Wednesday 24th May
Read 2 Corinthians 10:7-8
“You are judging by appearances. If anyone is confident that they belong to Christ, they should consider again that we belong to Christ just as much as they do. 8 So even if I boast somewhat freely about the authority the Lord gave us for building you up rather than tearing you down, I will not be ashamed of it.” (NIVUK)
Comparisons are dangerous. Even underhanded comparisons like ‘some people’ (v2) in Corinth have been making about Paul. The subtle claim that they should be listened to because they ‘belong to Christ’ (v7), insinuating subtly that Paul doesn’t, is as nasty now as it was then. It is also just as common. We do it without even realising when we tell stories to others that imply we are the heroes in the conversation, and our interlocutors are just foolish and stupid. I have done it, and I suspect we all have at some point. Inadvertently and subconsciously painting ourselves in the best light.
Paul was someone who regularly and often boasted in Christ (v8). He must have spoken to the Corinthians of the commission he was given to build them up, so that they too would boast in the Lord as he did. I am sure it was couched in humility and incredulity, awed that this authority would be given to him, the least deserving of all the apostles. Yet his enthusiasm was turned against him by ‘some people’ in Corinth.
His defence is remarkably gentle at this point. He merely asks the Corinthians to consider the obvious facts (v7a) – there is no doubt at all as to whether Paul belongs to Christ. He will outline the reasons, against his will, later in the letter but to question it is foolish beyond comprehension.
I wonder though how often we make judgments that aren’t based on reality because we are prejudiced or blind to humility and faith of others? I don’t necessarily think that the story that is passing through my head now is the most accurate application to draw from this text, but Tim Keller has been in my thoughts recently. Tim Keller was called the modern CS Lewis. One of the things he frequently observed when preaching was ‘that no-one gets into Narnia the same way’. Taking your conversion story and applying it to everyone as the benchmark against which you measure their faith is a dangerous practice. Every entry into the kingdom is unique. Paul belongs just as much as ‘some people’ do. Even ‘some people’ who you don’t consider truly saved?
Comparisons are dangerous. The real challenge is working out when they are necessary.
