"Answering Criticism In Ministry"
2 Corinthians 1:12-2:4, 13-14 (NASB)
(This Sermon was preached at Trinity Bible Church on August 6, 2000)

Introduction: Misunderstandings among Christians are often very difficult to untangle. They often start out as a small snowball that begins to roll down hill, and the longer it rolls the bigger it gets. What starts out as something that was clean and white, ends up large, uneven and full of dirt by the time it stops. Most misunderstandings, if handled properly by both the accused and those doing the accusing, never need to amount to anything if we would take the time to talk to one another. The Corinthians were allowing themselves to be caught up into lies and misunderstandings about Paul that were distracting them from serving the Lord as they should. In our passage today, we see how we should answer criticism that comes our way in ministry.
 

I. Be Consistent In Your Christian Walk (1:12-14).
1. The reasons why people criticize.

A. For power or control.

1) Paul was probably criticized by false teachers in the Corinthian church (11:4, 13).
2) This is the most common motive that is involved in church splits.

B. Lack of spiritual maturity.

1) This could include having unrealistic and unbiblical expectations.

- Galatians 5:19-21 gives a complete list of reasons.

2) Lack of understanding of God's Word and His character.

C. Poor communication.

2. Keep your conscience morally pure (v.12a).

A. "The testimony of our conscience"

1) "Testimony," marturion {mar-too'-ree-on: n, nom, neut, sg}; something evidential, evidence given, to be testified, testimony, witness.
2) "Conscience," suneidesis {soon-i'-day-sis: n, gen, f, sg}; moral consciousness.

B. Paul knew that someday he would stand before the Lord to give an account of his actions, and in light of this his conscience was clear (v.14).

Application: It may not stop the criticism or accusations that are being made about you, but knowing that you have a clear conscience about what you are doing will help in giving you peace of mind and heart in the midst of your troubles. Your assurance will also be a testimony to others of your motives and actions. The old saying, "you are what you eat," can be modified and be equally true, "we are what we think."
 

3. Keep Christ at the center of your life (v.12b).

A. "In holiness and godly sincerity"

1) "holiness," haplotes {hap-lot'-ace: n, dat, f, sg}; singleness, sincerity (without dissimulation or self-seeking).
2) "Sincerity," eilikrineia {i-lik-ree'-ni-ah: n, dat, f, sg}; clearness, purity, sincerity.

B. Paul was single-minded when it came to living for and serving Christ.

Application: This is the central true for all Christians, individually and collectively, Christ must always be in the center of our lives. He should be the focus of our hearts and minds. If Christ isn't at the center, then that means that something else or someone else is. And the truth is, most of the people who are stirring up the controversies wouldn't be if Christ was at the center of their lives. This is what gets most Christians and churches into trouble more than anything else. No matter what is being said about you, you must always keep Christ in the center of your life and ministry.
 

4. Live a godly life and not a worldly life (v.12c).

A. Paul's conduct was not based upon "worldly wisdom" but upon the grace of God.

1) "Grace," charis {khar'-ece: n, dat, f, sg}; the divine influence upon the heart and its reflection in the life, acceptable, benefit, favor, gift, grace.
2) "Conducted," anastrepho {an-as-tref'-o: v, indic, aor, pass, 1 per, pl}; to overturn, to busy oneself, remain, live, abide, behave self, return, to be used.
3) "Especially toward you," perissoteros {per-is-sot-er'-oce: adj, adv, compar}; more superabundantly, more abundant, more earnest, exceedingly, more frequent, much more.

B. Paul's life was guided by a love for others and he only sought what was in their best interests.

5. Try to always communicate clearly (vv.13-14).

A. Paul's letters were simple, sincere and not based upon worldly wisdom.
B. Paul had no hidden meaning or ulterior motives in his dealings with the Corinthian church.

Application: While we may never silence every persons criticisms of us, we can minimize them by living is such a way as to cause false claims to fall on deaf ears. It's hard to believe accusations when they don't match up with the way we live our lives. And in the end we will all give account of what we do or what we say about other believers when we stand before the Lord at the Judgment seat.
 
 

II. Recognize That God Can Change Our Plans (1:15-2:4, 12-13).

1. Recognize that just because someone has to change their plans doesn't mean they are indecisive or that they cannot be trusted (vv.15-22).

A. Paul had originally planned on returning to Corinth, and desired to see them again (vv.15-16).
B. Because Paul's plans had changed, his opponents claimed that Paul was vacillating (v.17).

1) "Vacillating," elaphria {el-af-ree'-ah: n, dat, f, sg}; levity, fickleness, lightness.
2) By claiming that Paul was vacillating, his opponents were saying that Paul was unreliable.

C. Paul answers this charge by giving his source of stability in his ministry (vv.18-22).

1) Paul argues that his actions were trustworthy because the Savior he preached was the divine, unchangeable God in whom there was no vacillation or changeableness (vv.18-19).
2) It is the same God that had established them all in the faith and confirmed their ministry (vv.20-22).

A) The same God who is consistent in all things is the One working through Paul, Timothy, and Silvanus (v.20).
B) It was God who established and anointed their ministry (v.21).

- "established," bebaioo {beb-ah-yo'-o: v, part, pres, act, nom, m, sg}; confirm, establish.
- "anointed," chrio {khree'-o: v, part, aor, act, nom, m, sg}; to consecrate to an office or religious service, anoint.

C) God had also sealed them and put His Spirit in them (v.22)

- A seal is the mark of ownership and security.
- The Holy Spirit indwelling a believer is the mark that the believer now belongs to God.

Application: Christians need to recognize the our "best plans" or "desires" are not always God's "plans," or "desires." To do so is to recognize Jesus Christ as the Lord of your life and all other believers. So when someone is serving the Lord and changes their plans, it doesn't mean that they are unfaithful or unreliable, but rather they are being sensitive to God's leading and direction in their lives. When this happens, then we need to be just as supportive to them as we were before.
 

2. Paul's real reasons for changing his plans (1:23-2:4, 12-13).

A. It was out of his consideration for the Corinthian church (1:23-2:4).

1) There was probably also the accusation that Paul had shown himself to be a spiritual dictator who tried to dominate his converts and their faith and did not hesitate to cause them pain.
2) In answering this charge, Paul solemnly invokes the God who is faithful (v23).
3) Paul makes it clear that he wanted to spare the Corinthians and himself further pain that he refrained from returning to Corinth from Ephesus after the so-called "painful visit." (v.24; 2:1-4).

A) Paul wasn't some tyrannical overlord, seeking to intimidate and domineer in matters of faith and conduct.
B) An apostle was obligated to serve his converts; he had no right to dominate them.

- It was his privilege to work with them to secure their "joy in the faith" (Philippians 1:25), not to lord it over them by causing them unnecessary pain.
- Paul wasn't motivated by power, but by the love he had for the brethren.

Application: Paul had a heart for the Corinthians, and he knew that it wasn't in God's timing for him to visit them when he had originally planned too. We must recognize that sometimes we need to change our plans (or that other people's plans need to change) to that a ministry can be fruitful. If we try to push something at the wrong time, thing it could be more harmful than fruitful.
 

B. It was because the Lord opened another door of opportunity for him at that time (vv.12-13).

Application: This should be first and foremost reason for any plan to change. We need to be sensitive to the Lord's desires, and the doors that he opens and closes before us. And while we may be disappointed that things didn't work out according to our desires, we must always be joyful that God is leading and directing us according to His will and purpose.
 
 
 

INVITATION:

1. Recognize that as a Christian, when you serve the Lord, criticism will come!

2. Be ready to address it straight on, don't run from it or hope that it will go away, because it won't.

3. Always keep Christ at the center of your life, your motives, and your conscience.

4. Remember whom you are serving, and be willing to endure for Christ's sake.

5. Always keep it in your prayers.

6. Don't allow yourself to be caught up in the criticism.

7. When you hear something, go and check it out for yourself.

8. Bill Gothard suggests that we should ask the person who is spreading the criticism 5 questions:

A. What is your reason for telling me?

B. Where did you get your information?

C. Have you gone to those directly involved?

D. Have you personally checked out all of the facts?

E. Can I quote you if I check this out?

- These are also good questions to ask yourself before you criticize others!!

10. It is better to be used by God than to be used by the Devil! Who's team are you serving on?