Suffering Servants - our Calling in Christ

Each day at Breakfast Val and I share in the daily "Encounter with God" notes published by Scripture Union. Today's notes by Bp Graham Cray seemed particularly good.....


Paul Boasts About His Sufferings
16I repeat: Let no one take me for a fool. But if you do, then receive me just as you would a fool, so that I may do a little boasting. 17In this self-confident boasting I am not talking as the Lord would, but as a fool. 18Since many are boasting in the way the world does, I too will boast. 19You gladly put up with fools since you are so wise! 20In fact, you even put up with anyone who enslaves you or exploits you or takes advantage of you or pushes himself forward or slaps you in the face. 21To my shame I admit that we were too weak for that!

What anyone else dares to boast about—I am speaking as a fool—I also dare to boast about. 22Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they Abraham's descendants? So am I. 23Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. 24Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 25Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 26I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. 27I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. 28Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. 29Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn?

30If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. 31The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is to be praised forever, knows that I am not lying. 32In Damascus the governor under King Aretas had the city of the Damascenes guarded in order to arrest me. 33But I was lowered in a basket from a window in the wall and slipped through his hands.

New International Version (NIV)

WEDNESDAY 28 OCTOBER
CROSS-SHAPED LEADERSHIP
'The cross before me, the world behind me - no turning back.' 1

2 CORINTHIANS 11:16-33

Corinth's 'super-apostles' (v 5) emphasise their credentials, their abilities and achievements, `boasting in the way the world does' (v 18). Paul decides that he will have to boast as well - of his sufferings for Christ. The list which follows (vs 22-29) goes well beyond the events recorded in Acts. Paul pours out this list of suffering, of conflict with Jewish and Roman authorities, of danger and deprivation, not because he is looking for sympathy but because he believes it takes us to the heart of Christian discipleship. Leaders are to model the lifestyle of the cross, because it is the way to which all Christian disciples are called. He described it earlier as to `carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.'2
The super-apostles avoid the way of the cross in-their teaching. They `take advantage' of those they lead (v 20). Paul, on the other hand, has an additional element of suffering - his concern for the churches. Just as he taught them in his previous letter, `If one part suffers, every part suffers with it.'3 He identifies with all who are weak. He is outraged when believers are led into sin (v 29).
The Corinthians want their leaders to look good, but Paul will only boast of the things that show his weakness, because they give opportunity for the power of God to be displayed. Christian discipleship does not seek suffering, but it is a life which imitates Christ, with the potential for collision with the way the world does things. Martin Luther used to distinguish between the `theology of glory' and the `theology of the cross'.The church in Corinth was faced with precisely that choice - as are we in our status-ridden, success¬oriented world.

What does it mean in my circumstances to live the life of the cross? What does cross-shaped leadership look like today?


1From 'I have decided to follow Jesus', written by an Indian prince 2 2 Cor 4:10 3 1 Cor 12:26