Photo: Gourav Chandel – Pexels

Let me start by telling you a bit about myself. I’m a pastor – a shepherd, a vicar, a minister, whatever label you might like to give me. I am vicar of two small Anglican churches on the edge of the great city of Hull – which also makes me an honorary Yorkshireman. I would describe myself as an evangelical – that is, I believe the Bible is God’s supreme authority for life and conduct. I don’t know whether that makes you like me more or less – and to be honest I’m not really bothered. I’ve been in my current role for 11 years. And add to the mix that I’ve just entered mid-life.

Is there really a need for another blog? There are countless excellent Christian blogs out there, covering all manner of important and interesting things. I could recommend a few to you – and I probably will. So why another one?

I don’t know very much about very much. I started a couple of blogs a few years ago. They didn’t last very long – mainly because I didn’t really know what I was talking about. They were focused on issues of public theology and lots of people know more about that than I do, and are able to express themselves better than me. But having been a pastor for 11 years, I do know a bit about pastoring. And I know a lot about being imperfect – about making mistakes. I know a lot about being unimpressive. And – stop press – I have an emotional life. I have lived, and continue to live, the emotional rollercoaster that results from all of the above.

A bit about myself

Let me start by telling you a bit about myself. I’m a pastor – a shepherd, a vicar, a minister, whatever label you might like to give me. I am vicar of two small Anglican churches on the edge of the great city of Hull – which also makes me an honorary Yorkshireman. I would describe myself as an evangelical – that is, I believe the Bible is God’s supreme authority for life and conduct. I don’t know whether that makes you like me more or less – and to be honest I’m not really bothered. I’ve been in my current role for 11 years. And add to the mix that I’ve just entered mid-life.

I don’t know very much about very much. I started a couple of blogs a few years ago. They didn’t last very long – mainly because I didn’t really know what I was talking about. They were focused on issues of public theology and lots of people know more about that than I do, and are able to express themselves better than me. But having been a pastor for 11 years, I do know a bit about pastoring. And I know a lot about being imperfect – about making mistakes. I know a lot about being unimpressive. And – stop press – I have an emotional life. I have lived, and continue to live, the emotional rollercoaster that results from all of the above.

One vital thing: God’s strength in our weakness

And if there’s one thing I’ve learned above all it’s summed up in this famous verse: ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’  (2 Corinthians 10:9). In fact, let me quote the whole section because I think it’s really helpful:

Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I (Paul) was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

2 Corinthians 10:7-10

I don’t know about you, but I have many thorns in my flesh – I’ll probably talk about some of them in coming posts. And God says that’s ok. In fact, God says it’s essential – because if I’m weak, if I have thorns in my flesh, if I can’t do it myself – it means he can. He can work through me.

Treasure in jars of clay

Think of the image of treasure in jars of clay (2 Corinthians 4:7). I once heard someone say that the modern equivalent is an expensive bottle of champagne, held in one of those old flimsy carrier bags you used to be given at supermarkets, tattered and torn. The bag is so unimpressive that it reveals the glory of the champagne within. And we are so unimpressive that people are forced to say “the God they worship must be really impressive!”

Finding our identity and joy in Christ

But how is it possible for us to accept and embrace our weakness? How is it possible for us to embrace our imperfection? How is it possible for us to confront our mistakes and our flaws? It is only possible if we know the depth of God’s love for us. It is only possible if we know – in our heart as well as our head, and in the very depths of our being – that Christ saw our weakness, our sin, our imperfection, and he loved us so much that he died for us (Romans 5:8). It is only possible if we are convinced by faith that as a result of his death for us we are God’s deeply loved children, fully known, fully loved, fully accepted. Yes – fully accepted. Not because of our performance, not because of our achievements, not because of our activity – but because of Christ’s performance, achievements and activity on our behalf. And it is only possible if our focus is so firmly on God as revealed to us supremely in Christ – his beauty and glory and majesty – as the one who satisfies, that we don’t look anywhere else for our satisfaction. In short, it is only possible because our identity is found wholly and squarely in Christ, and his unconditional love for us. 

So there we go. That’s why I’m starting a new blog. And because I’m imperfect – and it’s imperfect – it might not last very long. And that’s fine. Because for as long as it lasts (and after it ends) it will testify to that glorious truth – ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ And ‘we have this treasure in jars of clay.’