Why 'poly.redeemed'? The Story Behind Our Name
The name of the group wasn't chosen randomly. I chose it to reflect a truth that changed my life profoundly. Here's the story behind the name.
"You're still a sinner."
"You're not holy enough."
"You're still addicted to that sinful habit."
"You'll never be good enough for that role."
Ever heard those phrases before? I have. And they were said by me to myself. Throughout my Christian journey, I've experienced moments of despair, doubt, and anguish. I even questioned my salvation. It didn't help that all I heard from Christian friends and church leaders were phrases like:
"Kill your sin"
"Try harder"
"Evangelize more"
"Serve more"
These exhortations only deepened my despair because despite trying, I kept failing. My sinful habits persisted. I remained fearful about sharing Jesus with others. And unlike my peers, I felt unenthusiastic about serving in church. When I shared my doubts about salvation with others, they would ask:
"You're not sure you're saved? Are you bearing fruit in the first place?"
But here's the problem: when I looked within myself for evidence of salvation, I found more sin. I could only agree with David when he said in Psalm 51:3, "My sin is ever before me."
Christ Died for Failing Christians Too
My turning point came when I (re)discovered the gospel. The gospel—literally "good news"—declares that we are washed, redeemed, and declared righteous. It isn't something we hear once at conversion; it's something we need to hear daily.
In the letter to the Colossians, Paul writes:
in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. (Colossians 1:14)
In the opening chapter, Paul declares this good news to his readers. He tells them they are qualified, redeemed, and delivered from darkness in Christ. You might assume his audience consisted of new believers, but here's the key: Paul addresses them as "saints" (Col 1:2) and praises their love for the church (Col 1:4). They were already committed Christians. Yet they still needed to hear the good news again. Why? Because we forget this truth.
We like to think we've sorted ourselves out and no longer need a Savior. Like toddlers yearning to explore the world independently, we believe we no longer need our heavenly Father. Yet we fail to realize our daily dependence on Him. My 1 year old daughter insists on her independence but cannot clean herself after she has soiled herself. Similarly, as sinners, we need our Father to "clean up our act." We need daily reminders of His grace because we sin daily.
Reckless Grace Produces Godliness
Here's the surprising truth: Understanding God's grace leads to Christian growth!
Paul writes to Titus:
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age. (Titus 2:11-12)
It is God's grace—His unmerited favor toward sinful, rebellious humanity—that trains us to live godly lives. And this grace is indeed reckless:
Christ didn't die when we had cleaned ourselves up.
Christ didn't die when we had become holy.
Christ didn't die when we decided to surrender all.
Christ died while we were still ungodly, wretched sinners. That's reckless grace.
Simply telling people to try harder doesn't work. We need to share the message of God's reckless grace with hardened sinners. Only then will people be freed to live lives zealous for God (Titus 2:14).
That's why we chose the name "poly.redeemed." We want to remind everyone that we are rebels yet redeemed simultaneously—sinners and saints at the same time. Though we have sinned grievously, there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
Tim Keller summarizes this beautifully:
The gospel is not just the ABCs but the A to Z of the Christian life. It is inaccurate to think the gospel is what saves non-Christians, and then Christians mature by trying hard to live according to biblical principles. It is more accurate to say that we are saved by believing the gospel, and then we are transformed in every part of our minds, hearts, and lives by believing the gospel more and more deeply as life goes on.
Yes, I'm still a sinner.
But because of Christ's work on the cross, I am a saint in the eyes of God.
Of course, I am never holy enough for a holy God.
But this holy God adopted me and called me his child because of what Christ did.
I will never feel that I am good enough for any ministry role.
But because I have the supreme Jesus he is enough for me.
These damning thoughts will haunt me from time to time but the solution is not to be better. The solution is to believe what Christ has already achieved for me. My justification, my adoption, my union with him.
Don't try harder, believe harder.