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It’s not hyperbole to say that our society is obsessed with strength. The rhetoric of the day is brimming with references to spiritual, emotional, and physical strength and ability. Our desire to be strong and “LiveStrong” shines through in our “World’s Strongest Man” tournaments and “CrossFit Games.” We want the world to see us and see how strong we are. We want to be the hero, the one who saves the day by summoning some spark of inner strength. A similar mindset has infected the church.

The American gospel has claimed too many adherents in its posturing of spiritual grit and grind. We’ve come to believe that God’s Word is all about us and that it’s here to show us how to be strong and get better. Many might even claim, inherently though not explicitly, that a requirement for God is personal goodness and strength. But nothing could be further from the truth. A the core of the gospel message is the inherent idea that God uses weak people because weak people are all that there are. Therefore, weakness, honesty, and transparency aren’t things to be avoided, but ought to be engaged in a clear understanding of the gospel of grace and forgiveness.

In this episode of the Ministry Minded Podcast, I’m joined once again by Tullian Tchividjian to discuss the current church climate that craves the strong and ostracizes the vulnerable, and how church exiles can find their way back home.

Resources.

One Way Love: Inexhaustible Grace for an Exhausted World, Tullian Tchividjian

It Is Finished: 365 Days of Good News, Tullian Tchividjian

Night Driving: Notes from a Prodigal Soul, Chad Bird

Grace in Practice: A Theology of Everyday Life, Paul Zahl

All Is Grace: A Ragamuffin Memoir, Brennan Manning

Law and Gospel: A Theology for Sinners (and Saints), William McDavid,‎ Ethan Richardson,‎ & David Zahl

Grace: So Much More Than You Know and So Much Better Than You Think, Brad J. Gray

Sponsor.

This episode is brought to you by the Christian Standard Bible. Find out more by going to CSBible.com.

Notes.

Tullian currently lives in Fort Meyers, Florida with his wife Stacie. There he ministers primarily through writing on his blog, Tullian.net. He also regularly travels and speaks in various venues, the mission, of which, is always to help broken people encounter God’s boundless love. You can also follow him on Twitter, @tulliant.

Credits.

Intro music: “West Coast” by Ryan Little, licensed under CC BY 4.0.