We put no stumbling block in anyone’s
path, so that our ministry will not be discredited. Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves
in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses;
in beatings,
imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger;
in purity,
understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love;
in
truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the
right hand and in the left; through glory and dishonor, bad
report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; known, yet
regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed;
sorrowful,
yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet
possessing everything.
We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians, and opened
wide our hearts to you. We are not withholding our affection from you, but you are
withholding yours from us. As a fair exchange—I speak as to my children—open
wide your hearts also.
2
Corinthians 6:3-13 NIV
St.
Paul's ministry is not only questioned by people outside the church; after
all that he has done for the sake of the gospel and for the sake of the people
of Corinth. He and his authority are questioned by the people of the church,
as well. This also seems to be a common problem within the church today. If we
don't like what is said or done; we would like to be freed from our
leaders. Get rid of them! If our pastors speak too much truth, members will work hard to get rid
of them. If they do or say anything to offend anyone's ego or other personal gods, then they are gossiped about. Some congregations spend more time attempting to rid themselves of their shepherds than they do listening to and sharing the Good News of the Kingdom.
Sometimes, it is necessary to remove a pastor as in cases of wolves in
sheep's clothing. However, most of the time it is merely a personality
conflict or a control issue. I have a friend who when talking with me will, at
times, refer to "the boss." By "the boss," he is not
referring to me. He is referring to our heavenly Father, the one to whom we
are accountable. He is "the boss." We will
all ultimately answer to God for what those things that we have said
and done; those things that we have left unsaid and undone. So when you object to your pastor's objection to bowing to false gods remember that your pastor answers to a higher authority than you. In fact, you will answer to a higher authority, as well.
Through Jesus Christ, God our Father granted us the freedom to proclaim the
Gospel, by the power of the Holy Spirit. The world may not recognize this
freedom; but, God our Father does and that's the only thing that
matters. We may suffer and die in this world because we make use of this
freedom in Christ to proclaim the truth. But, it is better to suffer and
die so that the Good News of the Kingdom of God may be advanced in a world that
rejects Him than to deny this freedom purchased for us by the blood of
Christ.
Thanks be to God
for Jesus the Christ, the one we proclaim has granted us freedom to serve our
heavenly Father by the giving of his life for us!
God's Peace - Pr. J
