2 Corinthians 11 - What Should You Look For In Your Pastor?

Click Here to Read or Listen to 2 Corinthians 11 

Paul and the False Apostles

For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the Spirit you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough.

Paul returns to his concerns about the Corinthians and their failure to discern what a true leader looks like. As we have said the last two days, they were more impressed with personality than character.  Paul cites two ways this could happen. First, they could preach a different Jesus than Paul preached. Paul preached a Jesus was truly human and truly divine. Many false prophets minimized either Jesus' humanity or divinity. These so called prophets also spoke through a power other than the Holy Spirit. Worst of all the Corinthians put up with it. 

Who was this “other Jesus?” Because of the way the Corinthian Christians despised Paul’s image of weakness and unimpressive appearance, the “other Jesus” was probably one who knew no weakness, persecution, humiliation, suffering, or death. A “super Jesus” is another Jesus, not the real Jesus, and another Jesus cannot save. - Guzik

6 I may indeed be untrained as a speaker, but I do have knowledge. We have made this perfectly clear to you in every way.

These false teachers were not lacking in eloquence or charisma, but Paul was more interested in content than delivery. Paul was not a charismatic speaker. He strove to only preach Christ, and Christ crucified. Today people often look to get entertained by the preacher. But believers should be grounded in God's Word, so they can quickly tell if the pastor is preaching God's Word about Jesus or something else. This is not to say a Christian preacher can't be eloquent speaker and/or charismatic, but just make sure they preach about Christ, and Christ crucified not some other gospel. 

In Paul’s day, the ability to speak in a polished, sophisticated, entertaining way was popular. Others (such as the most eminent apostles the Corinthian Christians loved so much) were able to speak in this manner, but Paul was either unable or unwilling to preach in this way. It didn’t matter to Paul because he wasn’t concerned with meeting people’s standards for a “polished” or “entertaining” speaker; he was concerned with faithfully preaching the gospel.

And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. 15 It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.

The reason these false preachers are seemingly so convincing is they are servants of Satan. Satan is the author of lies and loves to create confusion in the church. But God is not a God of confusion. God's Word is straightforward. The gospel is not complicated either. Jesus, fully man and fully God, came down out of heaven to show the Father's love for all people. Jesus died on the cross and offered forgiveness for all those who trust in Him as the Son of God. 

Even as Satan may appear as an angel of light, so false apostles may have a “good” appearance. Paul is showing the Corinthian Christians how foolish it is to rely on image and outward appearances. - Guzik

Paul Boasts About His Suffering

Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 26 I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. 27 I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. 28 Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn?30 If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. 

Paul continues to toy with the Corinthians. He says that he too would like to boast but all he has to boast about is his sufferings. He lists a multitude of events and circumstances that put his life at risk. He even talked about his struggle with his sinful nature. See Romans 7 for more on that. At the end of the day Paul is more comfortable boasting about his weaknesses? Why? Because it puts the focus on Christ, not himself. 

Any leader worth their salt will not constantly bring the attention on themselves but on Christ. They have learned what John the Baptist said when he announced the coming of his cousin Jesus, "I must decrease so He can increase".  

As you look at your pastor are you more interested in the content of his message or the coolness of his delivery? In your walk with Jesus do you rely on your weaknesses to show the strength of Christ or boast about your strengths? 

Even Jesus said, "I came not to be served but to serve and give my life as a ransom for many." For those of us who Christian leaders let us lead like Jesus. Let us be servant leaders. 

Give