The Outsiders | Rebuilding Barriers

Look at your situation when you were called, brothers and sisters! By ordinary human standards not many were wise, not many were powerful, not many were from the upper class. But God chose what the world considers foolish to shame the wise. God chose what the world considers weak to shame the strong. And God chose what the world considers low-class and low-life—what is considered to be nothing—to reduce what is considered to be something to nothing. So no human being can brag in God's presence. It is because of God that you are in Christ Jesus. He became wisdom from God for us. He made us righteous, holy, and redeemed. This is consistent with what was written: If anyone wants to brag, they should brag about the Lord! 

1 Corinthians 1:26-31 (Common English Bible)

Not everyone who reads about Jesus tearing down barriers to following him feels liberated. Some people feel exposed. Because some of us aren't trying to decide if other people are qualified. We're trying to figure out if we're qualified. We're not rebuilding barriers to keep others out. We're standing outside the barriers wondering if we'll ever be good enough to get in.

Maybe you've been told you're not qualified. Maybe you've been rejected by churches or faith communities that said you didn't meet their standards. Maybe you've internalized messages your whole life that you're not smart enough, not spiritual enough, not together enough to really follow Jesus.

Maybe you look at other Christians – the ones who seem to have it all figured out, who pray eloquently, who know all the right Bible verses, who never seem to struggle – and you think, "I'll never be like them. I'll never be good enough."

Or maybe you look at your own life – the mistakes you've made, the ways you've fallen short, the areas where you're still struggling – and you think, "If people really knew me, they'd know I don't belong here."

But Paul tells us God didn't choose you because you were qualified. God chose you even though you weren't. Paul reminds the Corinthians that by ordinary human standards, not many of them were wise, powerful, or from the upper class. God didn't call them because they met the qualifications. God called them because God chooses what the world considers foolish, weak, and low-class to accomplish his purposes.

This isn't meant to be insulting. It's meant to be liberating. Because if God only called people who were qualified, most of us wouldn't stand a chance. If God only welcomed people who had it all together, the kingdom would be pretty empty. If God only chose people who were good enough, none of us would be chosen.

But that's not how God works. God calls fishermen who never went to rabbinical school. God calls tax collectors who collaborated with Rome. God calls people who are foolish by the world's standards, weak by the world's standards, nothing by the world's standards.

And God calls you. Not because you're qualified. Not because you have it all together. Not because you're good enough. But because that's who God is and what God does.

So if you've been standing outside wondering if you'll ever be good enough to follow Jesus, here's what you need to hear: You're not good enough. None of us are…but Jesus calls us anyway.

If you've been waiting until you get your life together before you really commit to following Jesus, here's what you need to know: You'll never get your life together enough. But Jesus isn't waiting for that. Jesus is calling you right now, exactly as you are.

If you've been disqualified by others or if you've disqualified yourself, here's what you need to understand: Jesus tears down the barriers to becoming his disciple. Including the barriers you've built around yourself.

You don't have to be wise by the world's standards. You don't have to be powerful. You don't have to be from the upper class. You don't have to have perfect theology or a spotless past or a completely together present. You just have to be willing to come and see.

Because Jesus didn't call qualified people. Jesus called fishermen and tax collectors. Jesus called people who were foolish and weak and nothing by the world's standards. Jesus called people like us.

So stop waiting until you're good enough. Stop standing outside wondering if you belong. Stop letting others' rejections or your own doubts keep you from following Jesus. Because you're not good enough, and you never will be. But Jesus calls you anyway.

Prayer:

God, we're not qualified. We don't have it all together. We're not good enough by any reasonable standard. But thank you for calling us anyway. Thank you for choosing what the world considers foolish and weak and nothing. Thank you for tearing down the barriers we've built around ourselves. Help us stop waiting until we're good enough and start following you right now, exactly as we are. Help us believe that we really do belong because you've called us, not because we've earned it. Amen.