WITH JESUS FAILURE ISN’T FATAL

By Nigel Tomes

“When you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” (Luke 22:32)

Jesus told Peter he would fail, along with the other disciples. Sure enough, just as Jesus predicted, before the rooster crowed, Peter denied any link with Jesus. “I do not know him,” he swore vehemently, not just once, but three times. At the crucial moment of Jesus’ betrayal, Peter was an utter failure. At that point he could have “called it quits, thrown in the towel” and gone down in history as a total failure. Yet Peter didn’t quit; he didn’t let failure define him. He regretted, repented and returned to Jesus. No doubt Peter’s restoration was influenced by Jesus’ prayer and a promised future. Before his denial Jesus told Peter, “I prayed for you that your faith may not utterly fail.” Jesus also assigned Peter a future task, “When you have turned again, strengthen your brothers” (Luke 22:32).

Like Peter, we may fall and fail miserably. If we don’t stumble it’s not because we’re inherently stronger, but because the Lord (in His mercy) kept us from greater trials. On the other hand, should we stumble, let’s not remain in our failure. Instead, following Peter’s pattern, let’s regret, repent and return to Jesus, realizing He can still use us for His glory. Here are a few examples from history, of believers who “turned again,” after failing, and were used to “strengthen their brothers.” These examples from Europe, Africa & Asia prove that, with Jesus, failure isn’t fatal.

Saint Patrick of Ireland

“Saint Patrick of Ireland” wasn't Irish. He was born in Britain around AD 390 into an elite Christian family. In his youth Patrick had no interest in Christianity. But at 16, he was kidnapped, carried off to Ireland and enslaved. Forced to work as a shepherd on Ireland’s mountains, in desperation he turned to Christ and became a committed Christian. After 6 years of slavery Patrick escaped, and made his way back to Britain and his family.

Later God called Patrick to go back to Ireland with the gospel. However, in his youth Patrick had “committed a sin so shocking and horrible that it haunted him…it weighed on his soul so heavily that he confessed it to his best friend.” Years later this friend betrayed Patrick’s confidence at a crucial juncture. We don’t know the details of Patrick’s failure, but, when it became known, the church bishops wanted to put him on trial and demote him. Clearly it was a serious sin. Patrick never denied his failure, he mentions it in his Confessions. Yet, he didn’t let that sin define him either. He had turned to Christ and would answer His call. Patrick was ordained; he returned to Ireland and spent the rest of his life converting the Irish. Patrick's work in Ireland was tough—he was beaten by thugs, harassed by Irish warlords, and rebuked by his British superiors. Patrick’s mission to Ireland saw thousands of Irish baptized. He established and led Christian communities which spread the gospel among the Celtic tribes. Today, Patrick is famous, not for his failure, but for converting the Irish.

Jonathan Chirwa of Africa

In Malawi, Central Africa, a stone cross stands on the edge of a small village, inscribed “In memory of Donald Fraser & Jonathan Chirwa.” Here, side by side, lie the gravestones of the Scottish missionary & his African colleague. Donald Fraser was born and raised in Scotland. As a student he attended the Keswick Convention and experienced “the wonder of forgiveness.” An effective leader among Christian students, Fraser, like many of his peers, joined the mission movement. He arrived in Malawi, Africa around the turn of the century (1897). He raised up congregations and church leaders. One of Fraser’s young protégés was Jonathan Chirwa one of the first Africans ordained in 1914.

In 1916 Jonathan Chirwa was posted to a remote mission station. There he committed adultery, which he confessed to Fraser, with deep repentance. As a result Chirwa was suspended from his ministry and church membership. For years after senior missionaries opposed his reinstatement. Fraser, however, was convinced of Chirwa’s sincere repentance. Seeking to show God’s love and forgiveness, Fraser worked for years to get him restored. But the senior Scottish missionaries felt “no minister guilty of a serious moral lapse should be restored.” Finally, after 8 years under church discipline, against the wishes of other foreign missionaries, Jonathan Chirwa was reinstated to church membership and ministry. Was Donald Fraser’s assessment correct? History suggests it was. In ensuing years, Jonathan Chirwa became one of the most beloved, respected and effective African church leaders in that area. God is a “God of second chances.” We see this in the lives of the Apostle Peter and Jonathan Chirwa.

China’s Wang Ming-dao (1900-91)

Today Wang Ming-dao is regarded as one of the builders of the indigenous church in China. In 1949 his “Christian Tabernacle,” was one of the largest evangelical churches in Beijing. After Japan’s invasion of China (1937-45), Beijing was controlled by the Japanese army, which sought to “unite” all the churches under their control. Wang refused to join this Japanese-led church Federation. The Japanese threatened him many times. Wang even kept a coffin in his house, expecting death. His refusal incensed the Japanese, but amazingly, they took no action against him. Wang saw this as divine protection. This also prepared him for another crisis in the 1950's.

When the Communists gained power in 1949, the Church in China faced the problem of survival under an atheist government. Wang steadfastly refused to join the government-sponsored “Three-self Church.” He wrote articles saying, “we are ready to pay any price to preserve the Word of God…Don't give way, don't compromise!” Wang preached his last sermon (Aug. 7, 1955) on "The Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners." That night Wang, his wife, and 18 young Christians were arrested at gunpoint, tied with ropes, and taken to prison.

Wang Ming-dao was sentenced to 15 years for “resistance to the government.” After being confined, interrogated and pressured, Wang cracked and signed a confession. He was released, but Wang had a guilty and grieved conscience. He likened himself to the Apostle Peter who denied Christ three times. When his mind returned, he and his wife agreed that his statement had been made under duress and didn’t represent his true feelings. He revoked his previous confessions and was sent to prison for 22 years. His wife was also sentenced. They were tortured repeatedly while in prison & labor camps. Mrs. Wang was released in 1973. Wang Ming-dao was released in 1979, old, and nearly blind and deaf. They held regular meetings with Christians in their small in Shanghai apartment until Wang died in 1991. During his final years, Wang Ming-dao was viewed as an “elder statesman” of the church in China.