2 Corinthians 3:7-8, 16-18

Now if the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at Moses’ face because of its glory, which was being brought to an end, will not the ministry of the Spirit have even more glory?

2 Corinthians 3:7-8

But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

2 Corinthians 3:16-18

In the Old Testament, God defined the Hebrew people as His own by separating them from the other nations. He did this by giving them (through Moses) the Law. This law served to highlight the peoples’ inability to absolutely adhere to it. Its intent was to showcase their need for atonement. Yet the Israelites instead first turned to idols and later molded the Law into an idol itself by following it as the means to their salvation even while ignoring their blatant inability to fulfill it. In this way, the Law only served to keep the people of Israel from the Lord and His glory rather than draw them to the reality of their depravity and need for atoning mercy. This idolization of the Law was most prominently visualized by the veil that separated the Holy of Holies from the rest of the Temple. This physical cloth separated the Lord’s glory from His people. This curtain, dramatically, was torn in two at the death of Christ, who through His death and resurrection removed the barrier between man and his Creator.

Today, through the work of Christ, there is now no separation between the Lord and man. The veil has been torn away (literally and figuratively). The glory of the Lord can now be experienced in the lives of all His people. This is why Paul can state that: “and we all, with unveiled face, behold[ing] the glory of the Lord.”

Now all of this is very well and good from a historical and theological perspective, but what does it mean for us practically? What bearing does it have upon our lives? I can see three:

1.       Through Christ’s sacrifice there is no barrier between us and the Lord. We can approach the throne of God confidently because of Christ’s atoning work. We need no intermediary to approach the Lord. There is only one mediator between God and man --- Jesus. We don’t need any ‘greater’ or more holy spiritual leader to speak to God on our behalf. Our prayers are heard by God unimpeded.

2.       We can experience and reflect the glory of God. We do not live lives devoid of the Lord’s presence. His Spirit works in us and through us. Not only are our lives changed, but we also, like Moses, reflect the glory of God to others. The glory of God does not only dramatically reorient our own lives, (see point #3) but also changes the lives of others.

3.       “and we … are being transformed into that same image from one degree of glory to another.” Our exposure to God’s glory, made possible by Christ, cannot help but to change us. The Spirit He has given us begins the process of transforming us into the image of Jesus. We cannot be mere spectators in the Christian life. We cannot simply agree with some theological creed and return unchanged. It. Is. Not. Possible. If we have been exposed to God’s glory; if we have repented and experienced forgiveness, our very natures have been changed and are being changed. It is inevitable. We need to examine ourselves honestly and ask: Have we truly repented? Have we truly experienced forgiveness? And if we have experienced this new birth, is there corresponding change? Does our life bear the evidence of that transformation? Are our motives changed? Perhaps most dramatically and poignantly: Do our lives look more like Jesus’ than they did a year ago? Five years ago? Ten years ago?

Let us praise the God that He has given us access to His glory through Christ. Let us come before our Lord boldly. Let us reflect His glory to others. Let us look for and pray for that His transformation in our lives.

2 Corinthians 3:2-6

You yourselves are our letter of recommendation, written on our hearts, to be known and read by all. And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

2         Corinthians 3:2-6

Much of the first third of Paul’s second letter to the church at Corinth is made as a refutation of those who doubted his apostleship and sought to deny and twist his teachings. Due to this, he repeatedly defends his gospel (which is the true gospel) and his own calling as an apostle. After two chapters defending himself Paul cuts to the quick of his ministry. He outlines the basis for his (and our) calling. “Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us,” he maintains. Nothing, Paul says, not one single element of the success in ministry that he and his companions have seen has been of their own doing. Paul, as eloquent and confident as he was, brought nothing to the table that ‘aided’ the gospel of Christ. Likewise, we too bring nothing to the table. No skill or talent, gift or knowledge we possess brings anything to the message of Christ. In fact, these traits (which we see as pedigree) actually are garbage (refuse, Paul politely calls it) compared to the greatness of knowing Christ.

Paul continues: “but our sufficiency is from God, who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant.” It is God who gives validity to the ministry of Paul. In spite of the theological and ecclesiastical background he had, it was God himself, and not his resume, that qualified him for service. Paul states this to defuse the arguments of his opposition who likely sought to erode the legitimacy of his calling. In understanding this, we can experience the same joy in our lives. Whatever it is that we bring to the table with us, be it knowledge, experience, and victory or be it shame, foolishness, and inexperience – all of it is made nothing before a holy and righteous God. The validity of Paul’s calling shares the same resplendent cause as our own salvation --- that in and of ourselves we are dead, our works are dead, and our knowledge is dead. Only through Christ are we made alive. Only through Christ do our talents have meaning and purpose: glorifying and proclaiming the risen Christ. Our sufficiency is the same as Paul’s--- a sufficiency only found in Christ.

This is why Paul could write to the Corinthians with such confidence. He knew who it was that had called him. This is why we can and should live and minister in confidence ourselves. We too know who it is that calls us. There is no place for pride or boasting in the gifts and talents for they come only through the grace of Christ. Whatever it is we see as an avenue for success, be it an effervescent personality, skill in writing or preaching, a sympathetic spirit, all of it comes from God and is to be offered back up to God. Our joy should be found in that Christ has made us worthy. Whether we feel it on a day-to-day basis or not, the truth remains. Even when we feel the weakest, the lowest, and the most worthless we can know that we have been called by Christ and commissioned to the greatest cause.

Most days though, we remain woefully ignorant of our calling, choosing the easy path of progressing through the daily rigors of life choosing (willfully or not) comfortability over God’s desire for us. It is easy to do, as the demands of the day require our attention. Our fault lies in when we see these realities as the only reality, that our purpose is only as deep as satisfying the basic needs for life. In truth, our calling goes beyond and through all of the mundane, necessary daily affairs. Yes, we need a job, but what is that job but an avenue for the gospel to intersect with our co-workers? Yes, we need to train and instruct (and have fun with) our children, but we do these with an eye toward imparting the knowledge and respect of the Lord to them. Our calling is such that we operate with two eyes. One eye remains focused on the necessary affairs of life. The other trains itself on the mission of the Christ. These two are not divorced, but integrated. It is far too easy to lose focus on the eternal and get trapped in the temporal.  However, we should not neglect but rejoice in the calling we have been given by God. We need to live in the confidence we have in Christ as Paul did and search earnestly for the leading of the Lord. We must keep our eyes trained on the mission field of our lives and minister creatively out of the confidence that we have a mighty Lord who has not only redeemed us from sin but commissioned us as ambassadors for His kingdom. A God who did all this surely can be trusted to provide the victory.

Let us remain fixed on our calling, serving our Lord with humility (for we know that our sufficiency comes only through Christ), and confidently searching for and following His leading.

2 Corinthians 2:14-16

But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things?

These verses are often used as a reassurance for Christians when they come to feel beleaguered by the world. To be sure, Paul took great consolation in the understanding that the ministry of Christ brings both salvation and joy to the believer but frustration and consternation to the non-believer. Yet this verse is often taught as if the fragrance of Christ were some literal perfume. We just spritz on a little Jesus and it produces positive and negative effects on those who catch a whiff. If we have a bad day, we chalk it up to some ethereal sense of Christ that prompted negative responses from others.

However, the promise of this verse is not in some passive, intangible scent of Christ. To be sure, our obedience to Jesus does bear fruit in our behavior to even the casual observer without even our awareness but Paul made these comments directly in relation to his speaking about Christ. The fragrance he mentions is the message of the risen Christ. We can see this by looking at verse 14 where he refers to the fragrance as “the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere”. It is very much the reactions to the gospel to which he is referring.

That said, we should carefully examine ourselves and the responses our life elicits. Does our life bear witness to what we say we believe? Do our words bear out, even proportionally, the truth that is in our hearts? Do we propagate the fragrance (as Paul puts it) of Christ through our words and actions? Is our conversation seasoned with talk about our Savior? Or are our love ballads to Christ empty words that have no bearing upon our non-worship service lives?

Paul spoke of the Lord going before them and working through them as they traveled and spoke about the risen Christ. Is the same true of us? Is Christ working through us to produce fruit? Of course not everyone is an evangelist or preacher like Paul. This concept doesn’t even need be confined to actually sharing our faith (as we have come to call it). It can simply be that our lives so radically revolve around Christ that he naturally permeates our conversations with our friends, our family, our church, and yes, our non-believing acquaintances.

God works through us in ways intangible and mysterious but we must also commit ourselves fully to serving Him with our whole being in every arena of our lives. The results then are out of our hands. To some the person of Christ will be freedom, relief, and redemption. To others, foolishness, intolerance, and frustration. Our service is based upon our calling not upon the results. Let us abandon ourselves that we may truly be the fragrance of Christ to the world.

Forever Be (Higher Than The Angels)

Over all the ages

You reign

Never ceasing, never ceding

You reign

Unencumbered by creation

You rule over every nation

You reign

Over all the earth

You reign

No force too great, no mite escapes your gaze

You reign

No sin may frustrate

No plan obfuscate

You reign

Ever reaching, you are,

You were, you will forever be

Holy,

Holy

So much higher than the angels

So much higher than the angels

Holy

Holy

Omnipotent and mighty

Your reign will forever be

Over all our lives

You reign

In our hearts, in our minds

You reign

Undeterred by our weakness

Your sovereignty is boundless

You reign

In all the heavens

You reign

No power of hell, no profane throne

You reign

Though darkness stand against us

And wickedness oppose us

You reign

Ever reaching, you are,

You were, you will forever be

Holy

Holy

So much higher than the angels

So much higher than the angels

Holy

Holy

Omnipotent and mighty

Your reign will forever be

No power can stand against you

No force can overwhelm you

Ever reaching, you are,

You were, you will forever be

Holy

Holy

So much higher than the angels

So much higher than the angels

Holy

Holy

Omnipotent and mighty

Your reign will forever be

2 Corinthians 1:1-11

Paul begins his second (recorded) letter to the church in Corinth in a very different tone than he did in his first. Whereas his first letter was written in gentle (and sometimes not so gentle) rebuke, his second letter begins by reminding them that God is:

The Father of all mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction (v3)

He goes on to address both his (and his companions’) own suffering and the suffering that all Christians experience.

Given how much Paul talks about his own suffering he was obviously going through a difficult time. Through his suffering he makes several observations on suffering:

For we do not want you to be unaware, brethren, of our affliction which came to us in Asia, that were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life; indeed, we had the sentence of death within ourselves so that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead; who delivered us from so great a peril of death, and will deliver us, He on whom we have set our hope. And He will yet deliver us, you also joining in helping us through your prayers, so that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for the favor bestowed on us through the prayers of many. (v8-11)

1.       Despite their circumstances, Paul and his companions trusted that God would deliver them. I find no greater source of comfort than verse 10 where Paul states (after outlining the insufficiency of their own bodies) that: “And He will yet deliver us.” There are many circumstances in our lives which try and test us beyond our capabilities. Whether it is sufferings, sicknesses, or temptations, there are many situations in which we do not yet see the light of victory. In fact, many times we don’t even see the slightest flicker of hope. Paul knew of these, he says that he could not even trust he “despaired even of life” yet Paul could also confidently proclaim that God would yet deliver them. If He wanted to, God could just raise them from the dead, should they die. That kind of trust is born not out of circumstance but rather out of knowledge of and a relationship with our heavenly Father. Even when we see no reasonable cause for joy; no logical reason for confidence, still even then we can rest in our knowledge of the loving and faithful character of our Father.

2.       Secondly, we can see that prayer matters. After outlining his struggles and expressing his unyielding hope in God, he encourages the Corinthian Christians: “you also joining in helping us through your prayers.” Not only does this verse remind us that prayer does in some mysterious and unfathomable way, work in affecting change, it also teaches that complete confidence in God does not preclude us from seeking the means for rescue. Paul in essence says: I know that God will deliver us, pray that God would deliver us. There is no contradiction here. If anything, this reminds us of the means that God often uses to accomplish his purposes. The Lord uses the actions and prayers of godly men (among many other things) to accomplish his goals. Therefore we trust in him knowing that: “God works for the good of those who love him.” (Romans 8:28)

3.       Thirdly, the purpose of Paul’s rescue is that people would thank the Lord. We must always remember that the end game of our prayers is that people (ourselves first of all) would praise and magnify the Creator. While we of course seek the healing, rescue, and clarity that comes through prayer but we must never forget that the ultimate aim is praise and honor to God.

3 Observations About Work

I’m going to take a break from my typical post to share some thoughts that have been coalescing over the last few months. Over the last 15 years of my working life I have served in a variety of roles in a variety of organizations. I have had experiences as both an associate and a supervisor. My times in those capacities have led me to the following conclusions.

Most people think their skills are undervalued.

Most of us go through our workplace experience with the subtle (or not so subtle) belief that our talents are being wasted or squandered. We dream of bigger things we know that we are capable of. Often this belief leads to the temptation of bitterness as we see ourselves passed over for advancement while others we may view as inferior flourish. At its most cynical, it subconsciously casts oneself in the role of the oppressed and sets up a scenario of ‘us against the world’. Each of us tends to be our own biggest advocate. We act this way for two reasons (one positive, one negative):

1.      Simply put, we know ourselves better than anyone else. We have access to the full scope of our talents and experiences. Whereas others can only surmise what we are capable of based upon interactions and observation, we know better what we have to offer.

2.       The complete abundance of evidence of our own qualifications often leaves us with a disproportional understanding and sense of perspective. We overvalue our own skills and undervalue those of our co-workers.

Most people dislike their boss.

Although not necessarily the case in every instance, I often found this to be the root of workplace dissention. This is often the case even in instances in which one’s supervisor is an otherwise a rational and sensitive person. The tendency to equate a person with a title (supervisor, general manager, CEO) seems to clear the way to dehumanize the person in light of the position. This disconnect makes it easy to dislike anyone who exerts authority over others.

There are, of course, many supervisors and managers who give in to the temptation and pressure to exert unjustly the authority given to them by way of their position. The temptation is very real and pressure from other authorities (we’ll get to this later) often pushes otherwise generous people to behave selfishly.

That said, it is our pride that often pushes us to despise those who appear to be our superiors. Our constant desire to be recognized, respected, compensated, and (perhaps) feared draws us away from humility and the reality of our own weaknesses and frailty and insists upon our own worthiness and qualification. The natural reaction then, is to tear down anyone who impedes upon that version of reality.

Nearly everyone is working under someone else’s authority; or to put it another way, they are ‘just following the rules.’

On the flip side of the previous point is this one. Each of us answers to somebody. Everyone has a boss. I say this not to absolve anyone of responsibility. Each of us has a person or persons who lay down the rules for us. Often, when we give into the temptation to demonize our superiors we blindly believe (subconsciously) that each rule and demand comes solely from the person we directly report to. Our arrogance is happy to leave us blindly ignorant of that fact that we all answer to someone.

Those of us who may be tempted to lash out against a rule or directive would do well to remember that A) our supervisor is a human being and B) someone higher than they are passing down rules and expectations that they too must comply with.

To all of us who have a measure of influence, we must never believe that an order or directive must be blindly and thoughtlessly obeyed. Each of us is subject to the laws of God and of Man. Our allegiance is first and foremost to them. Blind obedience, while perhaps encouraged corporately, does not negate our responsibilities to God and our fellow man. We must always operate with the superior directive to live and conduct ourselves justly, understanding that each of our co-workers is a human being of equal worth as ourselves.

The Root

A common theme emerges from each of these points; a common causation: pride. It is the nagging root of pride that pushes each of these unhealthy attitudes. It is pride that views ourselves as inherently more worthy than our co-workers. Only bitterness and cynicism come from this seed. Only a healthy understanding of humility will allow us to both reach our potential AND conduct ourselves in manner which drives us to do our best in whatever endeavor we find ourselves in.

It is pride that chooses to tear down our superiors to raise ourselves up. It is pride that uses us to dehumanize rather than empathize. We must seek to see our authorities as people as human as ourselves and see the reasons (valid or not) for decisions we may disagree with.

It is pride that causes us to think our superiors have only ill-intent toward us, and such feelings as the driving force of their actions. Pride shrinks our view of the world to the size of our own head. In such confined places, it becomes all too easy to forget that those in authority too, have authorities who place demands and expectations on them. It is pride, too, that leads men and women to compromise their own conscience in an attempt to meet expectations at the cost (ultimately) of the dignity of others.

Only in striking at the deepest root of all: the desire to rule upon the throne of our own lives can we foster the kind of humility that deserves to lead and to be led. 

New Chains (an essay)

The first snowfall of the year brought about five inches of snow upon a chilly November afternoon. There were no "first snow" musings upon the introductory flakes but rather an instantaneous transition into the bold Michigan cynicism that comes along with having ones travel plans interrupted. Cars spun out, trees bent and branches fell. By six o’clock when darkness fell and the snow had not yet abated I returned home to find our internet had gone out. The dark, snowy evening was simply asking me to start a fire. So I obliged. As the hours wore on I sat (or lay) in front of the flames taking the ambient heat into my weary bones, something was missing. My mind raised some unknown objection. It felt as if I had misplaced my keys or a well-loved book. It was difficult to place but I finally pin-pointed the unease: the internet, it remained down.

No Netflix.

No Amazon music.

No Twitter.

I caught myself asking the subconscious question: ‘what am I going to do?’ and was appalled at my reliance upon something I once considered so trivial.

I hate that a wireless signal has become so ubiquitous that its absence creates a void within my heart.

I understand that utilities are conveniences which we cannot escape in our lives any more than we can escape our need for food or shelter, at least not in 2015 America. That’s not a bad thing necessarily. In fact, it would be wrong to decry and fight against the tide of technology. What is problematic is when anything takes a place upon some altar of our hearts. When anything, good or bad, becomes so ‘necessary’ to us that it pains us to let it go, we are treading upon dangerous ground. The throne of our hearts is meant only for our true King: Jesus and we should guard ourselves against getting so attached to things that we try and live our lives with divided loyalties.

Paul speaks of these inappropriate desires in his letter to the Corinthian church. [Note: the context for this verse is idol worship, but the underlying principle is transferable.]

All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything. Food is for the stomach and the stomach is for the food, but God will do away with both of them.

Now, nourishment is obviously a necessity but the need for food (in this case) should not hold sway over our hearts. Nothing should have so much control over us --- nothing, not food or family or money. Christ alone should rule our hearts. We should allow no impediment to occupy the throne of our hearts. We live in this world but we must not be ruled by it, not only because it dishonors the Lord, but because it will ultimately leave us empty and unfulfilled for we were made to be satisfied only by one thing--- Jesus Christ our Lord.

Jesus himself posed the question more pointedly, “For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul?”

Most of us would never think of our desire for a premium latte or access to Hulu as something we would forfeit our soul for, but the space these things occupy in our hearts and minds can often lead to bitterness and consternation when we are required to relinquish them.

“What will a man give in exchange for his soul?” Jesus continued.

We must continually keep our hearts in check; continually be self-diagnosing ourselves in order to determine where roots of materialism and pride are worming their way into the cracks of our hearts. No thing should in anyway come between us and our savior. No lingering doubt should exist in our hearts if we were asked to give up our possessions or our luxuries.

A.W. Tozer wrote of the aim of the believer who strives for such a state. “The man who has God for his treasure has all things in One. Many ordinary treasures may be denied him, or if he is allowed to have them, the enjoyment of them will be so tempered that they will never be necessary to his happiness. Or if he must see them go, one after one, he will scarcely feel a sense of loss, for having the Source of all things he has in One all satisfaction, all pleasure, all delight. Whatever he may lose he has actually lost nothing, for he now has it all in One, and he has it purely, legitimately and forever.”

May it be so with us.