Saints intro sampler - Flipbook - Page 13
Jesus never fails. And he won’t fail you.
My friend said something in our conversation I’ll never forget: All the moral
failures of her spiritual heroes and all the reckoning within the church isn’t just
undermining her trust in leaders and herself—it’s causing her to question whether
Christianity itself is valid. If God’s people are not Christlike, and becoming like
Christ is the point of Christianity, is the way of Christ true?
If you’re asking this question as well, let me hold this space for you. But let me
also say to you: The way of Christ cannot be undone or shaken by the failures of
his people. Not by our leaders, not by our friends, not even by ourselves.
God never tried to hide the reality of fallen humanity in the pages of inspired
Scripture. One of the ways he made sure we can anchor our faith in Jesus was
by telling the truth in the Bible about how even the seemingly best of us can get
it wrong. God could have easily omitted these stories, but instead, he chose to
magnify these failures in unflattering characterizations—archetypes that represent
religious authorities falling short. He did so to prove we all need a Savior.
And he is the Savior.
My own concerns about the credibility of Christian leaders sent me into
the Scriptures to study New Testament characters—messed-up religious people
acting foolishly. In some providential way, uncovering this archetype in God’s
Word filled me with hope and peace. Hope that God continues to hold people
accountable, uses broken people, and restores us when we repent. And peace—
that I can still enjoy a relationship with Jesus when religious leaders fall and
religion feels unstable.
Whether you are new to the Christian faith or a seasoned Bible reader, I’m
praying that your time studying saintly characters in the Bible is an awe-inspiring
catalyst to engage and experience God’s truth—that you would marvel at the
artistry of God’s storytelling. And that you would see, as you sit in the stories of
these broken leaders, that not even the most painful human failures can disrupt
God’s work and his deep love for you.
Love,
xii
SA I N T S
