“Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; but have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, 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. But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost.” 2 Cor. 4:1-3
Devotional Thought For The Day
Everyone has their own opinions. It is a fascinating thing, the inner compulsion to think that not only do we have the right to think however we please, but that our thinking inevitably and infallibly leads to the truth. When it becomes apparent that there is some difficulty or dissonance between our opinion and what is real, we readily and easily retreat back to the position that “well, it’s the truth for me.” What is meant by that statement is that “truth” is not a matter of “reality,” but rather a matter of what I like to think, how I want to think of things, how I can be happiest with my thoughts. Sadly, those who process life in this manner often posture as if this is a great and powerful way of being – self-determining, noble, highly philosophical, open-minded, and inclusive; in reality it is weak, anti-social, self-serving, and inviting great vulnerability.
Likewise, those who think in this manner assume that everyone else is the same, that all thought and communication is really nothing more than this kind of sophisticated selfishness, people posturing and trying to manipulate others into thinking what they think, so that they can be happier, and more powerful. Again, you see the cynical nature of this, and how divisive and anti-social it truly is. Sadly, those who think this way – and it is a modern way of thinking – have lost touch with how people used to think. It used to be quite common that people “renounced the hidden things of dishonesty,” and considered it a moral duty to work very hard to not be “walking in craftiness.” Within the church it used to be considered one of the more horrible and horrific crimes to “handle the Word of God deceitfully,” and to not be fully accepting of, adhering to, and promoting “the truth” that comes to us only through God’s Word. Not so today, or at least not consistently so today, and so those who are in principle existentialists assume that all pastors are only interested in deceitfully plying their own denominational or personal peculiarities for the sake of personal gain and personal power. And there is no convincing them otherwise; their own happiness and certitude depends upon believing this about others, especially the church, so that they can continue to justify themselves for continuing to think this way. To even acknowledge the possibility of someone actually pursuing truth, and being subject not to their own thinking [and happiness and power] but to the Word of Another, to an objective source of truth, threatens to unravel their whole epistemology, worldview, and personality.
Well, it truly is a pitiful thing when the church and its servants, the pastors, are not fully committed to following the apostle Paul’s commitment. First, to acknowledge that the ministry is no place of personal prestige, personal aggrandizement, or personal power, but rather a gift, a gift from God, received in the same way that we have received mercy, and that is solely by the grace of God. Second, to remember at all times that we are not called to exercise creativity, but to faithfully proclaim the Word of Another, the Word of God, which is the truth [John 17:17 – the assertion of Jesus!]. Thirdly, to renounce all dishonesty, craftiness, and deceit – for the ministry we have received from God is not for the purpose of personal enrichment or empowerment but rather for the purpose of God, the purpose of the Gospel, to bring people to faith and salvation, so that they are no longer lost and perish, but are saved through faith in Jesus, the Lamb of God.
Are there still pastors who understand these things and who are in fact deeply personally committed to this true ministry of God? I am privileged to meet many different pastors, from different denominations, trained in a variety of seminary settings. Some are taught from within the cynical perspective I’ve just discussed; this is the worldview of modern, skeptical, unbelieving “Christian” “scholarship.” And there are no doubt some pastors who are motivated purely by selfishness, and many others who struggle with eradicating selfish tendencies from their life and work. However, there are many more who are in fact deeply committed to serving God and His people, not themselves, and who clearly understand that their ministry is not one of conveying their own personal opinions but rather the Word of God, the truth. The fact that dissonance remains is not evidence of cynicism, existentialism, or selfishness, but rather of our continued sinful weaknesses and our need to continue our devotion to the study of God’s Word. And the disagreements that remain are not inconsequential; but the unity in full commitment to the vast majority of the teaching of God’s Word is of greater importance. And in these areas of agreement I doubt there are many pastors who consider this a matter of fortunate existential concurrence! No, we all acknowledge these realities as truth manifested by God’s Word, which we in turn are bound to manifest to others in our preaching and teaching. This for the sake of God’s will, the preaching of the Gospel, and the salvation of souls.
As you consider your own opinions, and your own process of thinking and determining what is going to be real for you [or at least what you are willing to assert or stand up for as true], including how you think of and relate to your pastor, you might want to consider what his foundation and limitations are, and also his real ambitions. Who would suffer the indignities of the ministry for personal gain, except perhaps a masochist? Honest evaluation is fair; cynicism is a personal disease that is spiritually deadly.
Prayer For The Day
Dear Lord Jesus, You also faced cynical people, who projected their cynicism on to You. In this way they could not understand or accept Your reason for coming into this world, or Your teaching regarding repentance, faith, and a life of love. You sorrowed over these people, even as Your servants today must sorrow over the cynicism they encounter. Grant constancy and continued commitment to Your Word among Your servants, that the truth of the Gospel continues to be manifest in Your church. Call many back to truth, faith, and true love for and devotion to Your Word, Amen.