Friday, March 29, 2019
Because we understand our fearful responsibility to the Lord, we work hard to persuade others. God knows we are sincere, and I hope you know this, too. Are we commending ourselves to you again? No, we are giving you a reason to be proud of us, so you can answer those who brag about having a spectacular ministry rather than having a sincere heart. If it seems we are crazy, it is to bring glory to God. And if we are in our right minds, it is for your benefit. Either way, Christ’s love controls us. Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life. He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them. 2 Corinthians 5:11-15
As an apostle
of Jesus, Paul had seen and done things that would’ve gotten the attention of
the talent scout for Barnum and Bailey’s circus. Those who are interested in the spectacular
are always looking for that which is more titillating than the last show. It’s always about the show, because a mesmerized
audience is defenseless to hold onto their rent money! Sounds a little like politics, eh?
In Paul’s
ministry everything was about giving glory to God in the name of Jesus. To those who were career braggers, simply looking
to grab the spotlight, it was about self-promotion. Motive is always the dividing
line between spectacular and sincere.
The
meaning of “spectacular” as with “beauty” is in the eye of the beholder. And there are as many possibilities as there
are personality types. To the
introverted among us, spectacular is to be kept at a distance; we just want
more quiet. To the engaged Type-A
extrovert, spectacular is like light to a moth.
To the naïve, glitzy three-ring circuses are a narcotic. To those who are cynical the reaction is
envy, greener than a St. Patty’s Day parade.
In sum, it’s what Forest Gump’s mama used to say: Spectacular is as spectacular does!
P. T. Barnum, founder of the Barnum &
Bailey circus is quoted as having said, there’s a sucker born every minute. Even a cursory reading of his life story will
verify that about summed up the goal, substance, and ethic of his life…getting
the cash out of every back pocket he could reach while dangling the spectacular
in front of your eyes to distract. For
those who are not easily-distracted from Scripture’s admonition to keep our eyes
on Christ[iii],
you can’t miss that Barnum operated a franchise designed, approved, and
fully-supported by the father of lies[iv];
it’s all spectacular fizz and giggle, and designed to amaze while your
entertained brain slips away from giving glory to God.
Scripture[v]
concludes that people who live this way, grabbing the glory for themselves,
instead of giving glory to the Father, have their reward…the praise (and
pocketbook) of humans. That reward will
be a different kind of spectacular!
For You Today
If you
listen to the hype that glorifies the spectacular you won’t hear the still small
voice of God.
