Archive for March, 2009
“Word for Today” – 2 Corinthians 4 – www.concordialutheranchurch.com
Yesterday, a friend of mine who works in a management position called me asking my advice. “I’m having this problem with another employee at my office,” he began. He then proceeded to rip off a whole litany of offenses, shortcomings, integrity issues, and job performance weaknesses that this employee had displayed during his time at the company. After listening to a dizzying and dismal performance report, I asked my buddy, “Have you talked to this employee about all these problems?” “Well,” my buddy continued, “I tried to, but he wouldn’t let me get in a word edgewise. He just kept on talking and talking. I think he knew that we were having some problems with his performance, and he didn’t want to face them.”
How many times has this been true of us? There are some problems with our performance, but we don’t want to face them. And so, we try to cover them up, dress them up, make them up, and excuse them away. In our reading for today from 2 Corinthians 4, however, we learn that this is not the way that our “problems with performance” are to be dealt with. Paul writes in verse 2 that we, as Christians, “have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.”
“By setting forth the truth plainly…” That doesn’t sound like any sort of cover up to me. Instead, that sounds like brute honesty. Honesty about our sin. Honesty about our shortcomings. Honesty about our “performance problems.” As Christians, Paul says, we are to address these things head on rather than trying to shirk responsibility for them and talking our way out of them.
One of the things that Paul exhorts us to do when talking frankly and forthrightly about our “performance problems” is not to use “deception.” The Greek word for “deception” is panourgia and is often translated as “trickery” or “craftiness.” Sadly, this is the way many of us deal with our sin. We trick ourselves into thinking that it’s not that bad. We are crafty in the way that we confess our sins, strategically leaving out bits and pieces of information, so that we don’t sound too depraved. But this is not the way of the gospel. Panourgia concerning our sinfulness just won’t do. For this kind of “trickery” and “craftiness” is none other than a disgusting device of the devil. “I am afraid,” Paul writes later in 2 Corinthians 11:3, “that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ.” The Greek word for the “cunningness” of the serpent? Panourgia.
“By setting forth the truth plainly…” This is the only way for a Christian to live. Not cloaked in secrecy. Not veiled in shame. We are to live in the plain light of truth. But remember, the plain light of truth tells not only of our sin, the plain light of truth also tells of God’s grace. That’s why John reminds us that Jesus “came from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). Grace and truth go together, John says. You can never tell the plain truth of your sinfulness without also hearing the plain truth of God’s grace, love, mercy, and compassion for you in Jesus Christ. Grace and truth go together.
So here is your challenge. Is there any area in your life where you are practicing some panourgia with your sinfulness? Are you hiding your “performance problems” from the plain light of truth? Now is the time to expose them. Now is the time to get honest about them. And now is the time to receive the plain truth of God’s grace. It’s yours for the asking. It’s yours for forgiveness.
“Word for Today” – 2 Corinthians 3 – www.concordialutheranchurch.com
Last weekend was the weekend of the Oscars. And although the popularity and the ratings of this perennial awards powerhouse has been slowly but surely waning, winning one of these gold-plated britannium statues is still a coveted Tinsel Town status symbol. Indeed, even presenting one of these awards is considered to be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity not to be missed. That’s why when, according to Hollywood “insider” reporters, some actors and actresses such as Kate Winslet, Nicole Kidman, and George Clooney refused to present at this year’s Academy Awards, the producers were less than thrilled. After all, presenting at the Oscars is still regarded as a high honor, even if it’s not quite the same as actually winning an Oscar.
In our reading for today from 2 Corinthians 3, Paul, unlike many Hollywood elites, marvels at the prospect that he would get to be a “presenter” at an awards show hosted by none other than God himself. Paul writes, “And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts” (verse 3). Paul says that Christ has won some awards. And these awards are much more than mere gold-plated britannium statues; rather, these awards are living, breathing, flesh and blood human beings. These awards are none other than you and me. Because we, as Christians, rather than being awarded to Satan and his wicked minions because of our sin, are awarded to Christ and his angels because of his work on the cross. We, as Christians, are the eternal awards of Christ, presented to him finally and wholly on the Last Day.
But just like any good awards show, there needs to be some presenters. And here’s the transcendent privilege in this divine awards show that so thrills Paul: he gets to be a presenter. He gets to present an award of human beings to none other than Christ himself. Can you imagine? Presenting an award like this to Jesus? This is Paul’s privilege. This is Paul’s honor. This is Paul’s boast. And this is why Paul writes to the Corinthians, “You are a letter from Christ! You are an award for Christ! And you know what? I get to deliver you to Christ. I have the high honor and distinct privilege of presenting you to the Lord.” Paul speaks similarly later in this same letter when he writes: “I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him” (2 Corinthians 11:2). Paul is keenly aware of the distinct honor and high privilege that he has in presenting those under his care to Christ on the Last Day.
Like Paul, you have a similar privilege. You have a similar commissioning. The truth of the matter is, you can never “win” anybody for Christ. The winning of human beings has already been accomplished by Christ through his work on the cross. But although you cannot win anybody for Christ, you, like Paul, can present people to Christ. People that you have befriended with Christ’s love. People that you have helped in Jesus’ name. People that you have shared the gospel with. These are all people who you can present to Christ on the Last Day, saying, “Here’s another award for you, Jesus. But more than a mere award, here’s another person for you. A person you have won by your forgiveness. A person you have loved by your grace.”
And so, who will you have to present to Jesus on the Last Day? My prayer for you today is that you, along with Paul, can revel in the distinct privilege and high honor that you have in being one of God’s many “presenters.” Because you have the distinct privilege and high honor of presenting the most precious thing of all to Jesus: others.
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