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People are watching. 2 Cor. 6.3-13

People are watching.

When he walked into the Sanctuary, he carried a dark leather-bound Bible under his arm, along with his ‘Jesus and community’ book. When our study and prayer time was over, he approached me … “Hey, see my new Bible?” he extended it toward me.

“Yes, I see it . . . it looks great.”

“It’s The Message, you know. I have to ask you, what is your feeling about The Message?”

The question about different Bible translations is a frequent one—which one do you prefer, and why? And, like Steve asked, ‘what is your opinion about this particular one?’ Like with most things, I do have an opinion. Last week, for Popeye’s birthday, I brought him an NIV Study Bible, which he did not really want; you see, he is accustomed to the King James Version, and that is what he prefers. Cool. (I gave it to Ricky V. instead, who was tickled pink) Popeye said, “Christine, I even pray in ‘thees’ and ‘thous’.” So of course, translation matters to Popeye.

“The Message” is a paraphrase of the Scripture, written in contemporary language, by Eugene Peterson, a pastor, scholar and poet. It does not pretend to be a direct translation from the original languages, either word for word, or thought for thought. That
said, it is interesting to read—especially to read in conjunction with
the NIV, (New International), ESV (English Standard), NASB (New American
Standard), or NKJV (New King James Version)—all of which are translations, from the original languages. For tonight’s Scripture passage, I went to bible.logos.com, typed in my reference, and then selected “The Message.” If you are interested, it is a good way to consult, compare and contrast different versions of the Bible. (www.Biblegateway.com is another) Here’s my opinion: The Message is a great alternative source that sometimes makes a Scripture passage come alive.

I bring you today’s passage out of “The Message”, where Paul writes:

Our work as God’s servants gets validated—or not—in the details. People are watching us as we stay at our post, alertly, unswervingly … in hard
times, tough times, bad times; when we’re beaten up, jailed, and mobbed;
working hard, working late, working without eating; with pure heart,
clear head, steady hand; in gentleness, holiness, and honest love; when
we’re telling the truth, and when God’s showing his power; when we’re
doing our best setting things right; when we’re praised, and when we’re
blamed; slandered, and honored; true to our word, though distrusted; ignored
by the world, but recognized by God; terrifically alive, though rumored
to be dead; beaten within an inch of our lives, but refusing to die; immersed in tears, yet always filled with deep joy; living on handouts, yet enriching many; having nothing, having it all.

Dear, dear Corinthians, I can’t tell you how much I long for you to enter this wide-open, spacious life. We didn’t fence you in. The smallness you feel comes from within you. Your lives aren’t small, but you’re living them in a small way. I’m speaking as plainly as I can and with great affection. Open up your lives. Live openly and expansively! 2 Corinthians 6.3-13

“People are watching us as we stay at our post, alertly, unswervingly”

Paul describes situations of life that he faced, that most of us never will—things like being assaulted by a mob and beaten. He was imprisoned seven different times, not because he was a criminal but because his message of Christianity was not the least popular. Preaching Christ as king was an affront to the Roman government and to his Jewish culture. Yet, he persevered . . . joyfully. He points out here that as he endured these things, people were watching how he would react. After all, he could have renounced his faith and been home free. Instead Paul stayed at his post knowing he might be “ignored by the world, but recognized by God”.

People are watching you and me when we go through difficulties in life. How do we fare? Are we running scared or trusting, believing that the God who has got ‘the whole world in his hands’ has us, too.

Paul concludes with a head-scratching line:

Open up your lives. Live openly and expansively! Huh?

Paul, are you daft, Man? Hungry, beaten, imprisoned, living on handouts—you call that living openly and expansively? You want us to enter into the kind of life you had? Man, get hold of yourself!

Yes, of course, Paul invites us to know the Peace-giver, the One who gave it all…who offers true, eternal joy, though tears might stream on our
face. It is a life of uncertainty on the outside, but tremendous peace and assurance on the inside… truly living the Christian life is a glorious adventure, second to none. That is, if we stay at our post.

People are watching. 2 Cor. 6.3-13

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