Renouncing Shameful Things

Therefore, since it is by God's mercy that we are engaged in this ministry, we do not lose heart. We have renounced the shameful things that one hides; we refuse to practice cunning or to falsify God's word.

2 Corinthians 4:1-2a

On the basis of the new covenant, inner problems — fear, tension, hostility, inadequacy, or shame — can be quickly handled as we enthrone Jesus Christ in our lives and trust His love and care for us. In this way, we are left free to concentrate on the ministry before us without losing heart.

When Paul says this ministry, he means this kind of a ministry. The kind he refers to is that which he has just described: a ministry in the new covenant where all veils are removed by a repeated turning to the Lord, and where the Spirit within reveals the character of Christ in ever-increasing areas of life. How can there be room for discouragement in that kind of a ministry? There will be failures, for the flesh is wily and elusive, but they need only be momentary setbacks. God never intended that our mistakes should produce condemnation in our lives. Rather, each mistake we make is to be a learning experience that leads to our growth, restoration, and renewed activity in the strength of the Lord. Because we have been given this ministry by a merciful God, we do not lose heart, even when we make mistakes. By God's mercy, we pick ourselves up and keep moving forward.

Whatever form our ministry takes, it will bear the characteristic marks of the new covenant — simplicity, liberty, and effectiveness. We have here a negative and positive description of a new covenant ministry. First, the negative: We have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. The first century sounds strangely like our own. In Paul's time there were people who felt it necessary to produce instant and visible results in order to appear successful in their ministry. It didn't matter whether the ministry was a public or private one, success rested upon obtaining some visible sign of achievement. Consequently, they turned to what Paul calls secret and shameful ways to produce the desired results.

In straightforward fashion, Paul renounced all these ways to gain impressive results. They were not needed for a qualified minister of the new covenant. He refused to practice deception, as evidently many others were doing in his day. The thought behind cunning is a readiness to try anything. It conveys the idea of being unprincipled. In these days of religious racketeers, it hardly requires any enlarging upon. It is simple expediency, justifying the means by the apparently good ends achieved.

There were also those who tampered with the Word of God. This was not an altering of the text of the Bible; there were very few copies of the Scriptures available then. It meant, rather, a twisting of the meaning of Scripture or a misapplication of truth. It was probably a result of teaching partial truth instead of the entire scope of revelation. Many of the cults emerging today are employing this tactic to the confusion and hurt of many. True, this all sounds biblical, but it is actually tampering with the Word of God by subtle and devious means.

Lord, thank You that I do not have to be discouraged You are at work, using the simple truth of Your Word, to expose the hearts of those around me. Help me to trust in You.