A Different Kind of Mercy

Scripture Passage that caught my attention today: 2 Corinthians 4:1-5 Therefore, since it is by God’s mercy that we are engaged in this ministry, we do not lose heart. 2 We have renounced the shameful things that one hides; 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. 3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For we do not proclaim ourselves; we proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and ourselves as your slaves for Jesus’ sake.

Observation: Paul has a most interesting view of “God’s Mercy.” For him God is apparently ‘merciful’ to let him participate in a ‘ministry’ that will include being: “afflicted,” “perplexed,” “persecuted,” “struck down,” and “being given up to death” (see verses 8-12).

Application: Chapter 4 of 2nd Corinthians is among my favorites in the Bible—it ranks right up there with Romans 8, making it one of those “go-to” chapters in times of stress or when one needs a sign of encouragement. This chapter in 2nd Corinthians is powerful in it’s own right without any knowledge of its context whatsoever. But when seen in context, the meaning goes still deeper…

Paul is in conflict with the Corinthian church. His 1st letter to the Corinthians was an admonishment to them for the ways in which they were behaving. This 2nd letter is apparently in response to their response to his first letter. He reveals that ministry is not always easy and, in fact, is sometimes downright painful. Nevertheless he sees even the opportunity to participate in such things as an act of God’s mercy.

Are difficult times really an act of God’s mercy?

In some ways the literal answer to that unanswerable question doesn’t matter. What does matter is the ‘witness’ of Scripture which informs us of how Paul (and other Christian leaders) saw understood such things. For them it was a privilege of sorts to serve through difficult times. They believed that, while times were tough, it was a privilege to demonstrate that the power they proclaimed came from outside of themselves. Although most might think that such circumstances would give every reason to lose heart, they saw it as the very reason not to lose heart. Why? Because they were not interested in proclaiming themselves.

Right now we are smack in the middle of what is known as “Holy Week.” We find a certain ‘holiness’ in the events of this week including: his bitter-sweet Last Supper, his agonizing prayer in the garden, his betrayal, arrest, humiliation, and, ultimately, his death on the cross. This is the one we are called to proclaim in any way, shape, or form imaginable.

Proclaiming Christ is not always easy because, unlike Paul, we are perhaps more often tempted to in one way or another proclaim ourselves. You know…to show that we can do things without the training wheels…to prove that we are competent…talented…worthy and deserving…

We tend to see affliction and the like as hardships to be overcome rather than the divinely merciful paths through which the source of “this extraordinary power” (vs. 7) might be revealed.

I think that’s what our modern-day Holy Week experiences are meant to entail…maybe even by God’s mercy.

Do not lose heart.

Prayer: Lord, sometimes life can be disheartening…or at least seem that way. I in particular am prone to access my ‘value’ by how well things seem to be going, for good or for ill, at any given time. I know better than that of course. But putting such ‘knowledge’ into practice takes, well, lots and lots of practice—something you seem all-to-willing to provide. Is that you being ‘merciful’ again? Okay. I’ll try to see it that way. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

(readings today included: Judges 19-21 and 2 Corinthians 4)