What the hell is wrong with you?

I'm reading a book entitled, "Why Do Christians Shoot Their Wounded?" by Dwight L. Carlson, M.D., the subtext of which is "helping (not hurting) those with emotional difficulties."

While I'm not sure that I fully agree with all of us his conclusions (thus far), I think he does hit on some interesting points. He talks a lot about the frequent "christian" response to brokenness, particularly emotional brokenness...

• You must be sinning or you wouldn't feel this way ("it's just a sin problem")
• No one who is right with the Lord has a nervous breakdown ("just get right with God")
• 71% (in a public opinion survey) believed that mental illness was the result of emotional weakness; 45% said it was the victims fault ("you should be able to fix it yourself")
• Those who are right with God are not supposed to be broken, especially not emotionally. To a certain degree, this is the "health and wealth" gospel in its most insidious form ("what the hell is wrong with you?")
  
• Jesus should be all that you need ("you're clearly not depending on Him enough")

Interesting. And convicting. What is striking to me, is how quickly we want to fix others weaknesses or brokenness. Brokenness, particularly emotional, is seen as inappropriate for the kingdom of God. And I wonder... why is this? Do we not believe Jesus when he says,

"It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." (Mt. 9:11-13)

Or Paul, when he writes God's response to him,

"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."

Seems to me that broken, messed up, emotionally damaged people are precisely the ones that Jesus would have hanging out around his kingdom. Yet somehow we seem to miss that fact, as we look for leaders who are perfect, church-members who are whole, and lay-leaders who do not struggle. I think in the process, we miss the Kingdom.

The church, the parachurch, the body of Jesus is made up of broken people who see their own sin and need for a Savior. Those who admit their own brokenness and are daily seeking wholeness see their need for a Savior far clearer than those who are "together."

Jesus' moment of glory was not when he performed great miracles or read from the place of honor in the tabernacle. His greatest moment of glory was when he in his greatest weakness died on a criminal's cross, in submission to the Father. His final question recorded in the book of Matthew is:

"Eloi, Eloi, Lama Sabachthani? My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Mt. 27:46)

Ask Jesus where he would be, how he would respond to those who are weak, broken, diseased? My guess is that his response to the wounded would be, "I know your pain, I have experienced your grief. I am sitting here beside you in this. You are not alone. "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." (Mt. 11:28).

And his second response would be, "My kingdom is made up of such as these."

The church is made up of strugglers. We should be more concerned when our leaders seemingly cease to have sin to confess, or brokenness necessitating a Savior.