by Rev. Deb Beloved Church
“We have renounced the shameful, underhanded ways; we refuse to practice cunning or to falsify God’s word, but by the open statement of the truth we commend ourselves to the conscience of everyone in the sight of God.” (2 Corinthians 4:2)
That verse is the last one in the chosen lectionary passage for March 2, from Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians (2 Corinthians 3:12-4:2). The last—and as far as I’m concerned, in this moment, the most important.
We renounce the shameful ways. We renounce the underhanded ways.
We refuse to practice cunning. We refuse to falsify God’s word.
We commend ourselves by the truth of our claims.
We commend ourselves for each in their own conscience to judge.
We commend ourselves…with God looking on.
If only those declarations were undeniably the way of the Church. If only those assertions were what people unequivocally experienced when they interacted with the people of the Church. If only those articulations were unquestionably what came to mind when people thought about Christians.
But too often the way of the Church is to deliberately induce shame. And guilt. And fear. Not in the service of truth but in the service of manipulation.
And too often the people of the Church intentionally employ cunning and the falsification of God’s word. Again, not in the service of truth but in the service of control.
And too often people who self-identify as Christian commend themselves, yes, but in arrogance and self-righteousness, not inviting others to judge the truth of their claims, each within their own conscience, but rather doling out judgment to any who question their “truth.”
The Church is not meant to dispense shame and guilt; we humans do just fine creating more than enough of that on our own. Rather, the Church is meant to hold us, with tenderness and compassion, when we see those things within ourselves…and offer us acceptance, and forgiveness, and freedom from shame and guilt!
The people of the Church are not called to deceive and manipulate, using God’s word as a weapon and a tool for bullying. Rather, the people of the Church are called to live and love with integrity, using God’s word to express truth with kindness and courage.
People who self-identify as Christian are not called to commend themselves by their certainty and unwavering trust in themselves, unwilling to be examined or questioned. Rather, they are to commend themselves by their humility and their unshakeable trust in God, inviting all others into their own examination of God’s truth.
“We have renounced the shameful, underhanded ways; we refuse to practice cunning or to falsify God’s word, but by the open statement of the truth we commend ourselves to the conscience of everyone in the sight of God.” (2 Corinthians 4:2)
I claim to be part of the Church. I count myself among the people of the Church. I self-identify as a Christian…
Please, God—may.it.be.so.
Amen.