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Writer's pictureS Oliver

Messy, Muddled, Mucked-up Faith


I know already that some folks have a problem with the word choice “mucked up” faith. It sounds too much like … yeah. Too bad! You'll be OK.


 

It’s so easy to fall into the trap of thinking that everyone has it together, especially when it comes to faith. With our perfectly crafted social media posts, Bible studies, testimonies, and regular church attendance, some of us have even fooled ourselves. The reality of Christian faith is far, far messier and muddled than you are led to believe.

 

First, can we stop saying, “I’m not perfect, but…?” Everyone struggles with sin. Isn’t that why Jesus came in the first place?  The apostle Paul, with his Jesus-loving passionate self and his commitment to the Gospel, had a mucked-up faith battle of his own. He was quite candid when he wrote:"I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate.  (Romans 7:15, NIV) If Paul, with his dramatic conversion and devotion to spreading the Gospel grappled with sin, be sure that we all can expect to face some challenges.


Speaking of challenges, there are many different faces of sin. It can be arresting and headline worthy (Ask me, I know!) and it can also be subtle and hardly noticeable. It can show up in our actions: the things we do that we know are wrong and can also show up in our inaction: failing to do the good we know we should do. Sin can show up in our attitudes: harboring resentment, pride, jealousy, or other sinful thoughts and it can show up as idolatry: whatever we put before God in our lives. My, my, my, it’s those subtle, socially acceptable sins that give us a run for our money and wreak havoc on our spiritual lives.


We often find ourselves in the cycles of sin and grace.  We sin and are convicted. We repent and rest in God’s forgiveness.  We take a few steps forward, making progress in overcoming the sin. We fail, falling back into our old patterns. We feel ashamed and unworthy of God’s love and start all over again. I call it the crab walk. Two steps forward one step back. The important thing to remember is God’s grace is with us and our worth isn’t based on performance, but Christ’s finished work. Pssst! Just a side note of encouragement. Get up, dust yourself off, and keep moving forward. God won’t forsake you!


Listen, we’ll never achieve sinless perfection on this side of the soil, but we can grow in our ability to resist temptation when we partner with the Holy Spirit and align ourselves with God’s will. Here are some things you can do.


  1. Stay connected to God through prayer and Bible study. Remember, it’s relationship not rules. Focus on being God’s and the goodness will come.

  2. Become a part of a Christ loving, Jesus following community. Being around like-minded people can be empowering.

  3. Cultivate spiritual practice: prayer, fasting, solitude.

  4. Seek accountability from a trusted friend. As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend. (Proverbs 27:17, NLT)

  5. Remember, God’s grace is sufficient. God will convict you and correct you, but God will never condemn you.


Whatever you do, don’t be discouraged. The crab walk is actually a sign of spiritual life. If you never struggled against sin, it probably means you are complacent or have a hardened heart. It may be hard to believe, but our struggles deepen our dependence and walk with God. Our struggles amplify our appreciation for God’s grace while cultivating humility and compassion toward others.


There's a Japanese art form called kintsugi, where broken pottery is repaired with gold, making the cracks a beautiful part of the piece's history. In the same way, our messy failures, muddled seasons of doubt, and mucked-up struggles can become the very things that make our faith unique and beautiful. It's often through our brokenness and failures that God's grace shines the brightest.


Life in Christ is not about achieving moral perfection in our own strength. Never was. Never will be. The truth is our ongoing struggle with sin can actually draw us closer to God and make us more effective witnesses of God’s transforming power.


So, how can you embrace this messy faith?

  1.  Be honest about your struggles. Vulnerability breeds connection with God and gives others permission to be real too.

  2. Embrace your doubts and failures as opportunities for growth. Wrestle with tough questions; don't shy away from them.

  3. Show grace to yourself and others. Remember that we are each a work in progress.

  4. Look for God in the everyday messiness of life, not just in picture-perfect moments.



Messy, muddled, mucked-up faith isn't failed faith. It's a human faith, a real faith, a faith that has been tried, tested, and found true. It’s a faith that has room to grow. Know this for sure, it's not about perfection; it's about progress.  The one who endures to the end will be saved. “And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfector of faith…” (Hebrews 12:1-2a, NIV).

 

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