Potholes in the Body of Christ

Newly formed pothole in Decatur, IL

Today, as I was out driving, I couldn't help but notice all the potholes in the pavement.  It was almost as if all the snow was covering up these deep faults in the road.  The picture above is just an example of one that is "new."  This made me wonder what is it that causes potholes to form in some places and some roads, but not others?  I did some research in Wikipedia (I know, I know, check my sources).  

A pothole is a type of failure in an asphalt pavement,^[1] caused by the presence of water in the underlying soil structure and the presence of traffic passing over the affected area. Introduction of water to the underlying soil structure first weakens the supporting soil. Traffic then fatigues and breaks the poorly supported asphalt surface in the affected area. Continued traffic action ejects both asphalt and the underlying soil material to create a hole in the pavement.

Potholes are caused by water leaching into the soil under the pavement, freezing, thawing, and traffic stressors.   All of these factors together cause an "eruption" that creates a hole.

This made me think about our Christian walk.  What does a pothole have to do with our walk, you ask? Ok, it's a stretch, but work with me here.  Imagine the road is the body of Christ, or even a person in the body of Christ.  A crack in the body would allow sin (the water) to enter and fester within. The freezing and thawing process represents gradual build-up of the stress that sin puts our body in.  The traffic is the ultimate stress event that makes our sin erupt and create holes in our walk.  When the sin erupts and bursts out, this breaks our Christian exterior.  We lose credibility when the holes erupt.

According to Eaton, et al., potholes may result from four main causes:^[2] 

1. Insufficient pavement thickness to support traffic during freeze/thaw periods without localized failures.
2. Insufficient drainage.
3. Failures at utility trenches and castings (manhole and drain casings).
4. Miscellaneous pavement defects and cracks left unmaintained and unsealed so as to admit moisture and compromise the structural integrity of the pavement.

What about the Christian potholes?  What causes some people in the body to have the eruption of sin in their lives, and others to stay "intact?"  I believe there are several causes:

1.  We have insufficient support from our Christian brothers and sisters to keep us accountable during the freeze and thaw process.  Don't just pretend to love others.  Really love them.  Hate what is wrong.  Hold tightly to what is good. ~Romans 12:9 (NLT)

2.  We fail to drain the sin by confessing and repenting.  Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.  The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. ~James 5:16 (NLT)

3.  We allow external forces to injure us, causing us to weaken at specific junctures.  By this I may be talking about childhood hurts, or past offenses by others that we have not sufficiently forgiven.  Unforgiveness causes cracks that allow sin to enter.  But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too. ~Mark 11:25 (NLT)

4.  We have failed to maintain our armor, leaving us vulnerable to the work of the devil.  Therefore, put on every piece of God's armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil.  Then after the battle you will still be standing firm.  ~Ephesians 6:13 (NLT)

Sometimes, even the best of us fail and have an eruption of sin that causes a hole.  We have to stop, confess, and examine our hearts.  We need to do a 180-degree turn and repent.  God will restore us.