Unadulterated

First, if you are interested or involved in trying to reach the people in your sphere of influence – if you are a believer, you should be – you need to study 2 Corinthians.  It is a compelling portrait of a man who is struggling with communicating with a fickle and at times unappreciative audience.  Come to think of it this would be helpful in dealing with teenagers…

Have you ever thought about changing or softening the wording of the Bible to “better” communicate the truth of what you think it is saying to a group or individual?  Yes, is probably the right answer.  Most of us have struggled with a passage that we thought might be offensive to people to whom we were attempting to communicate.  Paul addresses this pressure in 2 Corinthians 4:2.

Notice he completely rejects altering, the word is stronger, adulterating, the Word of God.  He contrasts that with the phrase manifesting the truth to gain credibility.  That indicates at least two things to me.  First, he does not pull back from sharing the Word of God as it is.  He expounds it accurately and clearly, see 2 Timothy 2:15.  He knows as it says in Hebrews 4:12 – 13 that the Word is piercing whether the hearer likes it or not.

Second, to manifest the truth one must live consistent with it.  Paul does.  We cannot have a “say, do” problem.  We, like Paul, have to be able to ask people to follow Christ as we are.

Tough assignment.  You in?