:68).
We understand weakness and the door is open for us. Our simple faith opens entry into the “Kingdom-possible.” We’ve been chosen to access this Good News, and not because we’re exceptionally clever or wonderfully gifted.
We are known by the world by a variety of names: Holy Joe, Jesus freak, Super saint, Bible thumper, fundie, holy roller, religitard, religious nut/fruitcake. There are plenty more. All theses names are derogatory. They are used to demean. Usually the person who uses them have a hidden issue or two. But insults are hardly a legitimate argument. That isn’t their purpose.
The words may scorn us. But didn’t they say the same to the Lord Jesus?
There is a fool’s wisdom for broken believers. It saves us and changes us into God’s own children. We gladly bear “His reproach” and we publicly identify with Him every chance we get.
““So, let us go out to Him outside the camp, bearing His reproach.”
Hebrews 13:13, NASB
Broken Believers 