Preachers are not to be peddlers—snake oil salesmen—who are not being a prophet, but about making profit. They mix in enough truth to label it as the Word of God, but what is in the bottle has no saving power. It is a placebo that makes people feel better about themselves, but cannot cure the terminal disease of sin. Paul’s example was one of serving and speaking with sincerity. There are three basic elements of such motivation and manner of ministry the Apostle presents in 2 Corinthians 2.
Serving and speaking with sincerity calls for RESTRAINT, (v.1-4). Paul had chosen to communicate with tenderness in a letter, rather than with toughness in a visit. There were many issues in the Corinthian church that called for confrontation. So, he had addressed these needful matters in his first epistle to them. It was painful discipline, but essential correction. The pastor must lead the church to exercise discipline properly.
Paul felt no joy in having to bring them to tears. His hope was that their repentance would be an ongoing work of the Spirit among them, so when he did visit there would be joy and not grief. While there were still issues (and always will be until Christ returns and we are glorified), the Apostle writes with restraint. Having “spanked,” them, Paul will now hug them. Corporal punishment of a child is not to become damaging abuse. It is to be administered with restraint and done in love rather than anger. This is true in dealing with sin in the church. Then sorrow is supplanted with smiles!
Serving and speaking with sincerity seeks RECONCILIATION, (v.5-11). By this, we do not refer primarily to the reconciliation with God brought in salvation, but reconciliation among the members attained by church discipline for sanctification.
Sin in the body affects the whole body. When a member must be disciplined, it is a painful process—a spiritual surgery. Apparently that rebellious member was now repentant. The correction had achieved its purpose, so the erring member was to be forgiven and reconciled to the congregation. Failing to practice church discipline is wrong, but so is a purpose of rejection instead of restoration of the sinning member. Satan will take advantage of being permissive or punitive concerning sin in the body.
Unrepentant sin is a cancer of the soul. If the church is soft and overlooks the sin in the name of love (while shirking truth), then the malignancy spreads. This is what Paul had to forcefully address in his first epistle to them. Yet, if we are severe in confronting the sin in the name of truth (while neglecting love), the result is the amputation of the member, bringing loss to both them and the church. Admittedly, if the cancer of sin is not dealt with through the removal of the malignancy of wickedness, then to save the body, the member has to be “amputated,” but the hope is that the chemotherapy of confrontation and the radiation of repentance will deal with the disease, without the amputation of excommunication! Satan would kill or at least cripple the church body by diverting us in being permissive or punitive. He is so crafty, promoting either “love,” or “truth,” when God’s way calls for both in balance.
Carl Sandburg described Abraham Lincoln this way: "Not often in the story of mankind does a man arrive on earth who is both steel and velvet, who is hard as a rock and soft as a drifting fog, who holds in his heart and mind the paradox of terrible storm and peace unspeakable and perfect." In dealing with erring members, we must have a hand of steel in a glove of velvet! This is the nature of pastoral ministry.
Serving and speaking with sincerity demands RELIANCE, (v.12-17). As we consider the challenges in church life in this pagan environment and our own human frailties, we ask with Paul, “Who is sufficient for these things?” How can I be tough and tender? The answer is, “I can’t,” but Jesus can—and He is in me! Paul will answer this question, “Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.” (3:5-6). It is in reliance on Jesus—His virtue and victory—that we can serve and speak with sincerity. Preacher, Jesus indwells you—rely on Him!
At Troas, Paul would see a vision of a man from Macedonia begging him to come share the Gospel. Paul would be obedient and take the message of Christ to Europe for the first time, (v.12-13). That is how the Gospel came to Corinth on the Grecian peninsula and the church was established. It was in reliance on God’s guidance and grace that the Apostle accomplished this work.
Relying on Christ, we are “more than conquerors,” (cf. Rom.8:37). Paul illustrates the principle here, of being conquered by Christ in order to be conquerors with Christ, (v.14-17). The Apostle uses the imagery of a Roman general returning in triumph from battle. The cavalcade winds through the city of Rome, preceding through the cheering throngs, with the priests swinging burning braziers of incense. To the captives who had surrendered to the conqueror, it was the smell of life, but to those who had resisted it was the stench of death. The former group would become servants while the latter would be slain. The Gospel we share has the same effect. Those who receive it find eternal life, while those who reject it enter everlasting death. The Gospel witness has a fragrant aroma of heaven, as well as the smell of hell’s smoke and sulphur.
None of us are sufficient for the magnitude of such a ministry. For this, we need the power of God and Christ’s Gospel. Only then can we avoid being religious racketeers who peddle God’s Word—offering scraps of truth concealing toxin—for personal glory and gain. Let us take our calling with utmost sincerity. God has appointed us and holds us accountable as to whether we are speaking an undiluted message with unselfish motive.
