I am currently reading
For All God's Worth by N.T. Wright. In this fabulous work, Wight tells a story about a gentelman who once approached him and asked if he would consider working as a professor at a seminary this gentelman just became president of and asked Wright if he had a copy of his Curriculum Vitae (don't worry, I didn't know what this was either,before reading this). Wright follows with some sarcasim of his own with response to the question and then leads into the telling of another persons Curriculum Vitae, if you will. Now before I go any further in the post, I guess it would be good to explain what Curriculum Vitae or CV actually means. Basically this is a detailed synopsis of a resume, usually two or more pages.
So from this point forward Wight takes the reader through 2 Cor. 11 and 12 and the account of Paul's CV, or atleast what the Corinth church wasn't looking for. You see, the church at Corinth was looking for something more and some new teachers were advocating and teaching that they could experience more levels of "spiritual attainment" and "spiritual experiences" than what Paul had first brought to them (Christ Crucified). So what does Paul do? He gives them the complete opposite of what they were looking for, you see, they were looking for Paul to give them his CV, the best of his best credentials if you will and instead Paul tells them the following...
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?Now, listen to what Wright says about this..."But they are the real fools. They have exchanged the gospel of the crucified Messiah for the gospel of success (ouch..); and the only way that Paul can get through to them is through his shameless tease, exposing their pride for what it is." (My emphasis added).
OK. So how does this speak to the church in America today? Where is our boasting in our sufferings for Christ, how have we and how are we living out the gospel for Jesus' name sake? Just some thoughts to ponder.
