Losers Welcome
The plan of God is not about making much of you; therefore, God is never hindered by your poor performance in trying to please him, which, of course, is your plan to unshackle God’s will and God’s power to bless you into your becoming great. Simply put, it is not going to happen.
Here are some helpful role models to purge your thoughts about your status and performance (so many more could be listed):
Adam
Status: loser
Performance: poor (food issues)
Redeeming feature: God made a promise
Noah
Status: loser
Performance: poor (alcohol issues)
Redeeming feature: God saved Him while He was unleashing wrath on everyone else
Abraham
Status: loser
Performance: poor (sleep issues in church)
Redeeming feature: God made an unconditional covenant
Jacob
Status: loser
Performance: poor (deception issues)
Redeeming feature: God’s electing love before he was born
Moses
Status: loser
Performance: poor (anger issues)
Redeeming feature: God messed with him (ie. Pharaoh, Israelites, Ministry leaders, etc.) until he was the humblest man on earth
Samson
Status: loser
Performance: poor (sex and revenge issues)
Redeeming feature: God stymied Israel’s enemies through him
David
Status: loser
Performance: poor (parenting issues)
Redeeming feature: God gave him a notable heart
Elijah
Status: loser
Performance: poor (women in ministry issues)
Redeeming feature: God gave him a few good days
Josiah
Status: loser
Performance: poor (too late for reformation issues)
Redeeming feature: God gave him a heart for His Word
Jesus Christ
Status: winner
Performance: perfect
Redeeming feature: Himself
Peter
Status: loser
Performance: poor (lots of issues)
Redeeming feature: Christ in him
Paul
Status: loser
Performance: poor (self-confessed “chief of sinners”, although nobody believes that because people foolishly look for heroes)
Redeeming feature: Christ in him
John
Status: loser
Performance: poor (you should be getting my point by now)
Redeeming feature: Christ in him
You
Status: loser
Performance: poor (you know your issues)
Redeeming feature: It’s not about you
Conclusion: Christianity is not a self-help, character/performance enhancing religion. Christian, your status and performance are not the issues in the plan of God. For the child of God, the only thing that matters is Christ in you, the hope of glory (Col 1:27). Christ the Lord, in you, takes your loser status and poor performance into union with Himself, and says, “I will accomplish all My will (Ps 57:2; 138:8; Is 26:12).” Thus, Christ is all there is, and the rest is unstable matter — and matters that He works together for our good and His glory. It’s always about Him and never about you.
David Norczyk
Spokane Valley, Washington
February 3, 2022
