Dear Fathers, Friends in Jesus Christ,
I would like you to re-read the Epistle for this Sunday, which came from 2 Corinthians 11, the verses 19 to 31.
Selection processes for new Priests for Parishes can be an interesting or should I say frustrating experience. After an appoinment has been made there are rumours in the Parish that the Incumbant is only there for the money , or he is an impressive speaker, but not someone for pastoral care. One could be shy when meeting someone face to face, but labelled bold when away.These were some of the charges brought against the Apostle Saint Paul by his opponents, who attacked his integrity and authority. He was deeply concerned about the way that these false teachers were leading some of the Conrinthian Christians astray, about the immoraility of some in the Church, and the worsening relationship that he had with the Church.
Here, Saint Paul responds to these charges by replying " tongue in cheek". The Corinthians considered themselves to be " wise " or thoughtful. Yes Saint Paul points out that they accept people with little or no thought because they put up with fools and teachers, who enslave and take advance of them. Verse 19: For ye suffer fools glad, seeing ye yourselves are wise. 20: For ye suffer, if a man bring you into bondage, if a man devours you, if a man take of you, if a man exalts himself, if a sman smites you on the face.
Saint Pauls says that if they can be bold bout these things then he can be bold too! Rather than being bold about this own conquests, abilities and achievements he lists things that are not triumphs but defeats. Not strenghts , but weaknesses. He does not want to establish his superiority, but the protection and provision of God. This shows that lowliness and aparent weakness are assets, rather than disadvantages for a Christian leader.
Verse 22: Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? So am I. The claims implied here on the part of the false apostles indicate that they were Jews, who felt superior to Gentile Christians. They were probably Judaizers, i.e. they wished to impose Old Testament practices and observances as required for Gentile converts. This, off course, was not Saint Paul's position, who said that acceptance of the Lord Jesus as their Saviour is enough to put people right with God. Saint Paul affirms his credentials by stating that he is a Hebrew, speaking the language and being brought up in this culture. An Israelite, one of God's chose people. A descendant of Abraham, showing that he was an heir of the covenant made Abraham.
He then lists what he has gone through. Verse 24: Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Verse 25: Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned. 40 lashes were allowed ( Deut 25:2-3), therefore, to be safe, only 39 were given ( 2 Corinthians 11:24) .The convict who was to be flogged was stripped to the waist and was then given lashed from a three-thonged whip barbed with pieces of lead or bone while either lyon the ground ( Deuth 25:2) or tied to a pillar in a a bent position. Saint Paul was ofen imprisoned under Roman law and three times beaten with rods ( an illegal punishement for Roman citizen such as Saint Paul.)
Stoning was the death penalty for those, who blasphemed. There had to be at least two prosecution witnesses who had to knock the blasphemer whom they had testified against off his feet and drop the first , large one on him or her. If this failed to cause death, the bystandanders proceeded to complete the sentence with other stones.
Saint Paul also refers to the dangers of travelling, the opposition of people, and physiucal deprivation of including pain, tiredness, hunger, thirst and nakedness. He also mentions his concern for the churches, not surprising when you read his letters and some of things that went on.
Saint Paul felt the weakness of any Christian who feels weak. His sufferings that he has just listed showed he could identify with weakness from personal experience. If anyone was led into sin, he not only burned with indignation against the person responsible but also experienced the shame of the offense and loged for the restoration of the one, who had stumbled.
Verse 30: If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities. NIV If I must boast , I will boast of the things that show my weakness.
His weakness opens the way for him to experience the abundant power of God's grace. Therefore his boasting, unlike that of the false apostles, is not in what he has done, but in what God has done despite his own weakness.
However, we must not confuse weakess with an inability or unwillingness to take a moral stand. In 1 Corinthians 5, he tells the church to expel an immoral brother and in 2 Corinthians 13 he warns that he " will not spare" those who had sinned and not repented ( 12:20 - 13:2)
What can we take from this passage? God can and will work through and despite our weaknesses if we are fully committed to him. Our life and service may not bring the rewards that we might like. We are called to take up our cross and follow Jesus daily. This is a one way journey that will lead to rejection, pain, suffering and death. But it will also lead to resurrection and glor for those who persevered. The seeds planted in the good soil took time and effort to produce a good crop, and so it will take time, effort and perseverance for us to be rooted and grow in God's word.
As we consider all Church leaders, let us not judge them by the standards of the world. They may not appear erudite, successful, charming, strong, wealthy, ork popular, but this is not how God chooses and equips those whom he calls to serve him.
Amen.
Father Ed Bakker SSM
Traditional Anglican Communion in New Zealand
