3.3-0: A request for prayer for a sad situation

I recently found out that my former fellowship has virtually split over a proposed church covenant and amendments to the church constitution. While I had been there, several young families and the two perpetrators joined our family-community. Since I left two years ago, all but one of the young families have left (for various reasons, including antagonism) because of the actions of the two in question. Even the former leader, who had retired, has been told that he is “not welcome here” anymore.

Part of me wants to scream and raise a torrent of rage and DEMAND restitution. But part of me knows better than that…part of me knows that I have no right to demand anything, I have no power with which to demand, and I have no way of demanding. All I can do, all I should do, is pray for this dire situation: for those who have been hurt and humiliated, for those who have perpetuated what I think (and I believe the Word would support) is most unbecoming behavior, for those who are left behind.

Please pray with me for this church and the many others that will die by attrition or hemorrhage this year from actions that do not line up with true maturity in the faith. Pray for me that my heart may be healed and that I might not foster bitterness toward anyone. Pray for yourselves as well that you may be vessels of grace and reconciliation in similar situations….

4.5-A: By request, power in weakness

I have been asked to speak about II Corinthians 11:16-12:10 by my friend (and probably only reader at this point!) I’m just going to make some cursory thoughts….

Section 1: (11:16-21a) Paul continues his attack on the false apostles

Paul defends his right to speak on at least equal terms with those who seek to pervert the gospel he taught the Corinthians. He argues that they should at least tolerate him as a fool, as one who speaks without formality or intellect. He argues that the extreme tolerance of the Corinthian church, who allows soft doctrine (See 11:4) and improper behavior (demanding money for teaching: see 11:7-8), should at least give him grace to be “foolish” in his “demands”. He closes this paragraph with some high sarcasm, that the Corinthians are so wise to put up with fools and he obviously isn’t foolish enough for them!

Section 2: (11:21b-12:6) Paul defends his right to be heard

Opening with a comparison of his authentic lineage (11:22), Paul goes beyond his opponents with pride in his humiliation. In the calculation of the gospel, the more you suffer, the more you are exalted in Christ. So Paul shows that the other “apostles” are nowhere near him: they being safe are not worthy to be heard or learned from (cf. Phil. 3:17). Then, to top it all, he boasts in his weakness of their weakness, in being humiliated and in being resistant to the Spirit (11:28-29). He then speaks of his weakness at being weak, having been denied the opportunity to be humilated at Damascus. He closes with an allusion to a moment of glory he experienced, but strongly defers it so that he may be glorified in his weakness instead.

Section 3: (12:7-10) Paul emphasizes his point.

Paul closes the passage by discussing his greatest weakness: his thorn. Though many see this as a physical ailment, it is clear from the context that the thorn is his enduring issue with his humiliation. From the word choice (“thorn” is a euphemism in the first century for the crucifixion nails) and framing of refraining from boasting in his success (12:6) and joy in boasting in his failure (12:9), Paul is pressing his point: “power is made perfect in weakness”.

The process of the Life is one of self-denial and self-subjugation…we must emulate Him who gave up everything so that He may gain everything. May we also sacrifice and suffer that we may be with and like Him!

1.0-A: Let’s start the conversation…

It is my hope that this blog will be used by people to mature in their own faith. I hope that we can accomplishing this in 5 ways:

1. by sharing our personal insights, guided by Word, concerning the Life
2. by asking hard questions of one another and their journey
3. by feeling free to ask “stupid” questions about the Life
4. by graciously answering “stupid” questions to help one another up to the next level
5. by remembering one another in our prayers

I have some ideas about where to start the conversation…which I hope (I’m really bad about keeping my schedule!) will be updated once or twice a week.

Please comment in these first few days (I’ll wait until next Monday, 7/20/09 before posting again) to gkive me some topics/ideas you want to discuss…