We’ve passed the one year mark in the Covid era. Vaccinations and variants are vying for victory. Who will win?
Seems that both may prevail. The experts are predicting that Covid is here to stay but vaccination will see a plague becoming some sort of ever present flu. Who knows? One thing we know is that predictions are just that.
Our sense of vulnerability has not only been heightened but burned into our social, familial, and spiritual lives. We suffer and remember how it used to be. But that “new normal” we lightly referred to a year ago has become a burden that refuses to disappear. From now on we’re walking with a limp.
Jesus said,” Come unto me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest”. This would be a good time to take him at his word.
Key Verse: 2 Corinthians 4:2 “But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.”
Paul continues to defend his ministry. He speaks of the integrity and vulnerability to which he has committed himself. There’s nothing secret, shameful, or deceptive about his ministry. He doesn’t distort the Word of God for personal profit or popularity. He tells it like it is; and what you see is what you get.
What you see is the “manifestation of the truth”. That’s quite a claim! Who of us would refer to what we teach and how we live as a “manifestation of the truth”? Most of us, I’m sure , would say, “Don’t look at me, look at Jesus.” A thought, by the way, with which I’m sure Paul would concur. But he’s not averse to putting his life under his congregation’s microscope. “Examine my life,” he says in effect, “and see the truth.”
And what is the “microscope”? Standards? Rules? Traditions? No. It’s something else: “every man’s conscience”. There may be nothing in life more personal than conscience, and nothing more judgmental. But before we react to this remarkable vulnerability, notice the qualifier, “in the sight of God”. Paul is talking about an educated conscience here: one that has been informed and transformed by the “word of God”.
But the point is clear. We’re to be discerning in our acceptance of professed ministries. Paul says, “scrutinize my ministry”, but don’t judge on the basis of style. Rather, judge on the basis of substance. And, as you submit yourself to the Word of God, let your conscience be your guide.
Key Verse: 2 Corinthians 3:6 “…who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.”
As I pointed out in the introduction to this letter, there is more than a little of self-justification on Paul’s part throughout. Perhaps the amount of time spent in this regard is directly proportionate to the vehemence of the reaction Paul received from his first letter to the Corinthians. They were exceedingly angry at his reference to their immorality, and it would appear that there were several vibrant anti-Paul sentiments and actions within the congregation. Reactionary movements always create their own momentum. In this case, Paul was not just being spoken against, he was being vilified.
With this in mind, notice the clever construction of verses one through six. It’s a paragraph built around the word “letter” (or “epistle”). In verse one, Paul refers to “letters of recommendation” with thinly veiled sarcasm. Then, in verse two, he switches to a tender imagery, “you yourselves are our letter” — that is, any recommendation he may require is already evident in the fruit of his ministry. Verse three alters the imagery, with Paul referring to the Corinthian congregation as “a letter from Christ”. Then, in verse six, he concludes the paragraph with a completely different application. This time, “letter” is equivalent to “law” and is contracted to spiritual freedom.
I call it clever, because Paul uses a personal injury as an occasion, not for scolding, but for teaching. He rises above the misunderstanding about his letter and focuses instead on a timeless truth: legalism kills, but the Spirit of God gives life and freedom. It’s an excellent example of how a skilled teacher can build something timeless on a temporary aggravation
Key Verse: 2 Corinthians 2:17a “For we are not, as so many peddling the word of God…”
A relative of mine, who is a television producer, called me recently from Washington D.C. He’d been watching 100 Huntley Street in Boston a few days earlier. “Your program is so unlike typical televangelism,” he said. “Sometimes I get the impression that televangelism is just another version of the home-marketing channel. They’re not presenting the gospel as much as selling themselves and hoping to entice the viewer to ‘buy’ into their ministry.”
I guess there’s very little new under the sun. Even in Paul’s day, there were evangelists peddling “the word of God for profit” (NIV).
So why didn’t Paul yield to the temptation of making money by marketing Jesus? Perhaps 2 Corinthians 5:10 provides the answer, “For we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.”
The word is “accountability.” Paul had a world view which included not only a personal God, but also heaven, hell, and giving account for one’s choices. The judge, of course, was/is God Himself. As Paul saw it, our choices are indelibly entered into the “computer program” of our lives, and there’s coming a day when there will be a complete print-out. When the record is read, there will then follow a judgment on the evidence. Scary stuff!
That’s why Paul could never allow himself to reduce the gospel to a means to a worldly end. He knew that if profit was his motive, Jesus would be lost. And if Jesus wasn’t preached then the gospel would be lost. Paul saw himself as a steward of the gospel. He knew the day would come when the only profit of any value would be souls won to Christ.
Key Verse: 2 Corinthians 1:21, 22 “Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set His seal of ownership on us, and put His Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.” (NIV)
I think a lot of us suffer from “performance anxiety” when it comes to Christian faith. It is especially acute just after hearing a Sunday morning sermon. After listening to the typical sermon with its “should”, “moulds”, and implied “what’s-the-matter-with-you’s”, there is little wonder you have “roast preacher” for Sunday lunch. It’s a matter of self-defence!
But generally speaking, most of us tend, Sunday sermons or no, to be pretty self-critical. Remembrance of the sin of the past week (or months, or years) just won’t go away. Or we feel the guilt of our uninvolvement in witnessing, Bible reading, or church attendance. And we’re a sitting duck for the pointed finger. It’s not easy being a good Christian: it’s hard work!
Thank God for today’s key verse! Here we see our faith as the result of God’s initiative. Notice the strong verbs: He makes us stand firm. He anoints us. He sets His seal of ownership on us. He puts His Spirit in our hearts. He guarantees the future. We are the product of His sovereign grace.
So God takes the initiative. What, then, is our responsibility? Simply to respond. As He gives us a firm stance, we choose to build our lives on the Rock. As He anoints us with His Spirit, we choose to please rather than grieve His indwelling presence. As He declares us His own, we choose to be obedient to His will and loyal to His Son. As He guarantees the future, we enter the future with our eyes set on Him. In other words, we respond with love. In God’s mind, this makes His initiative eternally worthwhile.
Key Verse: 1 Corinthians 16:18 “For they refreshed my spirit and yours; therefore acknowledge such men.”
There is a difference between being driven and being committed. Commitment springs from conviction, whereas “drivenness” is the product of some sort of neurotic compulsion. One can never be driven and sleep well at night — because drivenness betrays an inner discontent. Commitment, on the other hand, can be fully embraced even while “peace that passes understand” floods the soul — your work is the outflowing of a deep well within.
But even the content person gets tired once in a while. It could simply be volume of work, distractions of some sort or occasional over-extension. Whatever the reason, sometimes we need to be refreshed.
That’s why I like what Paul says about Stephanus, Fortnunatus, and Achaicus — they “refreshed my spirit”. What they did, Paul doesn’t say. Maybe they just sat around and talk with him, not about doctrine, but about smaller things. Maybe they had a great sense of humour and made Paul laugh. Maybe they prayed with him or put on a hearty barbecue and encouraged Paul to eat his fill. Who knows? The point is, they came like a fresh breeze into Paul’s life. They took some of the burden from his shoulders and gave him the opportunity to relax, to “let his hair down”.
“Such men deserve recognition”, declares Paul — and rightly so. Too often in the Lord’s work we make much of spiritual leaders and, in so doing, lay a heavy burden on their shoulders. They’re only human, too, and feel almost obliged to fulfil our expectation of them. They need a few people friends — with whom they can just be who they are, without any ministry agenda. Let’s applaud friends like these! They have a key role in the health of the church. They’re content and refreshing.
Key Verse: 1 Corinthians 15:17 “And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins!
What does your faith stand on? Personal experience? Anything else? The Gospel? What is the Gospel? For those of us who need a refresher course, let’s analyze the basic ingredients of the “Good News”.
By the way, if you need a refresher, you’re not alone. The Corinthians church needed one, too. “Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you received and on which you have taken your stand” (v.1).
Here’s the analysis; (1) “Christ died for our sins…” (2) “He was buried” (3) “He was raised” (4) He appeared” (5) He ascended (6) He’s returning (7) You can know Him. The first four are from verses 3 to 5. The last three are from the Gospels. It’s a basic seven point analysis. It’s the bedrock own which your faith can stand.
Often we emphasize point seven the most, and why not? It’s the one we relate to best, because it’s in the area of present day experience. As the old gospel song says, “You ask me how I know He lives, He lives within my heart.”
But we must never forget that Christian faith is rooted, not in the mystery of subjective faith, but in history. Whether we accept Christ as our Lord and Saviour or not, He still died in our history. He was buried in a real grave and left it, three days later, in our history. He was seen by hundreds of eyewitnesses and ascended in our history. We know He lives, because history tells us so.
The greatest moment in man’s history was not the landing of American astronauts on the moon (as President Nixon put it), but the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. It was, and is, the pivotal moment of all time. Without it, our faith falls; with it, our faith stands.
Key Verse: 1 Corinthians 14:33 “For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.”
Fruitfulness, however, is not an end in itself. There’s a greater end in view: God’s glory. Even the “common good” is subject to this greater end. The ultimate goal of spiritual giftedness and fruitfulness is to point men and women to God. Paul puts it this way: when a person, still in his sins, comes into contact with a vibrant, functioning church, “he will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, ‘God is really among you!'” (v.25b). It’s not charisma that impresses the sinner, it’s the presence of God.
Maybe we church-goers need to get a fresh view of what constitutes spiritual ministry. Let’s get one thing straight: activity does not necessarily equate with ministry. we do so much, so very much, “in the name of God”. Unfortunately, much of our activity, if we’re honest with ourselves, is nothing other than what anyone who is a member of any other kind of social organization does. Committees, planning meetings, retreats, gatherings, special emphasis days, holiday celebrations — all are done in the name of God.
And we always give that expected prayer at the beginning, like “grace” before a meal; as if God is obliged to bless when we ask Him; as if a prayer magically transforms human heat into heavenly light.
And to be frank, so much of our “spiritual” activity mostly tires us out. We become stressed and driven, and as we interact with other stressed and driven brothers, there is inevitable conflict and confusion.
Paul says the end result of making God glorious in our church ministry is not confusion, but peace. Maybe that’s how to determine whether or not you are truly ministering or are you driven? Or are you at peace?
“Your name” is a subject all of itself. I’m tempted to write an essay here, but space won’t permit. Rather I’ll make a few summary observations.
In the biblical view there is nothing more holy on this space/time spaceship we call earth than the name of the “Holy one of Israel”. His name evokes his presence. So much so that Orthodox Jews to this day will not pronounce it. One cannot pronounce YHWH and live. So, when reading the Torah aloud in synagogue, YHWH is pronounced ADONAI, which means “Lord”. If, in everyday conversation one refers to the Lord, one employs HASHEM, which means “The Name”. Even in script one writes G-D rather than GOD. The Name is everything, and it is holy. Indeed, this is why Jerusalem is called “The Holy City”. God has placed his name — “The city that bears my Name” (Je. 25:29).
Language limits us. Our descriptive efforts are stigmatized due to our “dark glasses” (1 Co. 13:12). Here, in this prayer, Jesus hints at the mystery engaged by our words. The apostle John captures that mysterious adventure with the words, “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his son to be the propitiation for our sins.” (1 Jo. 4:10). Our hallowed Father has our backs. Blessed be his Name!
Key Verse: 1 Corinthians 13:13 “And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”
Fruitfulness, as distinct from giftedness, is what this chapter is about. Generally, we tend to take the “love chapter” out of context. It is important in Bible interpretation to remember context — and in this case, chapter 13 comes right in the middle of Paul’s attempt to dispel ignorance about the “gifts of the Spirit”. Here he is bluntly declaring the ineffectual nature of giftedness when it is independent of fruitfulness.
Imagine having the supernatural ability to speak, not only every human language but the language of angels as well! Or being able lot prophecy and interpret life’s mysteries. How about the kind of fait where you were able to physically move mountains? Not impressive enough? Then try giving everything you have to the poor, ore even giving your life for some great cause. If there’s anything impressive in human experience, it’s martyrdom! The Nobel prize is in the bag! We’re impressed. And we assume God is too.
No! There’s only one thing that impresses God — Love: Love for Him, love for neighbour, love for self. Jesus said it (Mk.12:29-31), and it’s the ultimate condition of Christian service.
It’s not what appears to be, it’s what actually is. You can fool others even yourself, but you can’t fool God. He looks on the heart; He knows why you’re ministering. He knows if your motive is guild, ego, or money. He knows if your motives are mixed. He knows everything.
God is love, John tells us. The whole motive of His creating the world and us was love. Love is the oil which lubricates the universe. If we don’t love, we become a wrench in the gears — we become at cross-purpose with our Creator. Let’s examine our motives and repent. Let’s turn in love’s direction. Let’s bear fruit.
Key Verse: 1 Corinthians 12:7 “Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.” (NIV)
Unity in diversity: that’s the story on the body of Christ. We’re all different, and we’re all one — or, at least, we’re supposed to be.
Paul begins a three-chapter dissertation designed to dispel “ignorance” about spiritual gifts. They Corinthian church didn’t need to be motivated in this area — they were the most “charismatic” of all his congregations. But they were so keen on their individual gifting that they were forgetting the primary function of spiritual gifts: to meet the needs of a coordinated body. Instead there was confusion, wrangling, and division. Paul sets out to put spiritual gifts into perspective.
He establishes three underlying principles for any discussion or understanding of spiritual gifts:
1. Not all gifts are the same,
2. God is the same, and
3. The gifts are given by God for the common good (vss. 4-7).
One person is an “eye”; another is a “foot”. One is visible; another is behind the scenes. And even though one member may be more visible, and thereby given greater deference (the hand, for example), the unseen member may be more vital (the liver, for example). God, however, is the “same” — He coordinates all these differing members. And the manifestation of the gifts has meaning only if their motive is “the common good”.
Spiritual giant hood doesn’t apply here. We don’t seek gifts for gifts’ sake. Nor do we seek the “honour” a gift may bring; we seek to serve our brother. Service, not achievement, is the underlying motivation for exercising one’s gift.
If we don’t stir up our gift for God and Christian brothers, then we’re wasting our time, regardless of how impressive our gift may be. The bottom line in this discussion is not giftedness at all; the litmus test is fruitfulness.
So how are you doing 12 months into this COVID-19 era? If the media reports are anywhere close to the heart of the matter you’re not doing well. Infections and deaths increase every day, depression is up, divorce, thoughts of suicide, alcoholism climbing, disturbing increase of abused infants at emergency wards, sorrow on sorrow…we’re suffering a global pandemic of fear and sadness.
This is no time for trite solutions. We’ve got to admit our lostness on a scale never before imagined. We need help.
I was listening to one of the most loved hymns in history being sung recently. It resonated acutely:
Now is the time for us to reach out to our Creator and call for His intervention. Indeed, that constant cry of ancient church liturgy rings truer today than ever:” Lord have mercy”.
