"I'm Out of Control"

There's an interesting dynamic in chapter 1 between being out of control (and leaving God in control) and being in control.

Paul mentions that "in our hearts we felt the sentence of death" with the purpose of teaching them that they shouldn't rely on themselves, but rely on God (1.9). God is the Deliverer. God is the Focus of our Hope. We are helped by God through many prayers (1.11). This is hard for us, especially us males, who want to solve our own problems and refusing to ask for help. We don't ask for directions; we don't borrow when we can buy. And emotions are just a sign of a situation that needs to be conquered. We are the heroes of our lives. We are the men of steel. We are in control.

A little later, Paul writes this after describing how he planned to visit Corinth, but the plans changed: "I call God as my witness that it was in order to spare you that I did not return to Corinth...So I made up my mind that I would not make another painful visit to you" (1.23-2.1). Paul has just been rambling about letting your "yes be yes" and not be wishy-washy by saying "yes....no". You get a bit of a picture that some Corinthians didn't think highly of Paul because his plans changed. Maybe they thought, "Can we trust him? He can't even keep his itinerary intact. Is he man, in control, or some milquetoast pushed around by the wind?" Paul's saying he wanted to come but there were reasons for not visiting the Corinthians.

Who's in control here? Is Paul or is God?

It's not exclusionary. We can set plans, and pray about them and be open to God's leading to confirm those plans or change them. I know many people criticize some practices of making God bless our plans instead of seeking His will first and developing the plans from what we hear. However, Paul's practice seems to have shades of both. In any case, he's admitting, as he did in the first part of chapter 1, that he's not perfect and he'll be open and transparent about it.

Be Real

Paul didn't have an easy time being an ambassador of Christ. He was imprisoned, stoned, beaten, shipwrecked and ridiculed. Yet Paul is convinced that there is comfort in Christ, as Y'shua said in John 15.18ff and 16, especially 16.33. We will be persecuted because Y'shua the Christ was, but you will be comforted and find peace because Christ has overcome. And when we are comforted, and realize how to move along in our lives after troubles and tragedy, we can comfort others (1.4).

Why is Paul talking about this? Because he's letting the people in the Corinthian church know that as sufferings come (and they will if they haven't already), God will be with them. (v. 7). Paul is openly discussing his trouble, and comfort, to encourage the Corinthians to be open about their suffering, and encouragement from God.

What is typical in many churches today? Do we talk about our suffering and troubles? Often we present a perfect life. "How's it going?" "Great! No problems." These phrases are often heard on Sunday mornings. We think that, by showing the world that nothing's wrong, they'll be attracted to Christ. Instead, they take us for hypocrites and are repelled from getting to know Him. Why should they think He's real if we're not real?

Being an ambassador is tough (5.20) and maybe God thinks it's tough that He's got ambassadors like us to attract others, but it's the plan. There will be troubles and it's how we turn to Him that's an example to the rest of the world. So let's be real, and show them the way to God.

Why, oh why?

Recently I was in a bible study regarding 2 Corinthians 5. Most of the participants thought the first verses dealt with our human body and subsequent resurrection. I, however, believed that Paul is talking about the church body (people of the tabernacle).

I would translate and amplify the first 5 verses as:

Now we know if the earthly household of the tabernacle in which we live is destroyed,

we [will continue to] have encouragement  from God, through an eternal, spiritual family in heaven. 

Meanwhile, we groan, longing to be covered over with a heavenly dwelling (against the raging storms of persecution.]

Because when we are so protected, we are not nakedly [facing the storm as if sleeping under the stars]. For while we are in this [earthly] tabernacle, we groan and are burdened, persecuted and oppressed [by the storm around us], because we do not wish to be unprotected [against the storms]   but to be sheltered so that the mortal is engulfed  by [bold] life [like a new creation, born anew and inspired through the Spirit]. Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

 Here's why:

• verse 1 has "oikia tou skenous" which most translate as "house of the tent". However, in many other passages where oikia is used, the word meant is "household"
• verse 1 has "oikodomen" which in 10 other passages is translated as "building up" or edification. Only here is it translated as "dwelling" in the NIV and others.

If oikodomen  is encouragement, then how would v. 1 work if Paul is discussing the human body? "Now we know that if our human body is destroyed, we have this encouragement or edification or building up from God, a house not built from human hands"? It doesn't fit very well.

However, Paul is making a parallel between the punishment of his physical body, but renewal of his soul by the Spirit (4.16) and likewise how the church body is being persecuted but being renewed by the Spirit. In chapters 4-6 (and more), Paul is mentioning his ministry in an effort to get the Corinthians off their "pews" and out into the world, to stop being stymied by their internal problems and to deal with them so they can be focused on the ministry outside themselves. He is saying, "we are out of our mind for God" so should you be, and it might be tough, but it's worth it.