Tuesday 20th June
Read 2 Corinthians 12:11-13
“I have made a fool of myself, but you drove me to it. I ought to have been commended by you, for I am not in the least inferior to the ‘super-apostles’, even though I am nothing. 12 I persevered in demonstrating among you the marks of a true apostle, including signs, wonders and miracles. 13 How were you inferior to the other churches, except that I was never a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong!” (NIVUK)
Throughout his correspondence with the Corinthians Paul’s argument has been laced with what could easily be called sarcasm. But beneath the biting irony is a hurting heart. Paul has constantly lowered himself, modelling the exact type of leadership he believes the church deserves. Unfortunately, the worldly Corinthians want a different type of leader. I suspect we also want that kind of leader without realising it. ‘Leadership’ was often discussed when considering pastoral candidates over the last two years. Increasingly I suspect ‘leadership’, in the way we discussed at least, is almost precisely what Paul would decry.
Scot McKnight argues persuasively that Paul modelled and demanded leaders be those who mirrored Jesus, who were ‘cruciform’ and ‘Christoform’ in nature. “Many leaders fear that if they give in, if they humble themselves before a criticism, and if they don’t live up to expectations, their authority, their influence, and their ministry will be diminished. Paul did not agree with that theory of leadership. Paul took the leadership marks of the Corinthians – wealth, status, eloquence, power, birth lineage, patronage – and subverted them. But he subverted in a Christoform manner.” (Pastor Paul)
Signs and wisdom are dangerous markers of true leadership…“For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. 22 Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling-block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24 but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.” (1 Corinthians 1:21-25) (NIVUK)
Two letters later Paul is still trying to convince them that worldly ideas of leadership have no place in the church – what matters is faithfulness, endurance and perseverance (v12).
