We Don't Do It Like That... 2 Corinthians 10:1-6

I guess it could be said of any period of time, but I believe you and I are living in some really strange days. There seems to be a new war breaking out every day. I’m not talking about wars between nations, though there are plenty of those going on. I’m talking about culture wars, wars in families, wars among friends, wars in churches,  and the list goes on and on. The Scripture I’ve been studying this past week includes this sentence: “For though we live in the world, we do not wage war like the world does.” We need that reminder in these strange days in which we are living. Far too often those who fill pews on Sundays are the same ones who will “wage war” just like the world on Monday through Saturday. In our Scripture for this morning we will find out, there's a better way. For the past several weeks we’ve been working our way through 2 Corinthians 8-9. We learned about how God loves a “cheerful giver” and how important it was for the people in Corinth to use their resources for “every good work,” specifically, helping those in Jerusalem who were hungry and persecuted. Their good work would not only help their brothers and sisters in Christ, but it would bring glory to God and knit their hearts to the hearts of those in Jerusalem.  Today, as we turn to 2 Corinthians 10,  we are reminded that the skeptics and antagonists who were trying to undermine Paul’s ministry in Corinth had not gone away. While Paul was away from Corinth, busy sharing the gospel and discipling new believers in Ephesus, the “false apostles” were busy trying to win the church over to themselves. They were willing to use any tactics to accomplish their goal. The motivation and focus of Paul was altogether different than his adversaries. Paul was seeking to lead people to Jesus while his adversaries were seeking to gain notoriety and fame for themselves. They were erudite scholars, philosophers, who wowed listeners with their command of the language, their charisma, and persuasive arguments. Paul, on the other hand, preached Jesus Christ and Him crucified. Go back with me to 1 Corinthians 2:1-7 and you can get an idea of what I’m talking about. 

1 And so it was with me, brothers and sisters. When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. 2 For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 3 I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling. 4 My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, 5 so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God's power. 6 We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. 7 No, we declare God's wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. (1 Corinthians 2:1-7 NIV)

Paul wrote this in his first letter to the church in Corinth. A year had passed between the writing of 1 Corinthians (54-55 A.D.) and when Paul sat down to write his next letter, 2 Corinthians (55-56 A.D.). Nothing had changed. The false apostles were still trying to discredit Paul, they were still working to win the church over to themselves. Paul writes, in 2 Corinthians 10:1-6.

1 By the humility and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you-- I, Paul, who am "timid" when face to face with you, but "bold" toward you when away! 2 I beg you that when I come I may not have to be as bold as I expect to be toward some people who think that we live by the standards of this world. 3 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 6 And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete. (2 Corinthians 10:1-6 NIV)

When Paul penned the first sentence he had something very specific in mind, something his accusers were saying about him. If you will remember, Paul went to visit Corinth when he heard there was trouble. Someone in the church went off on Paul in front of the congregation and instead of getting into a big fight, Paul exited the meeting and went back to Ephesus. When he got back to Ephesus he wrote a letter, what we know as the “severe letter.” We don’t have the letter, but Paul makes reference to it in 2 Corinthians 2. Read along with me.

3 I wrote as I did, so that when I came I would not be distressed by those who should have made me rejoice. I had confidence in all of you, that you would all share my joy. 4 For I wrote you out of great distress and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to grieve you but to let you know the depth of my love for you. (2 Corinthians 2:3-4 NIV)

Paul’s accusers in Corinth used his leaving when the heat got turned up in the kitchen as an opportunity to mark Paul as a coward. Those false apostles who were trying to gain more followers said, “Paul’s a wimp! He’s a big man when he’s got a pen in his hand, but you remember what a coward he was when someone stood up to him?” Paul didn’t fight back. He didn’t cause a scene. Why? Why didn’t Paul bow up and knock the guy out? That’s the way real men do things, right? That’s the way the world wages war, but Paul writes, “we don’t wage war as the war does.” Let’s read together verses 1-2.

1 By the humility and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you-- I, Paul, who am "timid" when face to face with you, but "bold" toward you when away! 2 I beg you that when I come I may not have to be as bold as I expect to be toward some people who think that we live by the standards of this world. (2 Corinthians 10:1-2 NIV)

Paul, instead of fighting fire with fire, appealed to the people of Corinth “By the humility and gentleness of Christ.” Paul knew what was being said about him by his adversaries because he writes, “I, Paul, who am ‘timid’ when face to face with you, but ‘bold’ toward you when away!” Paul’s adversaries were painting him as weak and timid, but evidently they didn’t know that Paul was more than capable of handling all of them.Do you remember, before Paul came to Christ, how he was present when Stephen was stoned to death? Do you remember how Paul was on his way to Damascus to arrest the followers of Jesus? Paul was going to grab them by the collar and drag them all the way back to Jerusalem. Those are not the behaviors of a timid, milquetoast man. Once Paul became a follower of Jesus he gained a new direction in life, he had a new model in life, and he had a new mission in life. His direction? To walk in the footsteps of Jesus. His new model? To live as Jesus lived. And his new mission? To live out the purpose defined by Jesus for him. It was Paul’s ambition to be so consumed with Jesus that others could see Jesus living and speaking through him. This is why Paul appealed to his friends in Corinth “By the humility and gentleness of Christ…” Jesus said,

29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." (Matthew 11:29-30 NIV)

Jesus said, “I am gentle and humble in heart…” The word Jesus used, which is translated “gentle” is the same word Paul used in verse 1 which is translated “humility.” In most other translations of this verse it is translated as “meekness.” It is the Greek word “prautes” and it is used to describe those who are free from anger, hatred, bitterness, and a desire for revenge. The word Paul used to describe the “gentleness” of Jesus is the Greek word “epieíkeia." This word describes “kindness, reasonableness, fairness, or moderation.” One Bible dictionary describes it this way. 

For those in positions of superiority, ‘epieikeia’ is an easy-going quality that moderates the inflexible severity of wrath, a fairness that corrects anything that might be odious or unjust in the strict application of the law. (Spicq, Theological Lexicon of the New Testament, 2:34-35)

In 1 Timothy 3:3, Paul writes that “gentleness” is an essential character trait in a church leader. And James, in James 3:17, contrasts the wisdom of this world with the wisdom from God. Listen to this. 

13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15 Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. 17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18 Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness. (James 3:13-18 NIV)

In Galatians 5, Paul contrasts the works of the “flesh,” that which comes from our sin nature, with the fruit of the Spirit. Among the lists of the works of the flesh are “hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissension, factions, and envy. But the fruit of the Spirit, those character qualities that do not come naturally to us, but are a sign of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit within us, are “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23 NIV)Paul’s way of dealing with his adversaries was totally different than the way most of us deal with those who antagonize us, those who don’t like us for whatever reason, those who disagree with us, those we’ve hurt who instead of offering forgiveness want to do us in and destroy us, and the list goes on.  Paul writes, in verses 3-4,

3 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. (2 Corinthians 10:3-4 NIV)

Paul, and you and I, live “in the world.” You and I are no different than any other person walking around on the planet. We are subject to all of the pain and sorrow, all of the temptations, and all of the peculiarities and problems that all people are subject to in life, but… We are not just in the world, we are in Christ, if in fact you are a follower of Jesus. A byproduct of being in Christ is that we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we use to fight our battles are not the weapons of this world. David Garland writes,

To wage war according to the flesh means that one relies on flimsy human resources that are void of any divine power and that one is likely to resort to shameful, underhanded means to gain a desired victory. Paul’s methods are not fleshly methods. He does not rely on cunning or deception to insure that he will win. His power is God’s power, which means that he fights according to God’s rules of engagement. (Garland, David. 2 Corinthians. pg. 434)

There is to be a very clear difference between the followers of Jesus and the people of the world, those who have no desire to follow Jesus. I’m not talking about being weird, self-righteous, or super-spiritual, but I am talking about being like Jesus. There was a stark contrast between Jesus and the people of the world, as well as the pious religious leaders of His day. If we are seeking to follow in His steps there will be a difference between us and the people of the world in our day as well. Peter described us as “foreigners and exiles” in this world in 1 Peter 2:11-12. Listen to this. 

11 Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. 12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us. (1 Peter 2:11-12 NIV)

We are not to do life like those who do not know Jesus and neither are we to fight our battles like the world fights theirs. I was reminded this past week of a book I read many years ago, a book I read while I was in seminary. Augustine wrote “The City of God” before the fall of the Roman Empire. In his book, Augustine contrasts the city God with the city of man. The city of God is established and rooted in its love of God whereas the city of man is founded and rooted on a love of self. Everything in the city of man is carried out in order to satisfy the self. Nothing is more important than striving to achieve happiness for ourselves and anything that will move us further along to experiencing that happiness is encouraged. The citizens of the city of God live their lives for the glory of God. Nothing is more important than enjoying God and living in such a way that brings Him glory and honor. Therefore “self” is unimportant in comparison to enjoying God and bringing Him glory.  Part of what Augustine attempted to do was to expose the “myth of Rome,” the empty ideology and propaganda set forth as the highest ideal from the minds of men. We may not live in the Roman Empire today, but there is no question that we are living under this same “myth of Rome” right here in the United States. The ideal set forth, that is constantly hammered into our heads and hearts, is that our own personal happiness is the highest, most lofty ideal of all. So, if someone opposes you, if someone attacks your character, then you should do everything in your power to get them back, to shut them down, and to silence them.We are all born citizens of the city of man, but for those who have become followers of Jesus, disciples of Jesus, we have become citizens of the city of God through what Jesus has done for us in His death and resurrection. In Colossians we learn that we have been “rescued from the domination of darkness and brought into the kingdom of the Son…” Look at Colossians 1:12-14 with me so you can see what I’m talking about. 

12 and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. 13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. (Colossians 1:12-14 NIV)

We have been rescued by Jesus from the city of man, the kingdom of darkness, but that does not mean that we isolate from where we have come from. Augustine got his idea from the Bible, both the Old Testament and New, that our calling, in living in the world but being citizens of the city of God is not to withdraw from the city of man, but to be a living example, a foretaste of what is to come when the kingdom of men becomes the kingdom of our God. Like the Jewish exiles who were taken to Babylon, we are to “seek the welfare of the city.” We can’t do that if we are living just like the world, the citizens of the city of man. Let’s move on. It is one thing for you to tell me that as a follower of Jesus I’m not to wage war like the world, but I need more than that. Tell me how I am to wage war. Take a look at verse 4. 

4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. (2 Corinthians 10:4 NIV)

When Paul mentions demolishing strongholds he has in mind the warfare tactics that were ongoing in his day. Every city had walls protecting its citizens. In ancient warfare the walls were attacked and then the enemy soldiers were captured. What kind of weapons could accomplish such a feat? That’s a great question and for Paul there was only one weapon. Scott Hafemann writes,

In particular, Paul’s weapons are the manifold proclamation of the truth of the gospel in the power of the Spirit, embodied in and mediated through his own life of suffering. The truth of the gospel will overcome anything and anyone standing in its way. (Hafemann, Scott. 2 Corinthians. pg. 396)

The truth of the gospel which we find in the Word of God…that’s our weapon. You have to understand that those who opposed Paul in Corinth were not the real enemy. Paul knew he was in a spiritual battle for the hearts, minds, and souls of the people of Corinth, including those who opposed him. In Ephesians 6:12, Paul wrote,

12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. (Ephesians 6:12 NIV)

Those who we think are our enemy are not our enemy. Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, not against those we think are our enemy, but our struggle is against Satan and the unseen spiritual forces that are at work in this world. The enemy had blinded the minds of Paul’s adversaries so that they could not see. The enemy was working to blind the minds of the citizens of Corinth so they could not understand. This was Paul’s battle and he would not be distracted from proclaiming the truth of the saving power of the gospel! This is why Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 4:4-5.

4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. (2 Corinthians 4:4-5 NIV)

It is the gospel which removes the veil from our eyes and enables us to see, to truly see for the very first time. What is it that the people of Corinth needed to see? It is the same thing that we all need to see and that is our desperate need for forgiveness and reconciliation. If we were to examine ourselves to see what we needed most we wouldn’t arrive at what God determines is our greatest need. Each year, at the end of the year, untold millions of people take stock of their lives and determine that they are going to make some changes. They’ll get rid of bad habits and take on some good habits. They’ll work on their anger issues, their eating habits, they’ll be more loving and less critical…you name it and it’ll show up on somebody’s list. Those are the issues we deal with, but we have a much more serious issue and it is sin, not the things we do which we categorize as sin, but sin being our very nature because we are estranged from God.  Even though our society teaches us that we are born innocent and pure, the Bible teaches us that we are born sinners and at war with God. Because God loves us and refused to leave us with no hope and no future He sent His Son Jesus to give His life so that we might be forgiven and reconciled to God the Father. I had lunch with a friend this week who has been leading worship and sharing God’s Word with the prisoners at Joseph Harp Correctional Center for the past 15 years. He told me about one of the men who has been incarcerated since he started going. While in prison the man came to know Christ and his life has been radically changed. He is now the unofficial pastor of Joseph Harp prison. He told my friend, “When one of these young guys come here for the first time I pull up alongside him. The more I get to know them the more they will begin to share their issues with me. I’ve learned that those issues will be ironed out by the Lord if they will surrender their hearts to Him.’ The issues aren’t the issue–surrendering our hearts to Jesus is the place where change begins to take place.” What’s true for the inmates at Joseph Harp is true for you and it’s true for me. We need the gospel, the truth of God’s Word to tear down the strongholds in our hearts and minds that the enemy has built so that we might have our eyes open to a new way of living, a new way of thinking and living, and a new way of waging war in this world. I want to ask you this morning, “Do you know Jesus? Has He torn down the strongholds of your mind and heart?” If not, won’t you invite Him in this very morning?Mike HaysSeptember 3, 2023