Verses 2 and 4 present another important point about being successful evangelizers: we need to tell the truth about the glory of God in Christ. Verse 2 says that we refuse to do anything underhanded but “by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God.”
St. Paul is warning us against the wrong sort of success orientation. We can want so much to succeed at evangelism that we will try anything that works ”“ like dressing up a story to make things sound better than they are, or relying on dazzling evangelistic presentations to bring people to conversion. This verse does not rule out a concern for the methods we use to present the gospel, but it does make us consider how we are stating the truth.
Even more crucial is verse 4: “What we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.”
We are not winning people to ourselves. We are not trying to convince them to accept us as their lord. We have something people need. They would want it if they realized what it would do for them. We are like waiters bringing food to hungry people or nurses administering medicine to patients who are in danger of death.
Thanks, Kendall. An encouraging reminder of some biblical truths that helps us to share the gospel more confidently. I notice that this guy is based in London. Is he CoE? Just curious.
David Handy+
Fr. Handy, it appears to be Roman Catholic, but working across denominational lines. (Follow the Sword of the Spirit link at the bottom of the page.) My husband (who is also a Steve Clark) remembers that there was a Steve Clark associated with the Community of God’s Delight in Ann Arbor (Catholic Charismatic/renewal days). We are wondering if it might be the same Steve Clark.
Correction: he, rather than it!
Thanks, Jill (#2), I guess I was lazy. I followed the link, and I think you and your husband are probably right. It looks like the same Steve Clark (Stephen B. Clark), who was such an important leader in the early days of the Catholic charismatic movement. I noted that the Tabor House (online bookstore) that comes up when you click on the link to Sword of the Spirit is in East Lansing, Mich, and the books sold there are certainly that Steve Clark’s. But I knew that impressive charismatic community as “the Word of God Community” in Ann Arbor. And Servant Publications was their outlet (remember [b]Songs of Praise[/b]?)
I wonder how old he is now? And what the London connection is.
Anyway, thanks, Jill.
David Handy+