The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. (Psalm 34:18)I was hearing someone the other day say that for someone to be in Christ and useful for the kingdom, he has to be broken.
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. (Psalm 51:17)
And my question is: says who?
The Bible never says that. It does say that God is close to the brokenhearted and that a sacrifice is a broken and contrite heart. But where does the Bible ever say that one who comes to God must first be broken?
It is true that one must be teachable, one must be aware of his or her own sinfulness, even contrite and repentant. But the Bible never says a Christina must be broken.
I have known broken people. And in general they are not useful for much.
A horse must be broken in one way to where it will accept a bridle and saddle to be useful, but you can break a horse until it loses any of its spirit and strength.
So many have the idea that before we can come to God and be useful, we have to be broken.
And that is absolutely not true.
We have to let God use us and we have to be aware of the fact that he is God, but to expect a person to be broken is against all of what the Bible tells.
Those in the Bible who had strong tempers never were criticize3d for that. Instead, Jesus affectionately called James and John the Sons of Thunder because they had such a strong temper. And can you imagine a weak and broken Peter?
Yes, Peter had to know his limitations. When he found out what he was capable of – denying his knowledge of God with a curse – he became aware of his need.
But he was never broken.
It is foolish to expect that we have to be busted, broken in spirit, people who have no pride, no will, no desire left in order to be useful to God.
Brokenhearted and broken are two different things. I have been brokenhearted many times, but I will never be broken.
And God never expected me to.
