In 2 Corinthians 6:1–13, Paul gives evidence of his authenticity, and it has nothing to do with connecting with the Corinthians in cultural terms. In fact, Paul’s authenticity derives from the way that he is going against cultural norms. He proclaims a message that offends cultural sensibilities as it points away from worldly advantages to what God has done in Christ.
For preaching this message, Paul is treated in ways that are shameful in the culture, and it is this very shame and opprobrium that he has experienced that Paul points to when he wants to demonstrate his authenticity.
Paul’s suffering shows that he is authentic because in spite of being treated shamefully, he continues to preach the same message. This proves that Paul is not preaching this message to make his own life easier or his own name great but to declare the truth of the gospel. Moreover, even as people try to kill Paul, he lives, and the power of God to sustain life, to sustain Paul through all the affliction he endures, shows that it is God’s power at work in Paul.
When Paul wants to convince the Corinthians that they should listen to him, he doesn’t say anything about facial hair, technology, or anything that might score cool points in Corinthian minds. Paul makes a list of things about himself that demonstrates the bankruptcy of those values.
How do you show your authenticity? The way Paul did? Or does some other validating set of norms come to mind when you hear that word?
On Sunday, November 13, 2011, it was our privilege to ordain Noah Lee to the work of pastoring Faith Bible Church in Missoula, Montana.
Sermon audio here: 2 Corinthians 6:1–13, Commending Ourselves as Servants of God.
2 Corinthians 6:4–10 is a beautifully constructed passage, full of of ugly words made lovely by the truth of the gospel.
Amen.
Amen!
One massive frustration I have with the Church in the 21st century is their claim (whether implicit or explicit) that they are reaching the masses because they are authentic, as if they have discovered something new. Authenticity drenches the pages of Holy Scripture. The raw honesty of the stories of the Old Testament are about as authentic as you get. Personally, the Psalms have been the greatest dose of authenticity for me. Page after page of complaining, crying out to God, crying and moaning about life, yearning for salvation and joy. The Psalms are page after page of the authentic cries of the human heart. Do people want authenticity? Of course they do! Sadly, people of my generation somehow think that authenticity is something novel that all before them have failed to live out.
Instead of just complaining, I recommend two things. First, I recommend reading of the Psalter on a daily basis, letting it form the core of our prayer life. Second, I recommend the reading of the giants of the faith. I have found more authenticity in Pseudo-Macarius, Augustine, Patrick, the Odes of Solomon, and the great Puritans than anything else. As we read Church history, we will also begin to see the Psalter’s special role in disciple making. There is a reason the Psalter has always had a special place in the life of the Church, and I would argue it has to do with its authentic cry of the human heart. The bottom line is that we, the Church, need to be swimming in Scripture, not authentic buzz words, as we deal with depression, children dying, lost jobs, cancer, murder, and felt abandonment by God.
How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever?
But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.
– Psalm 13:1,5
Jake
What it takes more than wearing plaid shirts, watching UFC and drinking coffee from Sunergos? Sorry, just kidding.
“How do you show your authenticity?”
Why would some one ‘show’ their authenticity?