July 09, 2010
Super-Apostles
Describing false apostles that had infiltrated the Corinthian church Paul sarcastically calls them super-apostles(2 Cor 11:5, 12:11) The NIV footnote says they were “…in reality not apostles at all, except in their own arrogantly inflated opinion of themselves.” I’m somewhat bothered by believers branding one another with titles such as, Super-Christian, Bible-Thumper or Holier-Than-Thou. I can’t be certain, but I suspect few believers set out intending to become a Super-Christian, and yet for whatever reason, others label them with that description. I think it’s possible that some of us hold back our zeal for the Lord because we fear our peers will evaluate us and deem us self-righteous.
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2 comments:
Gail;
-----We treat things on a “this or that” basis when in reality things exist on a “more this and less that or more that and less this” basis. Not everyone who is called Super-Christian, Bible Thumper, or Holier-Than-Thou is entirely that, while not everyone who applies these terms is entirely wrong. It is true that human nature is often an ugly thing, but it is also true that human nature for a short time was a beautiful and perfect thing. The human nature God created was to look with resolve at the truth and assimilate it. It was simply a humble nature. But it has become a nature which no longer looks for truth with resolve or assimilates it with caution. It has become more arrogant than humble. The call of God is not to salvation of the soul alone, but also to be restoring one’s very nature. Some who allow Him to help achieve a goodly restoration are less ugly in their nature than beautiful, and can rightfully be called super Christians, although their humility will not allow thumping with the Bible. And though they are in thought, feeling, and deed holier than others, they will not assess this themselves, knowing that holier than anyone is a useless concept.
-----Yet there are those whose surety about the importance of their own deeds, accuracy of their thinking, and sincerity of their feelings exceeds their efforts to test any of these against discernable truth. This does not say they have no salvation, but it does indicate a limitation of current restoration. I think I agree with you about refraining from calling this sort “Super-Christian“, “Bible Thumper“, or “Holier-Than-Thou“. Sarcasm fits well upon those who have acquired the shape, but it leaves more important things unsaid while implicating the innocent. If words were bullets, sarcasm would be buckshot.
-----I think your blog of July 7 is particularly relevant here. Words definitely have power, and repeated phrases become buckshot with even more power. The wielder of these should be cautioned that the use of any word is a stated judgment concerning its topic. So the wielder becomes a judge. Beyond being inescapable, this is not in itself wrong. Paul said, “Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge?” (I Cor 5:12b) even though he also said, “Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another?” (Rom 14:4a). Oliver Wendell Holmes wrote in a letter, “There is a tendency to think of judges as independent mouthpieces of the infinite, and not simply directors of a force that gives them their authority.” Especially in speaking to the faults of others, we must remember that righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit are the force of the authority given to us by God, and we can direct no more of it than what our natures have assimilated from His Words. So the choice of our words must carefully carry only the intended impact of His. We must not shotgun guilt, for surely innocence will share in the blast.
Love you all,
Steve Corey
P.S.
The Oliver Wendell Holmes quote can be found in “Intellectuals and Society”, Thomas Sowell, pg. 90
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