Any written statement carries certain dangers with it. It sets down a confirmed record and holds the writer to account. It can also be misinterpreted and misunderstood if the exact context of what was said and why it was said isn’t understood precisely.
E-mail heightens these dangers because it is so easy to communicate immediately, impulsively, without much thought or clarification. Once the send button is pressed – there is a finality which sometimes can be regretted seconds later as the implications seep through.
Recently I was working through some key decisions with a young youth leader I mentor. We’ve been meeting for years and have had all sorts of discussions in all sorts of contexts. Based on such an established relationship I fired off an e-mail summarising some strong thoughts.
A week later he horrified me with the news that he had showed the letter to his father in the context of discussing things with him. I wasn’t horrified at being found out or being held to account for my views but because I hadn’t clarified every statement and claim for the eyes of an outsider unaware of the context of our discussion every statement seemed suddenly to be a hand grenade of some sort of vilification.
As we read 2 Corinthians it seems that Paul is overjoyed and positive in his addressing of financial news in #9 and then almost immediately sinks back into a could of moody self defence in #10.
Just writing the words "the meekness and gentleness of Jesus" seems to bring immediately to the surface the personal hurt, infuriating anger against the mischief makers and exasperation with the congregation.
Right through the book and especially in these chapters you will see the biting sarcasm of Paul as he deals with his hurt and frustration. Once again he comes back to his bug bear of defending not only his own authority, credentials and ministry but ultimately the true nature of what makes Christian Ministry and Leadership.
Discerning between Godly and Satanic influences is key to every aspect of our Christian living. This is nicely appointed in the section of the passage we are looking at this morning which begins reminding us of the meekness and gentleness of Christ and ends with another reminder that Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. How do we pick between meekness and masquerade?
Along with Paul we’ll ask ourselves 2 questions this morning.
What does true Spiritual Power look like?
What does an Impressive Leader look like?
Not spiritual enough
One claim that seems to be levied against Paul was that he just wasn’t spiritual enough. (v2 - too worldly and weak in his personal dealings)
Don’t know about you but the quest for spiritual power was always in the back of my mind for many many years as a young Christian. As I read the exploits of the disciples and early Christians – the question was why aren’t these things happening in my life? How can I get them? As I read cutting edge authors and listened to cutting edge speakers there was always the promise that I could also experience the fruit of such spiritual power. This desire was at the same time curbed in me by the observation that bad things happened to many people I considered powerful Christian people and that there seemed no simple formula that covered all spiritual people or ministry.
I don’t see much of this question in Anglican circles here in Melbourne. If at all it seems to be couched in church growth terms. We seem to be more middle class, rational, comfortable and each sensibly making our own contribution. But these questions and the associated results, temptations and fallacies are constantly being asked, addressed and searched for by many our of our growing and large churches.
So what should we be looking for in spiritual power? Paul presents a particular picture of spiritual power through his own life
Based on the meekness and gentleness of Jesus
While coming across humble in face to face contact he is strong in his views and expectations (v1-2)
The result of his ministry is that lives are converted and changed dramatically, freed from the things that hold them back from God (v4-5)
He exercises considerable self control and is not scared to exercise control within the church as well (v5-6, 11 Ready to exercise authority and punishment for building up ultimately v7)
Spiritual power according to Paul is the life transforming message of Jesus – the Gospel. Though he has strongly held principles and values he seems to exercise them in humility and sensitivity while not being afraid to say the hard things and carry out disciplinary action. Fuelled by love he is willing to pay great personal cost to ensure that the Gospel message is heard and individual lives changed.
The privilege of my work is that I see people whose lives are converted soundly and sometimes irrationally. And almost always it’s through people sharing the good news of Jesus, one on one. Theologically unlearned people, living normal lives having a life changing impact– that is the power Paul is talking about. One particular person I work with, doesn’t stand out in a crowd, unassuming but soundly converted from a non Christian background in a totally irrational way. I keep waiting for him to walk away from his conversion and go back to a normal rational non Christian life. But in a life where he struggles with many things it’s his conversion that seems virtually unshakeable.
The good news of Jesus – the message of the Gospel shared at cost to oneself and sensitivity to those being converted is the sort of spiritual power we should be searching for. To be strong with the Gospel and its principles but sensitive to our hearers in the hope of their conversion. Are we spiritual enough?
Not impressive enough
The second question then is how should we allow ourselves to be impressed. It sounds a bit silly but it is a significant question. Because we have either thought out or un-thought out criteria by which we allow people to impress us. And we give the people who impress us a right to have a say in our lives and influence and even fashion us. Happens all the time through conversations, relationships, books (fictional and non fictional), documentaries, films, research, conferences etc
The newcomers vying for influence in the Corinthian scene were targeting Paul’s personality in order to make the Corinthians question his influence over them
He is accused of being bold while away but humble/weak when face to face (10:2).
His letters are weighty and strong but his bodily presence weak and his speech contemptible (10:10).
His response is (you want to be impressed?)
I was first to come to you, cost you nothing and me everything and any expectations placed on you were others-focused.
His level of concern 11:1-6
The credentials he presents include that he and his team were the first to be concerned enough to bring the good news to the Corinthians – he was not stepping on somebody else’s patch 10:13-15 (unlike by implication the present interlopers).
His expectation of them were not for himself either but of what they would be to Jesus (11:3-6) and what they received freely they would give freely to others as well and that ministry may continue through them 11:7-11 and 10:15-16
His code of conduct 7-11
By principle while there, he worked hard getting others to sponsor his ministry so that in no way did his ministry there cost the Corinthians anything at all. It was however at personal cost to himself. (11:7-11 and 16ff)
I learnt this lesson very early in my Christian life through a guy who could mesmerise anyone. He could speak for an hour an we would all say what an hour gone already. He was good looking, charming, dressed well and seemed to ooze concern. But time was his undoing. He never seemed to wait. When he didn’t get the results he wanted he’d move on leaving in his trail division and mistrust among the people he’d tried to win over. He lied and misrepresented. Made promises he couldn’t keep. I observed him over many year in different contexts and the patterns were always the same. I have always been sad that a man of such gifts who preached the Christian message never really made an impact for God in anybody’s life.
Good questions to ask of those who impress us? What do they gain? What are they offering? How does their life match their message? What do they want from me?
Spiritual Power is a life changed for Jesus through presenting the Gospel. A spiritual Leader is someone who is willing to pay a personal price for his concern, his message, and his lifestyle as he bears the message of Jesus.
For more sermons from this source go to home.vicnet.net.au/~sttheos/
