Is it time to stop posturing?

He had become a “raving fan” of a particular pastor who had a popular radio program. I have to say, this guy preached some great sermons, and a couple of the many books he has written are still some of the best on their subjects that I have read.

“Did you hear?” my friend asked.

“Hear what?” I asked in response.

Then he proceeded to describe how that same minister was no longer broadcasting his radio show. It seems that some sort of indiscretion on the part of the minister had become public knowledge, and because of whatever the issue was, he was asked to resign his position as pastor and his radio show was cancelled.

That same minister is today preaching in a different church and broadcasting a different radio program, but my friend never regained the confidence he had placed in this man.

At some point in life, anyone could disappoint us, but we know anyone we put on a pedestal definitely will. That’s because we’re all human, none of us are perfect. Try as best we can, our imperfection will crack through the postures we offer to the public, or even family and friends.

In the original television series of Superman, our favorite superhero would confidently posture himself, legs spread, fists on hips, chest pushed forward, while he stared down the barrel of a gun. As the bullets bounced off his chest, Superman would smile, with no thought of retreat. Then something very odd would happen. Once the rounds of bullets were spent, the bad guy, in desperation, would hurl the gun at Superman, and the caped super hero would duck! Superman, the man who was fearless in the face of oncoming bullets, would cower to avoid being hit by an empty gun!

You may portray to the world a posture of strength and resiliency, but you’re still human. You can’t hide that fact, it will show and people will see.

Maybe we would be better off to follow the example of the Apostle Paul, a “super hero” of the New Testament. Instead of trying to posture himself as being some kind of spiritually invincible “strong man,” Paul started by boasting in his weakness.

“If I must boast, I would rather boast about the things that show how weak I am,” 2 Corinthians 11:30.

If there’s anyone in the New Testament that could have struck up a posture as a super saint, it’s Paul. But he goes on to tell us in chapter 12 the following …

“… So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud. Three times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, ‘My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.’ So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong,” 2 Corinthians 12:7b-10.

It’s when we posture ourselves as super saints that we are weak; but when we boast in our weaknesses, we are strong through Christ!

People, in all their imperfection, will disappoint us. And we, in ours, will disappoint them. Yet, it is because of His perfect holiness that Jesus Christ will never disappoint us and thus, He is the one that we can securely place our full confidence in.

Who have you placed your confidence in?

Scotty