How does Christ use imperfect people to change the world?

When you think about earth-shaking and earth-changing Christian leaders through the ages, no matter what name comes to mind, you probably have a very high view of that individual’s spiritual life.

But when you ask yourself if you could make a difference, if you could change the world, you probably tell yourself something like “I’m not special” or “I’m not gifted/smart/clever” or “I’ve sinned too much.”

The truth is, God has only used imperfect people to accomplish His will — that’s according to author and pastor John Burke.

Burke has written  , and he joined Dr. Bill Maier Live! to examine the life of Jesus as a way to prove that God truly uses imperfect people to change the world.

Burke focuses on the ideas of “masterpiece” and “mud”:

Highlight: The difference between mud and masterpiece

He goes on to say,

“Jesus focused on relationships that valued people. The Pharisees focused on relationships that devalued people.”

Burke says that once we understand Jesus as accepting us as his own masterpiece, rather than our proclivity to understand him as only seeing our “mud,” we’ll have a better relationship with him and be able to accomplish more for the work of the Kingdom.

You can hear the entire interview at the top of this post.

John Burke is the author of No Perfect People Allowed and Soul Revolution, and the founder with his wife, Kathy, of Gateway Church in Austin, Texas. Since 1998, Gateway has grown to over 4,500 members, made up mostly of unchurched people who began actively following Christ at Gateway. John is also the President of Emerging Leadership Initiative (ELI), a non-profit organization, working to help church planting pastors and ordinary Christians “raise the church out of the culture.”