2 Corinthians 4:2 But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully… 1. The common forms of opposition to the Christian ministry. 2. The mode and spirit in which such opposition should be met. 3. What the Christian ministry must be if it is to overcome all the opposition that may be brought against it. I. THE CONDITIONS OF A TRUE MINISTRY IN THE CHURCH OF CHRIST. These are contained in the first three clauses of the verse. 1. "We have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty." The word rendered "dishonesty" occurs six times in the New Testament. In every other instance it is translated "shame," and this is its proper meaning. The expression, "hidden things of shame," will have a twofold application. It may refer to things "hidden" as opposed to "manifestation" — that is, concealed from men through a feeling of shame; and in that case it would concern the gospel which the apostle had to declare. Or it may refer to things shameful in themselves, carefully hidden from the eyes of men; and in that case it would concern the apostle himself. Taking both applications, the force of the apostle's statement seems to be this: "There is nothing in the gospel which I am ashamed to tell men." "There is nothing in myself which I am ashamed for men to know." The Christian ministry demands the utmost honesty on the part of those who are found in it. The truths men are most indisposed to hear, and which are most likely to offend, are often the truths which men need most to know. The moment men begin to suspect that there are things in a man's life which will not bear examination — "hidden things of shame" — his work is over. The first condition of a true ministry is that these shall be renounced. 2. The utter absence of selfish and subtle designs. "Not walking in craftiness." The word literally means "unscrupulousness." The idea is that of one who will resort to any artifice to secure his own ends. We are to learn that craftiness is utterly out of place in the ministry of the gospel. Though the end desired may be laudable, we are never justified in adopting crafty measures for attaining it. This has been the error into which, throughout a great portion of her history, the Church of Christ has fallen, and from which, according to some, she is not yet wholly free. The employment of craftiness has not only been wrong and sinful, but a mistake — a failure. It has been so in other domains of life. It has been well Shown by one writer that the policy which thought to govern India by sending out shrewd and unscrupulous men to meet and watch the keen, subtle, treacherous Hindoos, has altogether failed. 3. "Nor handling the Word of God deceitfully." We are not to tamper with it, as one who defaces, injures, impairs the value of the coin of the realm, We are not to adulterate it, as one who introduces another and inferior element into that which originally was pure and good. II. THE CHARACTER OF A TRUE MINISTRY. "By manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God." This is opposed to all reserve and concealment, all that is personal and selfish, all that is crafty and deceitful. 1. All that is obscure, and mystical, and unintelligible in Christian teaching is excluded. "We use great plainness of speech." To place the truth within the apprehension of all must be the one aim and desire. Not to envelope it in a mysterious symbolism, not to wrap it up in strange and difficult terms, but to hold up the truth, like a torch uncovered, so that no human device shall lessen its brightness. 2. Such a ministry requires the utmost sincerity in those who sustain it. To manifest the truth must be the one object, and nothing in the man himself must be allowed to obscure its manifestation. He must sink himself in the truth he declares. The truth is often obscured by the person who proclaims it. The truth, not himself — the manifestation of the truth, not the presentation of himself — must be the grand object. 3. The evidences of such a ministry will appear in the response it awakens in the consciences of man. "Commending ourselves to every man's conscience." There is truth in every man corresponding with the truth in the book. "In the original structure of the soul there is an unwritten revelation which accords with the external revelation of Scripture. Within the depths of the heart there is a silent oracle which needs only to be rightly questioned to elicit from it a response in accordance with that voice which issues from the lively oracles of God." A Christian minister is the living link between the truth in the Book and the truth in man. His work is so to manifest the truth contained in the Book that the consciences of men shall recognise it and answer to it. This constitutes the great hope and confidence of his ministry. The truth he has to manifest is not something requiring a new sense or a new faculty in man for its reception. 4. The solemnity of the ministry. "In the sight of God." Self will obtrude itself — pride and vanity will appear — unless a man remembers that all is done "in the sight of God." (W. Perkins.) Parallel Verses KJV: But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. |
    |