Broken Misunderstandings

Broken Misunderstandings

Theology in the Trenches

by Kathleen Kjolhaug

And so it was, back in the day, and no doubt long before that…kingdoms fell because of misunderstandings. Marriages were wrecked over he said/she said and much more went down when any given situation was misunderstood among people or people groups. As it was, in the beginning, …now and ever shall be. Truth is it’s usually not the facts that win out, but rather, how people interpret them that can lead to a full-blown misunderstanding.

“If Jesus Christ went down in script over apparent misunderstandings, then who am I to think my life lived out will be any different?” I posed this question to my husband one Sunday morning.

We were discussing what lead up to Jesus being persecuted and nailed to the cross. Apparently, the religious rulers of the day were threatened. They were threatened by rumors and this was not good from their prideful vantage point. They watched as the crowds grew round Him, and jealousies arose. Some people followed Jesus rather than the letter of the law, and the powers that be were ticked. They cried heresy, and that was that.

Taking a look at the root causes of what made them react to Jesus the way they did allows us to see more clearly our own behavior. Pride, putting self on the thrown, lack of ownership for any wrongful doing, and lack of confession all begin to surface. These often drive division in our day and rage.

Personally, I’ve done some cross-examination as of late, and most oft those same root causes surface within. Thank God I have time to cry in the wilderness because it allows me to empty out in order to fill up on Him for the repairs needed. Restoration can only happen in the same way that it happened with Jesus…through brokenness.

When the heart breaks, the cracks have a purpose.  The purpose is to let Light in. Once Light enters, the restoration may begin. If brokenness was good enough for Him, then it’s not only good enough for me but a privilege to enter in.

As broken begets broken, things aren’t always what they seem. Case in point: At first glance, it looked like others took the life of Jesus. It looked like they caused His brokenness, but that would be a grave misunderstanding. You see, He explained it clearly in John 10:18.  “No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”

Therein lies the miracle. He chose us to be broken for. He offered Himself up as a living sacrifice and with the season of Lent just in full swing, it’s a great time to remember.

If Jesus was broken for us, then doesn’t it make sense that we, too, should be broken and poured out for others? Being broken is a good thing. It allows the spilling out of self…getting rid of heart matters which can easily lead us astray. By letting His Light into the shattered cracks, there begins not only renewal but restoration. Any perforations are merely there for the purpose of reflecting Light. He is enthroned within; we are dethroned.

May we hold our broken heart before Him, and allow Him to begin the restoration process. Let there be no misunderstanding…no one takes it from us…we freely give it as He freely calls us to give it over.

Be prepared as the world will see it differently and name-call it something other than Love’s pure Light laid down for you…for me. To God be the glory…Amen.