(2 Corinthians 6: 1-13)
One of the challenges of being a Criminal Defense Attorney was in making sure my clients understood what I was telling them, understood the message plain and simple. They were in denial, which was to be expected, and would often say: “You know, Mr. Rosekrans, there’s two sides to every story.” I would then say: “Actually, there’s six sides to every story. There’s what you tell yourself, what you tell the police, what you tell your mama, what you tell the judge, what you tell your lawyer, and the truth. And the truth and what you tell your lawyer better be pretty close.” I can’t help you unless you’re truthful with me. They would look at me with a stunned and perplexed look as they processed what I was saying. After I would methodically show them the foolishness of their reasoning, that come-to-Jesus discussion, I would work out a pretty good deal, usually entailing a suspended and probated sentence. They’d thank me and promise me that they’d do better, and I’d never see them again. I’d give them my card just in case knowing that they didn’t get it, they weren’t hearing what I was telling them. It was simple, listen to what your lawyer is telling you and follow his advice and it should all work out in the end. As a precaution, I would always follow up this advice with a letter where I again spelled it out for them, plain and simple, knowing that they would be back one day claiming I either gave them bad advice or didn’t explain it to where they understood it.
And explaining it plain and simple is what the Apostle Paul is trying to convey to the Corinthian church in today’s scripture reading. Our scripture reading for today is a continuation of what we’ve been studying for the past few weeks as the Apostle tries to help the Corinthian church with their struggles from within and without. At the end of Chapter Five Paul tells his readers that God reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation. Reconciliation is one of those terms you hear preachers and theologians throw about like it’s a given, and everyone should understand it. Article VIII of our United Methodist Book of Discipline, Reconciliation Through Christ, states: We believe God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself. The offering Christ freely made on the cross is the perfect and sufficient sacrifice for the sins of the whole world, redeeming man from all sin, so that no other satisfaction is required. So God reconciled us, squared himself with us, through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross, no longer holding our sins against us. God has brought us back to himself by blotting out our sins and making us righteous. And, through this relationship, He has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are, therefore, Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. And because we have been reconciled to God, we now have the privilege of encouraging others to do the same, and thus we are those who have the ministry of reconciliation. Through our examples and actions, we are helping others to become reconciled with God. Others who, like us, may have had their differences with God and having become separated from Him, have had their account settled, squared, and they are now one with God through Jesus Christ. Pretty plain and simple.
Which brings us to today’s scripture where we ask how could the Corinthian believers ignore God’s message, receive it in vain? Well, probably the same way we receive it in vain. They may have been confused by the false teachers who taught a different message than Paul, not all that different from what we see some religious leaders espouse for their own benefit or for ulterior motives, the ones who, when exposed, put a bad taste for religion in people’s mouths. Paul says: As God’s fellow workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. For he says, “In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” quoting Isaiah 49: 8. I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation. The people had heard God’s message through Paul, but they weren’t letting it affect what they said and did in their daily lives and interactions with others. It was an inconvenient truth that got in the way of living life as they pleased. The false teachers were telling them to pay no attention to Paul as they had a better and easier way that required less of a commitment.
Paul pleads his case by saying: We put no stumbling block in anyone’s path, so that our ministry will not be discredited. There was no fine print, no qualifiers or disqualifiers like the time I decided I wanted to join a church of a different denomination from the one I grew up in and was required to be baptized again. Really? I already know what I believe and I’m pretty sure it squares with the teachings of the New Testament, but if it makes you and the congregation feel better, baptize me. Rather, Paul continues, 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 imposters; 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. Paul throws down on his detractors who are watching his every move, which I find ironic as it was Paul and his fellow Pharisees who watched every move Jesus made in an effort to trap him and discredit his ministry. With Christ as Paul’s example, he stays true to the Word. Paul’s basically telling them that if they have a problem with his ministry and the way in which he is preaching the gospel to bring it, to get it out in the open, exposed to the light of day. Of course, that won’t happen as his detractors feign plausible deniability and prefer to operate in the shadows employing a whisper campaign. In everything Paul did he always considered what his actions communicated about Jesus Christ. Paul saw his circumstances and challenges as opportunities to spread the gospel of Christ. He realized that his current hardships weren’t as important as what he did with them. He worked to turn bad situations into good ones that reflected the glory of the Father.
And that’s the lesson for us. How we act in our adversities reflects what we believe. People watch us to see how we’ll handle it. Will we have a meltdown, or will we rise up to meet the situation head-on with dignity and grace? Like Paul, look for ways to demonstrate your faith, especially in bad situations. Whether or not the situation improves; your faith will grow stronger for all to see. And remember, if you are a believer, a true believer, you are a minister for God, and in the course of each day non-Christians are watching you to see how you conduct yourself and represent your faith. Don’t let your careless or undisciplined actions be another person’s excuse for rejecting Christ. We want to draw them to Christ, not drive them away.
What a difference it makes to know Jesus. He cares for us in spite of what the world thinks. And, as Christians, we don’t have to give in to public opinion or pressure, in fact, what we do and how we interact in our communities should have an impact on how the rest of the community sees and treats all people. Think about it, if the community around us sees us as a church treating people with love and respect maybe they will too. Don’t let circumstances or people’s expectations control you. Be firm as you stand true to God and refuse to compromise his standards for living.
Paul closes by saying: 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. The Corinthians were reacting coldly to Paul’s words, but Paul explained that his harsh words, as plain and simple as they were, came from his love for them. This was difficult for Paul who, like us, know people who have heard God’s message but have not let it interfere with their wanting to live the message in a way that fits in with their lifestyle. God offers salvation to all people and, unfortunately, many put off making a decision for Christ thinking there will be a better, more convenient time, not realizing they could easily miss their opportunity altogether. There is no time like the present to receive God’s forgiveness. Don’t let anything hold you back from coming to Christ. And don’t let anything hold you back from telling others about the unconditional love of Jesus Christ. The right time is now, plain and simple.
Let us pray.
Gracious and loving Father, tell us the stories of Jesus, stories we love to hear, things we would ask him to tell us if he were here, scenes by the wayside, tales of the sea, stories of Jesus, tell them to us. O how we praise you for the gift of your Son Jesus Christ who came and lived among us, teaching us your ways in a plain and simple way that can be understood and accepted by even the most confused and lost of your children. Move us to be your ambassadors of reconciliation as we use our circumstances both good and difficult to bring your message of peace, joy, love and hope to a despairing world. Through the Holy Spirit show us how to lead our lives in a manner that best reflects what we believe through our reconciliation. In Jesus’ name, we pray, Amen.