God Doesn’t Need Our Perfection
By: Jonas Ellison
Tags: Spirituality, Christianity, Life, Religion, Theology

Maybe you’ve heard something like this spoken from a pulpit near you…

“Unless you’re living as Jesus did every minute of every day, there’s no chance that you’ll enter the kingdom of God.”

I heard it recently from a well-known pastor, but I‌ know this sentiment isn’t limited to just this individual. It’s the theology of countless churches. And to zoom out even more, it’s the theology of humanity.

We humans get so ingrained in thinking that it’s up to us as individuals to prove our worth and to perform our way into enoughness (righteousness). The human ego loves to have skin in the game.

But here’s the thing… The God I’ve gotten to know through reading the Bible — particularly in the gospel of Jesus — is one who doesn’t put the onus on humans to love. Jesus doesn’t surround himself with people who are perfectly loving, honest, and upstanding citizens. He doesn’t gravitate to those who are put together — who are towering examples of religious perfection. He doesn’t call the successful and politically connected. He doesn’t reach out to the ‘influencers’ of his day. He doesn’t call on who you or I might call on…

No…

Jesus surrounds himself with those who most people find absolutely repulsive.

Sex workers. Adulterers. Tax collectors. Leppers. The demon-possessed. Outcasts. Roman centurions. Traitors. Hypocrites. The lowly and despised.

Let’s take Peter for just one shining example… Here’s a guy who betrayed his good friend and teacher (Peter would even go so far as to call him the Messiah), Jesus. Here’s someone who swore that he’d DIE before betraying him.

But Jesus knew better. Jesus understood the human condition far better than his well-meaning friend did. Here’s how it went down…

Then Jesus said to them, “You will all become deserters because of me this night; for it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd,

and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ But after I am raised up, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.” Peter said to him, “Though all become deserters because of you, I will never desert you.” Jesus said to him, “Truly I tell you, this very night, before the cock crows, you will deny me three times.” Peter said to him, “Even though I must die with you, I will not deny you.” And so said all the disciples. - Matthew 26:30–35

Let’s fast-forward a few verses to find out what happened…

Meanwhile, Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. A servant woman came and said to him, “You were also with Jesus the Galilean.” But he denied it in front of all of them, saying, “I don’t know what you are talking about.” When he went over to the gate, another woman saw him and said to those who were there, “This man was with Jesus, the man from Nazareth.” With a solemn pledge, he denied it again, saying, “I don’t know the man.” A short time later those standing there came and said to Peter, “You must be one of them. The way you talk gives you away.” Then he cursed and swore, “I don’t know the man!” At that very moment the rooster crowed. Peter remembered Jesus’ words, “Before the rooster crows you will deny me three times.”And Peter went out and cried uncontrollably. - Matthew 26:69–75

That… is not just a betrayal. It’s an EPIC betrayal. Not once but THREE times. And each time more intense. So much so that by the third time, Peter is cursing and swearing an oath that he doesn’t even know who Jesus is. And when the rooster crows, he instantly remembers Jesus’s words. Yep… Jesus called it. And Peter walks away and loses it — his flawed humanity hits him like the reflection in a mirror that reveals all.

Now, it’s tempting to think that if you or I were in Peter’s shoes, there’s NO‌ WAY we’d do that. We’d be much bolder in our love and loyalty to Jesus and we’d NEVER betray him. I mean, what a rat that guy was.

However, the more I reflect on this story, the more I know in my heart of hearts that it’s very likely that I’d do exactly what Peter did.

And thinking back to the vociferous pastor at the beginning of this entry — the one who challenges us to be “live as Jesus did” at all times… I don’t think I ever live like Jesus, actually.

I’d ask that pastor if they’re not projecting some contrived guilt of their own onto their congregants. I digress...

Back to the story (because even after his betrayal and subsequent death, Jesus isn’t done with Peter; nope, not yet)…

When they finished eating, Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” Simon replied, “Yes, Lord, you know I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.” Jesus asked a second time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Simon replied, “Yes, Lord, you know I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Take care of my sheep.” He asked a third time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was sad that Jesus asked him a third time, “Do you love me?” He replied, “Lord, you know everything; you know I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. I assure you that when you were younger you tied your own belt and walked around wherever you wanted. When you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and another will tie your belt and lead you where you don’t want to go.” He said this to show the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. After saying this, Jesus said to Peter, “Follow me.” - John 21:15–19

Well, that was intense… Jesus has resurrected and is found by the disciples cooking breakfast (grilled fish — a very hearty breakfast). After they finish chowing down and spitting out bones on the beach, Jesus makes it even more awkward (he was really good at this). He turns to Peter and asks him if he loves him — THREE‌ TIMES. Here’s poor Peter, mired in his own shame and guilt, being confronted by Jesus, the one he so epically betrayed, who has come back from the dead. Painful. Grueling. He’s likely felt guilty and miserable for days since Jesus’s death and here Jesus comes BACK‌ FROM THE DEAD to call him out.

But that’s not where Jesus leaves it. Jesus doesn’t get mad at Peter. He doesn’t curse Peter or tell him he’s never going to get into the kingdom of God because of what he did.

No…

Jesus restores Peter. He says, essentially, “I have work for you to do.” Restoration is God’s THING. It’s what God is up to throughout the entire Bible. Moving into the experience of flawed and broken humans before redeeming and restoring their hearts.

Redemption and restoration are what God is all about. Not retribution and condemnation.

This is not about our righteousness, love, and good work. This is not about us measuring up to the impossible law of God (and it is impossible, as Jesus drives home on the sermon on the mount, but that’s for a different entry).

It’s about humans discovering how short they fall when they’re possessed by their individual egos and how much is possible for them when they become receptive to the unconditional and perfect love of God that swoops into their hearts from outside of themselves.

Jesus — the embodiment of God — puts a lowly traitor to work building his church. After the betrayal and beach breakfast scene, Peter is someone who knows full well how limited his human love is yet how infinite God’s love, forgiveness, and restorative grace are. THAT is someone who can offer hope to those in despair. THAT is someone who has had a life-altering experience with the living God. THAT is someone who’s come face to face with his humanity before dying to himself and being restored by the love of God embodied in Jesus — a love that rushes in regardless of his own individual ‘worth’ and ‘value’.

This is the good news. It’s not up to you or me to “live as Jesus did”. It’s not up to you or me to “Surrender to God.” In all honesty, this is impossible. But God’s love is not impossible. God’s love is unstoppable. It’s an incessant force that yearns for just the slightest opening so that it can enter and restore us.

Usually, it takes us being brought to our knees by life before we do this. We’re so busy trying to do it ourselves. Trying to climb the ladder of perfection, performance, and piety. But the spiritual ladder always crumbles. And when we fall to the ground, God is there in our brokenness.

Our love tends to always fall short but God’s love never does.

This is where God can do God’s work as we lay there and receive it. As our ego kicks and screams to get back up on that ladder, God whispers rest, child. In Me, you can rest. There is nothing you can do for Me to love you more. Let me soften your heart and show you the love that lies at the ground of your being. A love that exists beyond your individual volition. Rest, child. And let me take it from here.

This is when we start to live a life beyond our individual egos. This is when we can start to live a life in God. A fully participatory, uncertain, uncontrollable, even uncomfortable life being loved by the One who handcrafted us to love as only God can through us.