"For consider your calling, brothers, not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, 'let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord'." -1 Corinthians 1: 26-31
Shame is a powerful motivator for us to attempt to be a good person who seems to have it all together. It is because of shame that we tend to go to great lengths to hide our flaws from people because we want people to see an image of us that is better than we perceive ourselves. This is why the Gospel is so offensive to our ears because it tells us that we do not have it all together and actually we are totally messed up. The apostle Paul tells us that it is precisely because we are "weak and foolish" that God chose us and the reason why He chose us was so that He could shame the "wise and strong" according to worldly standards. While the world glorifies the Lebron James' and Kim Kardashians of society, God intentionally chose the homeless bum on the street while passing over the world's "prized possessions". The irony is that while the world would look down on us as rejects, God has rejected the world and all of their splendor. However, this should not give us cause for pride because it was nothing in us that caused God to choose us. We are nothing but weak and lowly beggars who were bound for hell and it was only through the sacrifice of our Savior on the cross that any of us can lay hold to eternal life. When we realize this then it should cause us to be very humble instead of looking down on others because we realize that we are in the same boat as the crack addicts and prostitutes of the world. However, not only should this cause us to remain humble, but it should also cause us to not feel ashamed anymore because we understand that we have the Eternal Father on our side. If God is for us, then who can be against us? As a matter of fact, the apostle Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 12:7-9,
"So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave 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 of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me."
As we see the apostle Paul pleaded with the Lord three times to remove his thorn in the flesh, but the Lord responded to him that His grace was sufficient for him. It was because of this that Paul could then respond with that he will boast in his weaknesses "so that the power of Christ" may rest upon him. When we understand how and why God chose us, it should cause us to no longer feel ashamed of our weaknesses but instead we can boast in our weaknesses. We can in a sense wear our weaknesses as a badge of honor because we know that it is in our weaknesses that we find our strength in Christ. I used to be ashamed of my struggles with debilitating Schizoaffective Disorder, but these days I see my illness as something that drives me to Jesus Christ. It is this reason why I believe that mental illness can display the glory of God.
Thank you very much for reading my blog and I hope that you found this edifying to you and glorifying to Our Heavenly Father. May the grace of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ richly bless you all. Soli Deo Gloria!
-David Lee Chu Sarchet
Christian Mental Health Advocate
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