Evidences of a Broken Vessel

Welcome to another Thursday UNFILTERED blog post, the only blog that doesn’t want to offend plates, but literally any food tastes better in a bowl.

In 48 Laws of Spiritual Power, which is one of the pillars in the discography, I discuss the topic of brokenness as a necessary ingredient for a ministry that has eternal value and earthly impact.

The theme of brokenness shows up in a number of the chapters.

But here’s the thing about “brokenness” — we throw this word around like confetti at a parade of psychological diagnoses, but nobody agrees what the heck it actually means.

Some people use “broken” to describe a person who’s been emotionally bulldozed by life.

“Tommy got hit by a train so he’s a broken man.” As if Tommy is now a fragile vase that shattered on the kitchen floor of existence, with pieces too small to glue back together.

For others, calling someone “broken” means their internal operating system is about as functional as a smartphone that’s been dropped into a hot tub.

“Billy argues with everyone; he’s broken.” Like Billy’s emotional circuitry was manufactured by the same company that makes those Dollar Store headphones that die after three uses.

Others, like myself, mostly use the word to refer to a person whom God has taken through deep waters to break their natural, prideful, and independent tendencies and make them useful to His work.

Therefore, a broken vessel is a person whom God can use mightily.

On this score, here’s an excerpt from my book Gods’ Favorite Place on Earth about brokenness:

“Jesus talked a lot about losing, taking up our cross, denying ourselves, and laying down our lives.

These are the fruits of brokenness before God.

It’s not hard to spot a Christian in ministry who isn’t broken. Unbroken people don’t know how to lay their lives down and lose. They only know how to try to win.

If they’re criticized, they retaliate.

If they’re attacked, they return fire. If misunderstood, they defend in anger.

They are capable of doing all sorts of damage to others in order to save their own ministries and keep their reputations.

On the contrary, people who have been broken by the hand of God know how to turn the other cheek. They know how to go the second mile. They know how to give their coats when asked for their shirts. They know how to speak well of those who misrepresent them. They know how to return good for evil.

They know how to lose.

And in so doing, they exhibit the Spirit of the Lamb and allow God to win.

In the words of E. Stanley Jones, ‘The God I find in Christ is a God who overcomes evil with good, hate by love, and the world by a cross.’

Again, it is through the wounding and the breaking we experience that the life of Christ can be released through us.

And that is where the secret of fruit bearing lies.”

However, it’s entirely possible for a Christian to discuss brokenness while remaining unbroken.

So what are the evidences of a broken person? Or more accurately, a fully broken person, because we can be broken in some areas and not in others.

Humans are complicated creatures. Consequently, we can drive a battery of psychologists crazy with the gymnastics we’re capable of employing when God is seeking to break us.

We may allow the Lord entry into some areas of our lives, but set “No Trespassing” signs around others. Or as one of my friends put it, we can wrap “yellow tape” around those domains we don’t want God to touch.

With that thought in mind, here are some of the evidences of a broken person:

*They are not self-absorbed. They are just as interested in hearing about the experiences and views of other people as they are in sharing their own.

*They’re teachable. They’ve dispensed with the fiction that they know and understand everything.

*They are far less certain than they once were (before God broke them).

*They are empathetic and sensitive to other people’s feelings, so they treat them with respect and avoid making cutting, snide remarks.

*They’re curious and ask questions (because again, they don’t have all the answers – and they know it).

*They are able to receive correction without getting offended (on the one hand) or being destroyed (on the other).

*When attacked, they don’t counter-attack, retaliate, become bitter or defensive.

*They are not independent with respect to their ministry. In other words, they seek counsel and advice from others. (I’m not talking about validation for what they’ve already done or decided. I’m referring to soliciting input from others.)

*They don’t hold to an exclusive or elitist opinion about their ministries. They recognize that other people in ministry are being used by God. And they are aware that others love Jesus and exalt Him in their spiritual service just as much or perhaps more than they do.

*They talk little about their personal sufferings. Only when necessary to do they divulge or enlarge upon them.

*They don’t tear other people down. They choose encouragement over criticism.

*They don’t spread rumors or gossip.

*They don’t brag. Instead, they allow others to compliment them (Proverbs 27:2).

No doubt there are more evidences of a broken vessel, but these are some of the big tells.

Hurt people hurt people, but those who are broken are kind. And kindness is contagious.

I’ve discussed this topic in more detail in the message, The Two Anointings, and the follow-up, Serving in the Newness of the Spirit, should you be interested.

I wish every Christian who is in ministry or called to it would listen to them. On that score, the messages are sharable.

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A fellow sojourner,

fv