"You're no good, You're no good, You're no good Baby you're no good" So sings that famous theologian and hymn writer, Linda Ronstadt. How many times do we have to hear that before we begin to believe it ourselves.

I really believe that many in our culture have as their mantra "you're no good". A decidedly negative outlook on life and on our fellow human beings.

When I was working with first time juvenile offenders, I often repeated something I learned from the late John Claypool. He said that the difference between shame and guilt is that guilt is about what you do and shame is about who you are. I would tell offenders that it was right to have a sense of guilt for the crime they chose to do, but they should not see themselves as "no good". I also warned them that repeated bad choices can lead to a character that is corrupted.

You're stupid. You're ugly. You're worthless. Shaming remarks that wound sometimes to the point of death - death of the soul and even physical death. Most of us probably didn't grow up hearing that we were no good, but I'd bet most of us grew up hearing that we weren't good enough. The countless millions of dollars spent on therapy just to learn that good enough will never please some people, but it doesn't define who we are.

Jeremiah didn't think he was good enough. He was too young to do what God was asking him to do. I wonder, did he think he was the problem, or was he afraid other people wouldn't take him seriously because of his age? Boy, that hits home for a lot of us. Maybe it isn't our young age that isn't good enough for others. Maybe we're not male enough. Or white enough. Or rich enough. Or pretty enough. Or even young enough.

Oh, we can say that in our enlightened, 21st century society, those barriers don't exist any more. But we'd be wrong. Ask a woman who's seen men advance past her with little or no difference in experience. Ask a black teenager who has ever had a store employee follow him around to make sure he doesn't steal. Ask the 70 year old that needs to supplement her social security and can only find minimum wage bagging groceries or repeating the new American mantra, "Welcome to Wal-Mart".

"You are just not good enough. Shame on you for being born in 1932. Shame on you for being born in Lebanon. Shame on you for not having a y chromosome."

Your not good enough.

Thank God for the church in Corinth. Compared to it, we look pretty good. When Paul was there, he saw people being told they weren't good enough to be members of the church." (Hmmm, where have I heard that before?) They had some sort of litmus test. Did you speak in tongues? Did you have an ecstatic moment of conversion? Were you holy enough?

Paul didn't want to quash the spirit of the Corinthians, but he did want them to put these gifts in perspective. We don't know for sure, but from what Paul says, I think there must have been a lot of shaming going on. "If you can't speak in tongues, you are not a real Christian." No matter how it is said, if we degrade a persons identity as a Christian, we are telling them they are at best not good enough, or even no good.

In what I think is the most beautiful poetry in all of scripture, Paul tells them and us what is truly the most important thing in our relationship with other people - love. And, he uses a particular word for love, Agape. The King James Version translates agape as charity. Modern translations are consistent in using the word love. Agape love is a self giving love (hence the charity translation). It is the love God has for us. It is the love that compelled Jesus up onto the cross. It is the benchmark on which all relationships are judged.

Paul tells us that regardless of the gifts the Spirit has given us, if they are not coupled with self giving, all embracing love, they are nothing. It is only when this Christ like love is present in our public religion does it truly build up the body of Christ.

And that's really what we're about, isn't it - building up the body of Christ; strengthening the faith of the faithful and leading the lost to Christ; Spiritual Formation and Evangelism.

Paul tells his friends in Corinth that the public expressions of faith are not eternal; they will pass away. What stays is faith, hope and love. These are the ultimate tools for building up the Body. We aren't all able to use these tools at the same level of proficiency. We have to grow into our faith. We have to recognize the imperfection of our understanding of God and God's purpose for us. But we trudge ahead faithful, hopeful and self sacrificing.

Most of you have probably heard of the band, U2 spelled letter u number 2. While a decidedly secular group, their faith is deeply infused into all they sing. They are always at the forefront of peace and justice issues, usually spearheaded by their lead singer, Bono.

They have a song called "Pride" although it is best known by its refrain, "In the Name of Love". It reads, "One man caught on a barbed wire fence, One man he resist, One man washed on an empty beach., One man betrayed with a kiss . In the name of love, What more in the name of love. In the name of love. What more in the name of love" It goes on to talk about Martin Luther King, but I think this shows my point. A martyr gives his or her life in the name of the very same love Paul uses to define a Christian relationship.

And while we are not all called to be martyrs, we are called to be apostles - those sent out to spread the Good News of God in Christ. God doesn't select who is given that charge. The God that knows our thoughts, knows our strengths and weaknesses, gives us this charge as the water of baptism trickles down our forehead.

It's not a matter of whether we're good enough. Take Jeremiah. God said to him, "Do not say, 'I am only a boy'; for you shall go to all to whom I send you, and you shall speak whatever I command you, Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, says the LORD." Then the LORD put out his hand and touched my mouth; and the LORD said to me, "Now I have put my words in your mouth"

Talk about building up. Just think, to know that God is standing with you and that the words you speak are God's words. As a "professional Body builder" it is great comfort that God promises to give me the words to speak. I don't know if I always listen, but I will tell you, if ever something I or anyone says compels you to a deeper love for and understanding of Jesus Christ, then those were God's words because no one but God can transform a human soul.

In the name of love we put aside our self doubt that makes itself known in fear and show the world Jesus Christ. Do you remember the story of Jesus and the rich young man. In the Gospel of Mark, after the man says he has followed all the law comes this, "Jesus, looking at him, loved him ". Although the man wouldn't or couldn't accept the terms of discipleship, he knew what it meant to be loved by God, to experience that agape, self-giving love. We don't know if he ever came around to follow Jesus, but I am sure he was changed forever.

That's the power of Christ-love; it is life changing. That love changed Jeremiah from a scared young boy into the prophet of the exile who gave hope, faith, and in his own way, love to a frightened, beaten Israel.

In the name of love, we are good enough. Good enough to be loved by God. Good enough to tell the story of Jesus life, death resurrection and ascension. Good enough to lead people into a deeper relationship with Christ. Good enough to search even deeper in our own lives.

As fallen, broken and imperfect as we may be, we are good enough for the One who defines what Good means.