Modern Definition of Faithful Strength

Scripture: For you, being so wise, gladly put up with fools! In fact, you put up with it if someone enslaves you, if someone exploits you, if someone takes advantage of you, if someone is arrogant toward you, if someone slaps you in the face. I say this to our shame: We have been too weak for that! 2 Corinthians 11:19-21a

Observation: Paul is in the midst of discussing the challenges of being Christian (for lack of a better definition). He describes both his great qualifications for being an evangelist and an apostle, and he describes the hardships he has endured mostly at the hands of violent people. He calls both of these 'foolish boasting'. Multiple times he calls himself a fool for even discussing these matters. At the same time, he calls the church at Corinth "wise" because they put up with so much. They have endured financial exploitation, work slavery, arrogant insults, the cheating of others, and even physical belittling. Their quiet and patient acceptance and endurance of such things is credited to them as strength.

Application: While it would be true, it would also be foolish boasting to discuss how I have endured these things. Instead, let's focus on Paul's teaching. What he describes - the things Paul points out that the church in Corinth has suffered through and by their strength endured - are exactly the things the faithful modern church is called to endure.

There are churches that don't endure this. They instead change their doctrine to avoid any type of conflict or potential insults by outsiders, and based on these pressure of modern society they compromise the teachings of Jesus.

There are other churches that don't put up this. They face such confrontation not with wise patience, but with returned aggression, ready to fight the issues publicly, declaring their righteous high ground.

Clearly, both of these models have been on my heart recently, and it has been with sadness and despair that I have seen both these types of responses to our modern society. Paul would seemingly describe these as weak responses.

I hope I am at a strong church. I have seen first-hand the attacks on our church, both pastors and members. I have witnessed exploitation, along with the understanding it is occurring and the choice to just allow it. I know of attacks on the lives and livelihoods of several, and the choice to just move forward from those circumstances without retribution. I have heard the arrogant insults, and watched as faithful believers respond with a smile and kindness.

And I agree with Paul, for I know the strength this takes. I know the level of wisdom - a wisdom that can only come from the Holy Spirit - needed to put up with every kind of fool. I also know that I (and others) don't always have that strength within us at every moment, and we make mistakes in how we respond from time to time. However, I hope we can all have more of this strength, for it is the best path for exhibiting Christ's love.

Prayer: Lord, I do ask for your strength today, for myself especially but also for every member of my church, and every member of the life-giving churches in our region. We all face these modern confrontations from time to time, and we can only be strong by your Holy Spirit. Please give us your strength and wisdom. Amen.