I’ve been sitting on a blog for about 3 years entitled, “Why Christians are the Absolute Worst.” Every time I was sure I wanted to post it, I lost my nerve.

How will so-and-so take it? Will I harm the body of Christ more than help it? Am I venting or is this something that needs to be said?

I haven’t lost my nerve because I am afraid of the message of that post or that it’s not true. Every time I walked away from it because, quite frankly, I’m not sure my writing and my words can do the message justice. It needs to be said…I just don’t think that I have a voice powerful enough to adequately convey it.

I have watched from the sidelines as Christians use their power and position to make people feel small and unworthy. I have grieved as I have witnessed those with supposed spiritual superiority bully and manipulate those around them. I have been hurt by pride and arrogance being veiled with Christian lingo and “divine revelation” to the point where I wondered if anyone at all was genuine or had any shred of humanity or humility. I have experienced all of this in the safe confines of my Christian bubble. And if I’m honest, I’ve also done it all.

I have used scripture to trump arguments to be supremely right. I have made others feel less-than. I have judged SO deeply. I have questioned the qualifications of those I thought didn’t fit the bill. And worse.

So we Christians…we are the worst. And when those around us fall, we don’t extend the hand of mercy that was graciously and generously extended to us. Even worse, when we fall, we don’t live like those who have experienced profound and remarkable grace.

But today I was reminded that God’s grace is so much bigger than our failures. I was geeking-out to hear a message from the author of a book that changed my world several years ago, Jesus + Nothing = Everything. That author is Tullian Tchividjian. He was visiting our church. If you don’t know who he is, google him. If you do know who he is, you probably have an opinion. Bottom line, he has had one heck of a spectacular fall, so to speak.

During his message, he said something like,

“Every time I tell my own story of adultery and divorce, I’m less nervous telling a non-Christian than I am a Christian — they tend to be less shocked by sin and more surprised by grace.”

It was a statement that had an all-too-familiar ring to it.

We’re all going to blow it. It’s not a matter of if, it’s a matter of when. But the good news is that we are not defined by our screw-ups any more than we are defined by our successes. The reason we Christians are the worst is that we forget this simple truth. It’s not what we do, it’s what He did.

I don’t have a lot of spiritual clout. I don’t pretend to have it all figured out. But my prayer is that God’s grace and the work of the cross so impacts every fiber of my heart and mind and soul that my only response in return is love and kindness and grace to those around me. The Gospel is hope for the sinner. The Gospel is hope for the Christian.

Wreck me, Lord. May I be a life-giver. May my life be a reflection of your grace poured in me.

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Read more about Tullian Tchividjian and his ministry at www.tullian.net