Is All Boasting Wrong? No, But It’s Pretty Distasteful
In the last several posts that I have written, the focus has been on problems in the church, among God’s people.
I want to preface this post and the other posts with the fact that this is certainly not true of all churches; however, it is a problem, or should I say, a situation, that does arise, and looking to scripture, reading what it says concerning these situations is the only way I know of to bring the problems to the forefront in order to discuss; to sanctify ourselves through the reading of scripture in answer to these questions aka problems.
How many times has this happened? Your credentials or knowledge is questioned, you proceed to list your credentials; knowledge; or experiences; in order to add credibility to what you are saying or writing. Invariably the argument comes up that you are bragging, and that is something the Bible speaks against, that others are to brag about you, not you bragging about yourself. Is this correct? Yes and no. Let me explain further by using Paul as an example, and I get this from a newsletter I receive from Sam Storms of enjoyinggodministries.com. I use it as I think that Sam has done a very good job of putting this issue into words using the Bible as his only source.
Let me begin using a quote from Sam:
Some have struggled to reconcile Proverbs 29:4 (“Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself”) with Proverbs 29:5 (“Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes”). But there’s no contradiction here. On most occasions, when a fool speaks, keep your mouth shut. There are times, though, albeit rare, when an answer is essential. Evidently Paul was faced with just such a situation in his relationship with the Corinthians. He writes:
“I repeat, let no one think me foolish. But even if you do, accept me as a fool, so that I too may boast a little. What I am saying with this boastful confidence, I say not with the Lord’s authority but as a fool. Since many boast according to the flesh, I too will boast. For you gladly bear with fools, being wise yourselves! For you bear it if someone makes slaves of you, or devours you, or takes advantage of you, or puts on airs, or strikes you in the face. To my shame, I must say, we were too weak for that!” (2 Cor. 11:16-21a).
Paul is about to boast, and he is sickened by the thought of it. His words “are no reflection of the real Paul, but only of the Paul who, to preserve the Corinthian church from moral and doctrinal seduction, must answer the real fools according to their folly” (Carson, 109). He is clearly compelled, contrary to normal practice (Prov. 29:4), to momentarily stoop to the level of his enemies to gain a hearing with the Corinthians and hopefully bring to an end the slanderous accusations brought against him.
The last thing he wants is for any of the Corinthians to think that he is actually a “fool” (v. 16) for taking this approach. However, if someone should regard him as such, at least he should be granted the same courtesy of patience and tolerance they regularly accord to other fools in their midst!
He also wants them to know that in speaking this way he is not following the example of Jesus or claiming to have heard the Lord instruct him to do so. In other words, this was Paul’s decision and did not come at the prompting or from the guidance of Christ (cf. 1 Cor. 7:12). Of course, Paul no doubt believed he had “the Spirit of God” (1 Cor. 7:40) on this matter and wouldn’t have employed this tactic if he didn’t think it was permissible, given the unusual circumstances he faced in Corinth.
The distasteful and unavoidable fact is that pastoral problems in Corinth have compelled him against his nature to follow the example of his enemies. Paul wants them to know that this way of talking is not that of an apostle but of a self-righteous fool. So he here casts himself in the role of his opponents. What they do, he will do. If they boast “according to the flesh” (v. 18), i.e., appeal to worldly standards of “strength” and “success,” so too will he. But it is all utter “foolishness” and he wants to be certain the Corinthians understand that.
Given their past performance, the Corinthians shouldn’t have any problem temporarily accommodating Paul’s “foolishness.” After all, they “gladly bear with fools” (v. 19) on a regular basis. So what’s the harm in putting up with one more! Paul’s use of irony is biting.
It is with v. 20 that we come to a stunning disclosure by Paul of the aggressive authoritarianism and overbearing leadership tactics of the intruders (i.e., the true fools) in Corinth. I’m not entirely certain to whom I should direct my comments: pastors and leaders who may be inclined toward such sinful and reprehensible behavior, or average Christians who senselessly and stupidly submit to them. But let’s go with the latter.
My reason for this decision is that often times “groveling submission” (Barrett) to oppressive and self-serving leaders is hardly less evil than the arrogance that demands it. In other words, there’s no excuse for yielding to people who elevate themselves by humiliating and enslaving others. The time had certainly come in Corinth (and perhaps in our day and in your church) that Christians stand up to the domineering tactics of those who “lord it over” their faith (2 Cor. 1:24).
What follows may be painful for some of you, but I hope it is instructive for all. As you read the description of the behavior of these “fools” who passed themselves off as apostles, and especially as you consider the pathetic way in which the Corinthians tamely submitted to it, ask yourself whether such relational dynamics are present in your own church, among your own leaders, and perhaps in your own heart.
Sam then goes on to list the five features of this behavior; which, if you read the passage you can pick out yourselves, so I’ll not go into great detail here; but will list them.
First, the Corinthians bear it when someone “makes slaves” of them (v. 20a). The word Paul uses refers to a servitude that is total, to “reduce to abject slavery,” wrote Plummer (316). Most likely they were subjecting the Corinthians to themselves, demanding unqualified allegiance and total obedience to their every whim. So severe and comprehensive was the control exerted by these intruders that many in the church had lost any semblance of freedom or sense of responsibility for their own lives.
According to Sam, leaders are not here for us to serve them, but for them to serve us. The passage used for support is Matthew 20:28; 2 Corinthians 4:5.
Second, Paul accuses the intruders of “devouring” (v. 20b) the Corinthians and again rebukes the latter for allowing it to happen. Paul uses this same verb only one other time, in Galatians 5:15 where he refers to the in-fighting of the saints who “bite and devour one another.” Jesus denounced the Pharisees as those who “devour widows’ houses” (Mark 12:40), suggesting that perhaps the offense here is one of financially fleecing the sheep. Harris argues that Paul is referring “to their parasitical attachment to the Corinthians, their living ‘on’ or ‘off’ them . . ., that is, at the Corinthians’ expense . . ., demanding and receiving payment for ‘services rendered,’ eating them ‘out of house and home’” (785). Let me be blunt: spiritual leaders are not to get rich at the expense of those they lead. If they do, get rid of them.
Third, these interlopers “take advantage” of the saints (v. 20c). Paul uses the same word later in 12:16 when answering the charge that he “got the better” of the Corinthians “by deceit.” Evidently he has in mind the idea of bringing someone under your thumb by craftiness and misrepresentation, duping them with groundless guarantees and false promises (which are often the fruit of a misguided theology).
If a leader ever has you do or say anything that puts you on the line, and only benefits him/her. Don’t do it. Refuse. Give the reasons why if compelled to do so. But by all means refuse.
Sam gives two more behaviors:
Fourth, do those to whom you submit “put on airs” (v. 20d)? Paul clearly has in mind haughtiness and self-exaltation. This need not be shameless self-promotion but often comes in a more subtle, even spiritual looking, form. Constant reference to one’s calling or gifting or anointing or past success or publishing record, perhaps ever so often with a prominent named “dropped” into conversation at just the right time, are tell-tale signs of the sort of arrogance that Paul has in view. Again, don’t stand for it. Say No!
Fifth, and finally (and shockingly), these pompous power-mongers “strike you in the face” and you bear it (v. 20e)! Many insist that Paul uses this imagery in a figurative sense, perhaps in reference to demeaning verbal attacks or deliberate public embarrassment. That’s certainly possible. But it’s not out of the question that some of these “leaders” had physically accosted a few of the believers in the body. Among the Jews, a slap on the right cheek with the back of one’s hand was an especially indignant way to humiliate a person.
He then points out that one qualification of an elder or pastor is not to be violent. (1 Tim. 3:3; Titus 1:7). According to D.A. Carson, this would include humiliation of any kind. None is to be for those in ministry.
Sam continues with pointing to the obvious sarcasm Paul had in verse 21:
Paul’s sarcasm in v. 21 is unmistakable. If I may be allowed to paraphrase, “Isn’t it simply shameful of me that in my obvious weakness I declined to treat you as tenderly and lovingly as they did! Please forgive me!”
Anyone who has read even one book from Paul’s writing sees his obvious love and passion for those churches he wrote or spoke to. He was constantly humble, going out of his way to show grace. The only ones he seemed to humiliate were the Judaizers whom Jesus more or less humiliated on several occasions in the gospels.
So next time someone throws one passage in your face; telling or writing to you that you are bragging; and that is something the Bible speaks against, remember that scripture interprets scripture. There is a time for such things, there is a time for sarcasm. It’s not a sin; it’s not wrong; in fact it is sometimes necessary. Just pray before you speak; judge your own heart to make sure that you are not just boasting to be boasting. It should leave a dirty taste in your mouth to do so; and it should be done only when necessary. Only you can judge that with the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Something more to think about,and to lift that burden on your back that other people place there just a little.
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