2 Corinthians 8-13

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INTRO:

Hello fellow teachers, and welcome to Teaching with Power. I’m Ben Wilcox and my goal is to help you teach or study the scriptures with more relevancy and power. This week we’ll be studying 2 Corinthians 8-13. So if you’re ready, grab your scriptures and your marking pencils, it’s time to dig deep.

ICEBREAKER

For an icebreaker and to illustrate an important gospel principle taught by chapters 8 and 9, I like to talk about dams and water. And I begin by asking: Why do we build dams?

And they could give a number of different answers there like, they create lakes for recreation, or provide water for irrigation, but hopefully somebody is going to give one of the major purposes of dams, and that is power. Dams generate power. But how do dams generate power? They generate power through the downward movement of water answer by gravity, because water naturally seeks equilibrium. If you have water in a high place and it is given an outlet, then that water will flow into a lower place until it finds a perfect balance or equilibrium again. And that flow produces power. And it can release an incredible amount of power. I remember watching a video of the floodgates for the Glen Canyon dam being released and the jets of water that came shooting out must have traveled over 100 feet before even touching the surface of the water below. It was a massive amount of power coming from behind that dam.

Now if you were teaching a younger audience you could turn this into an object lesson. What you’d need is two watertight containers, one small and another big. I would consider using a milk jug or one of those ice cream buckets for the small container and then a see-through storage bin for the other. Fill the smaller container with water and then place it in the bottom of the storage bin. Then tell them the smaller bucket represents a large lake being held back by a dam. That water at that point is in a state of balance. But what happens if I poke a hole in the container? Then go ahead and poke a hole near the bottom of the milk jug or container and then let them watch the water flow and flow until it finds balance and equilibrium once again in the bottom of the larger container. Also, be sure to point out that power is being generated in that flow. They will be able to see it gushing out and creating waves and ripples as it flows.

Well I believe that our world is a lot like that. If the water represents blessings, prosperity, knowledge, We live in a world of inequalities. Some people just have more than others, they are higher in status or position. They’re like the water behind the dam. And others have less and occupy a lower position. These are the people that are downstream from the dam and have very little. But what happens if those in the higher position decide to open the floodgates of generosity and give of their abundance to those downstream? What happens? Power is created. There is a special kind of power that is released through giving and generosity.

TRANSITION

Keep this in mind as we study 2 Corinthians 8-9. At this time, there were many Saints in Jerusalem that (because of famine, and war, and persecution) were suffering and poor. So the church leaders, including Paul, were making a special effort to collect funds from the other branches of the church throughout the ancient world to help the suffering Saints in Judea. At some point earlier the Saints in Corinth had promised that they would make a contribution to help. So in 2 Corinthians 8-9 Paul reminds them of that promise and teaches them some truths about generosity.

SEARCH

What are those principles?

Well, you can give your students a challenge here. It’s a matching challenge we’ll call, “Paul in Plain English”. We all know that Paul can sometimes be a little difficult to understand but interpreting him is an important skill to try and develop. You can do this on the screen, or you could do it as a handout. In one column you have the scripture reference, and in the other we have a plain English translation of the ideas taught by those verses. Your job is to determine which translation is the correct one. Which represents the best match. Now keep in mind the context of these chapters as you do this, the Saints in Corinth had promised the year before that they would contribute to this relief fund.

So we have 8:11, 24

8:12

8:13-15

9:6

9:7

9:11-15

So let’s go through these together. 8:11 and 24

11 Now therefore perform the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have.

And then verse 24

24 Wherefore shew ye to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love, and of our boasting on your behalf.

In plain English? The match is F. Put your money where your mouth is. Don’t just say you’re willing to help others, actually help them. Follow through with your commitment. The members of Corinth had pledged to give of their support, and now Paul wished to remind them of that promise. If you say you wish to help somebody out, then do it. We shouldn’t just be sorry for people and then say,“Well, somebody really ought to do something to help them. No, we should be the ones to help them. Do something. Do what’s in our power! And how could we live that principle today? Pay a generous fast offering. Contribute to the church’s humanitarian aid program OR another reputable charity. Seek to help family members, people in your community, and friends. And this doesn’t have to be just about money. It applies in any area where we see need? Do others need our friendship, comfort, support, our prayers, our time. Let’s be careful not to just sit there and think that somebody else ought to do something. We can be that somebody. If we wish to consider ourselves generous people, then we need to prove it.

8:12

12 For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.

The answer is C. It’s not the amount you give that matters most, but how much you give according to what you have. That’s what that verse means. It’s the same principle taught by the story of the widows mites. In comparison to what others were giving, what she had to give was very little. But when you factored in how much she had to begin with, her sacrifice was greater than anyone else’s. She literally gave all that she had. God doesn’t expect us to give something that we don’t have. We give what we can, and that will be accepted by him with the same amount of gratitude and blessing as someone who was able to give much more.

8:13-15 which says

13 For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened:

14 But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality:

15 As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack.

The match is A: God doesn’t want you to give so that other people can take it easy while your life is made harder, but to foster unity and equality. Right now, your plenty can supply their lack, so that at other times what you lack can be supplied by them.

So yeah, generosity is not about bringing lack and hardship to you so that others can prosper. No. I know we’ve talked about this before, especially back in the Doctrine and Covenants where we studied the law of consecration. God wants everyone in his Church to have enough to supply for their families, circumstances, wants, and needs. It’s our abundance, what we have above those things that he wants us to be generous with. And that leads us back to the dam principle. And be careful how you say that in class. Maybe I should say the principle of the dam. It’s good for those who are experiencing a time of abundance to GIVE, willingly and cheerfully of that abundance . And it’s also good, for those who are experiencing a time of lack to RECEIVE willingly and cheerfully. And in the church, it’s not about taking from the rich and giving to the poor. It’s about supplying and helping people in their times of want, helping them to get through those rough periods and get back on their feet, until they can be self-reliant again. When I served as Bishop I oversaw the welfare program of my ward and I’ll admit to you that, at first, I was really intimidated to take on that role. But I found, that the more I served, it became one of the most amazing things about the calling. Especially when a member of my ward would come into me, and I knew that they have been faithfully paying their tithing and fast offerings for years, but had now fallen on a hard time, a job loss, a major medical expense, some other financial crisis. And it was such a great feeling to be able to look them in the eye and say, you have blessed the lives of many through your sacrifices over the years. You have given freely and cheerfully. But now is the time to receive, and to be blessed by others. And for many individuals, that was hard. Sometimes receiving is an even greater challenge than giving. But it’s a beautiful balance that we have in the church. And the giving and receiving is not just about physical transactions. When you give to others, there is something that they give to you. There is an abundance of joy and satisfaction when we give. It feels good to give, to see the blessings that our giving creates in the lives of others. Just as water generates power as it seeks balance, generosity generates power in both directions as something is given and something is received.

9:6

6 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.

The match is D. If you give little, you will receive little in return. If you give much, you will receive much. It’s the principle of the harvest here. We reap what we sow. And remember our previous principle that we’re not talking about the actual amount of what is given. The rich man who gives 10,000$ is blessed no more than the poor man who gives 10$. The 10$ may very well represent a greater sacrifice, a more generous gift. And if we’re talking about our time, talents, and love, the principle means even more. The more we give, the more we receive. Do you know of anyone who you feel has really figured this out? Somebody who is a giver? Who serves and serves and gives and gives? I’m willing to bet they’re probably some of the happiest people you know. And, I’m not saying that that’s the reason that they give or the motivation for it. It’s not a selfishly motivated act. Oh I’m going to go out and give so that I can feel better. But, it’s just a natural consequence of the act. The more seeds of generosity that you plant in the fertile soil of the needs of others, the more fruit will be produced. It’s a law of nature.

9:7

7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

In plain English: The match is G. Don’t give to others reluctantly or because you feel you have to. God loves those who give willingly and cheerfully.

I think that Paul’s saying that we need to seek to have the proper attitude when we give. Now I think giving with the wrong attitude is still better than not giving at all, but we miss out on the real blessings of generosity. It feels good to give. A quick story to illustrate this. I remember when I was a teenager that we went to visit a hospital around Christmastime for a YM/YW activity. And I went but I’m sad to admit that I didn’t really have a great attitude about it. I was not excited about going. And I remember that another young man about my age was also going. Now he wasn’t very active in the Church, and he was popular at school, and according to my unrighteous judgment, I didn’t think very highly of him. And he just happened to be wearing a really nice jacket that evening. And I remember that we visited the room of a boy with a mental disability. And this young man just ran over and talked to him, and cheered him up, and really made an effort to make him feel better. Now we eventually moved on to another room, but the young man stayed behind and spent more time with the boy. After about 5 to 10 minutes we stepped out into the hallway of the hospital, and I looked down the hall and there was this young man pushing the mentally disabled boy down the hallway in a wheelchair, with that boy wearing his jacket and beaming with the largest smile I’ve ever seen. The only other smile that could match his, was the smile on that young man’s face. He had made that boy’s day. He was a cheerful giver. And because of that I feel that He walked away from that experience much more blessed than I was. . This pairs well with the last verse we read. At that hospital, I gave sparingly, so my experience was spare. That other young man gave bountifully, and he left bountifully blessed.

Last one. 9:11-15

11 Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.

12 For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God;

13 Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men;

14 And by their prayer for you, which long after you for the exceeding grace of God in you.

15 Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.

The match is B. And this is how I would interpret those verses. Giving generates gratitude. Gratitude in the giver that they have the abundance and opportunity to give, gratitude from the receiver towards the giver AND gratitude towards God. People will thank you and thank Heavenly Father when their needs are graciously supplied. Generosity is a gift. That’s the point I think those verses are making. There is gratitude all around when giving and receiving takes place. It engenders a love for God on both sides of the transaction. The person who is doing the giving thinks to themselves, “Wow, thank you God for putting me into a position where I am so temporally blessed, that I have an abundance TO give. That I can bless the lives of others with my means. Thank you for giving me that opportunity and the joy that comes with it.” And the person who is doing the receiving is saying, “Thank you God, for sending me people who are able and willing to help me through this challenging time. To get me back on my feet.” Gratitude all around. It’s a part of the power created by the flow of generosity.

TRUTH

Generosity creates power. The power of unity, equality, cheerfulness, and gratitude.

LIKEN THE SCRIPTURES

Have you ever felt the power of giving? What was it like?

Have you ever felt the power of receiving? What was that like?

What could you GIVE this week to experiment with the principle of generosity?

Some ideas? Pay a more generous fast offering. Visit an aging relative. Attend a service project willingly and cheerfully. Seek to have a better attitude in your service. Be the first to raise your hand, when a volunteer assignment is announced in church. Provide disaster relief. Be a friend to the friendless. Mourn with those that mourn. Comfort those that stand in need of comfort. Pray for an opportunity to serve and help someone. The possibilities are endless.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion here, a final point. I know that many times we struggle with the unfairness of life. We may even question why God would set his world up that way. Why do some people seem to experience so much prosperity, while others so much lack. Perhaps we look heavenward and say “Hey! That’s not fair.” And he calls back down to us and says, “You’re right! It’s not fair. That’s good that you realize this. You’re developing a sense of justice. Now what are YOU going to do about it. Get out there and make things more equal.” The world is not set up fairly, but that means there are ample opportunities to create power through generosity, through giving and receiving. And since we’ve been talking about water, consider this truth from the natural world. What happens to a lake with no outlet, a body of water that only takes and never gives? Two bodies of water come to mind that fit that description. The Great Salt Lake in Utah and the Dead Sea in Israel. What has happened to them? They die! They become lifeless, barren, and bleak. Let’s not let this happen to us spiritually! Like we used to sing in Primary: Give said the little stream! And then hurry down the hill to bless others. I promise that as we do, we will find power.

Now moving on to 2 Corinthians 10-13. Remember how I said at the beginning of the lesson that there is a major shift in tone in these last three chapters. Where chapters 1-9 are reconciling and loving in tone, these last four are a bit more harsh. That’s why some scholars believe that these are actually a separate, different letter from Paul. And I can see why they would think that. These, to me, are really sad chapters and they make me feel bad for Paul, because the context is that he’s having to defend himself as an apostle.

ICEBREAKER

For an icebreaker, I might consider showing a video compilation of building demolitions. Have you seen this kind of thing before? Where they rig explosives up to a building to cause it to implode so they can remove it or build something else? It’s really interesting to watch. And I’ll provide a link to a good example of one of these kinds of videos. So you watch it for a few minutes and then ask your students, “Which takes longer, which takes more effort? Building a building, or destroying one?” And the answer is obvious, tearing down is much easier and quicker than building up, and certainly a lot more messy. Now, which of the two do you think God wants us to do in his Church? Does he want us to be builders or destroyers. Answer, he wants us to be builders, not destroyers.

TRANSITION

Well, 2 Corinthians 10-13 are a good example of the negative effects of tearing down—an example of the dangers of being critical, especially of church leaders. Now I believe that there is such a thing as constructive criticism, honest questions, and we all know that our church leaders are human, that they are imperfect, and that they make mistakes. But the impact of gossip, constant disparagement, condemnation, backbiting and murmuring can’t be underestimated. They are destructive behaviors. We don’t want to find ourselves on that side of things. Instead, we hope to “SUSTAIN” our leaders. Build them up. Support them and forgive them for their infirmities. Sadly, a destructive spirit had begun to creep into the church in Corinth and many of the members had begun to criticize Paul and call his authority into question. And this is mostly stemming from the fact that false prophets or false apostles had begun to infiltrate the membership of the church and had beguiled a number of the members. In these chapters, when Paul talks about the “chiefest apostles”, he’s not talking about Peter, James, and John. But he’s referring to these false leaders who are setting themselves up and a number of them are even preaching for money. And because Paul was not as eloquent, attractive, or as rich as many of these “chiefest apostles” or “super apostles” as they’re sometimes referred to by scholars, they criticized him. And Paul loves these members enough to correct them. So these chapters represent Paul’s defense of his apostleship.

And to me, these chapters are really sad, because I just think the world of Paul. He’s one of my heroes, and to see him reduced to this “defense” is really a shame. He had served and sacrificed so much for these people, and then they turn around and treat him like this. I mean, they really hit below the belt. You’ll see how low they go. But Paul, kind of, lets them have it. It’s a brilliant defense and frankly, it’s a little prickly. So let’s dive in.

SEARCH

I have to be honest with you and admit that I struggled to come up with a way to really turn this section into some kind of a search activity where your students would go in and do the work and the interpretation. But, they’re just hard chapters to interpret without some background knowledge and deep study which you don’t always have time for in a classroom setting. So I gave up trying and I’m just going to walk you through these chapters hitting what the most significant parts. And you know, sometimes, that’s not a half bad teaching technique to just present to your class on occasion. I don’t do it very often because I don’t want to be a lecturer, but with Paul, sometimes you just have to plow into it, and tackle him head on. This kind of approach, if done sparingly, can be good variety. As long as you do it with passion, depth, and relevance.

The Criticisms

So let’s start with the criticisms. What are some of the things that the people are saying about Paul that’s causing him to have to defend himself.

You could pick students to read these references one by one and then comment on what they mean.

10:1

Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you:

You can almost imagine him using air quotes around the words, base and bold. What they’re saying is that he’s timid in person, but bold in his letters when at a safe distance.

10:10 10 For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.

So, he writes well, and his letters are powerful, but he’s a bit unimpressive in real life. He’s not much to look at, and not that great of a public speaker. And actually for this one, let me give you a physical description of Paul that Joseph Smith gives us. Apparently Joseph had either met Paul or had seen him in vision. But this is how the prophet of the restoration describes him.

“He is about 5 foot high; very dark hair; dark complexion, dark skin; large Roman nose; sharp face; small black eyes, penetrating as eternity; round shoulders; a whining voice, except when elevated and then it almost resembles the roaring of a lion.”

(The Words of Joseph Smith: The Contemporary Accounts of the Nauvoo Discourses of the Prophet Joseph Smith [comp. Andrew F. Ehat and Lyndon W. Cook; Orem, Utah: Grandin Book Company, 1991], 59)

So did you catch that? He’s only 5 feet tall. Just a little guy, with a big nose, small beady eyes, and a whining voice. So can you see why maybe the people didn’t think much of Paul in person. They’re judging him by the outward appearance. He even accuses them of this in 10:7

7 Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? if any man trust to himself that he is Christ's, let him of himself think this again, that, as he is Christ's, even so are we Christ’s.

So, you think I’m not really an apostle because of the way I look?

11:6

6 But though I be rude in speech, yet not in knowledge; but we have been throughly made manifest among you in all things

So another criticism of his speaking ability. He’s rude or unpolished in speech. Here Paul admits it, but then assures them that he’s not rude in knowledge. I may not talk pretty, but I’m a smart guy.

And then this criticism really blows me away. I just don’t get this one.

11:7-12

7 Have I committed an offence in abasing myself that ye might be exalted, because I have preached to you the gospel of God freely?

8 I robbed other churches, taking wages of them, to do you service.

9 And when I was present with you, and wanted, I was chargeable to no man: for that which was lacking to me the brethren which came from Macedonia supplied: and in all things I have kept myself from being burdensome unto you, and so will I keep myself.

10 As the truth of Christ is in me, no man shall stop me of this boasting in the regions of Achaia.

11 Wherefore? because I love you not? God knoweth.

12 But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we.

Now what the members are saying here is that He’s not really an apostle because he isn’t supported financially by the church. He’s not willing to take their money to support his basic needs. He’s allowing the Macedonians to do this but with the Corinthians he doesn’t want to give them any excuse to accuse him. Which kind of tells you that he’s probably doing this because he knows how critical the Corinthians are. He was afraid that they would accuse him of preaching for money. But now they are criticizing him for not taking their money. He just can’t win with them. So he says, "Are you offended because I didn’t let you support me financially? Because I didn’t take your money like some of these “super-apostles” are doing?”

Now there’s more but, does that give you a good sense of the destructive spirit of criticism that’s going around in Corinth?

The Defense

Well now, let’s see how Paul defends himself. We’re going to go back now and pull out a few verses to show Paul’s defense. And the way I’m going to approach this is just read some of these verses and then translate them a little for you because they are difficult to understand without a little guidance.

So go to chapter 10 starting in vs. 2-5

2 But I beseech you, that I may not be bold when I am present with that confidence, wherewith I think to be bold against some, which think of us as if we walked according to the flesh.

3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:

So we don’t fight the way the world does. They fight dirty. They use manipulation, and boasting, and deception. But we fight fair.

4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

We use godly weapons. We use the truth to cut through the lies and anything that sets itself up against the knowledge of God.

Then jump to vs 8

8 For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord hath given us for edification, and not for your destruction, I should not be ashamed:

We apostles are sent to build you up not tear you down. So if I write “tough love” type letters to you, it’s because I love you and want what’s best for you.

vs. 12

12 For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.

We don’t do what the world does. We aren’t boasters of our own selves. We don’t commend and compare and rank ourselves the way the world does. We have a different way of doing things.

But you know what’s funny, Paul is going to do just that in the next chapter, but in an ironic, sarcastic kind of way.

So chapter 11 begins with:

Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me.

So, I’m going to be a little foolish here with you, bear with me.

2 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.

3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

I care about you guys, I’m jealous over you. Like a father I wanted to marry you to Christ in purity. I’m afraid you’re being deceived and pulled away from the simple gospel of Christ.

4 For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.

5 For I suppose I was not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles.

So, You guys seem to put up with anybody who comes along and preaches a different Christ or different gospel. And here, he’s referring to these false apostles or chiefest apostles. If you can put up with them, then you should be able to put up with me, I think I’m just as qualified as they are.

And then he goes into those verses explaining why he wouldn’t take their money. But the false apostles are charging them money.

Picking it up again in vs. 13

13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.

14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

These guys that are charging you for their preaching, and setting themselves up as a light, they’re deceiving you. They may appear good on the outside, but inside they’re working for Satan.

And now he’s really going to get into it.

16 I say again, let no man think me a fool; if otherwise, yet as a fool receive me, that I may boast myself a little.

17 That which I speak, I speak it not after the Lord, but as it were foolishly, in this confidence of boasting.

Ok guys, I’m going to be a fool for a minute. I’m going to boast of myself a little. I’m not speaking in God’s way right now, because God’s leaders don’t need to boast of themselves, but this may be the only way to get through to you. It reminds of Paul’s statement back in 1 Corinthians 9 where he says he will become anything to anyone to win souls to Christ, To the Jews I become as a Jew that I might gain the Jews, to the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak, So here, he is saying, I become as a fool to the fools, so that I might gain the fools. So, he’s really getting wound up now.

18 Seeing that many glory after the flesh, I will glory also.

19 For ye suffer fools gladly, seeing ye yourselves are wise.

20 For ye suffer, if a man bring you into bondage, if a man devour you, if a man take of you, if a man exalt himself, if a man smite you on the face.

21 I speak as concerning reproach, as though we had been weak. Howbeit whereinsoever any is bold, (I speak foolishly,) I am bold also.

You seem to tolerate imposters and fools readily. When people come along and take your money and boast of themselves, you take it, and love it, even if they hit you in the face you bear it willingly. So you love boasting? All right, I’ll give you boasting, (I’m speaking as a fool) but ok, let’s do this.

22 Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I.

23 Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more;

I’ll one up them on this one.

in labours more abundant, I work harder than they do

in stripes above measure, I’ve been persecuted more than they have

in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. I’ve suffered more than they have

24 Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.

25 Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;

26 In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;

27 In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.

That whole last section is a rhetorical device, with the length and repetition, it’s meant to tire them out mentally. Look at all I’ve been through.

28 Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.

Not only have I been through all that, I also have the burden of responsibility for all the churches in this area.

29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not?

And on top of all that, I have my inner emotional suffering for those that struggle and fall into sin.

Jump over to chapter 12 now.

It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.

So what about visions and revelations now. I’ve had plenty of those too.

2 I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.

And the man he is talking about here is himself, in the third person.

3 And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;)

4 How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.

Apparently Paul had a vision of the Celestial Kingdom. He knew what heaven was like.

And then, Paul has one more thing to boast of.

Then jump to vs. 7

7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.

8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.

Apparently there was something about Paul’s appearance that worried him. He calls it his thorn in the flesh. And we don’t know what it was. Some think that It could have been something about his eyes or his eyesight because of a verse in Galatians (4:15) which says: wherefore I testify to you that, if possible, you would have gouged out your eyes and given them to me.” So, perhaps that was it. But whatever it was, it was something that troubled him, and he asks God to take it away three times. And God’s answer:

9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

So, Don’t worry about it Paul, I will make sure that it doesn’t affect the effectiveness of your work. My grace will make up the difference. So you don’t need this infirmity taken from you. In fact, because you have to rely on me through it, you’ll have my grace, and my grace will make you stronger. And knowing Paul, I imagine the only reason he would have asked for something like that to be taken away would not be out of self-concern or ego, but probably because he felt it would make him a better missionary. Maybe he felt it got in the way of the work. He just wanted to be the best missionary he could be.

And this is also a really good example of a time when even somebody with great faith and with pure intentions asked for some kind of physical blessing or healing and was not given it. Sometimes God doesn’t answer our prayers. And that doesn’t mean that he doesn’t love us, but that his grace is sufficient to get us through it. Our infirmities bring the powers of Christ upon us to help us. And we are blessed through that help. Maybe even more so than if he were to remove the thorn in the flesh.

Paul again in verse 10

10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

So, if I have anything else to boast of, I will boast of my infirmities and my weaknesses. Because they are the things that actually make me stronger.

11 I am become a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I be nothing.

12 Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.

I didn’t want to do this, I’ve made a fool of myself in all this boasting, but you compelled me. I shouldn’t have had to do that. You should have defended me and stood up for me. I have every right to be considered an apostle of God to you.

Well, that’s as far as I’m going to go with these chapters, and I know that was a lot to plow through, but I hope it’s helped you to understand the dynamic of what’s happening here. But, yeah, really sad that Paul had to be reduced to doing this kind of thing. And, a great illustration of the destructive nature of criticism.

The Solution

Now. What is the statement you always hear me say about problems in the scriptures? If you’ve studied with me for any amount of time, you know what I’m about to say, right? There is never a problem presented to us in the scriptures without the solution being somewhere nearby. And in my opinion, the solution to “the critical spirit” is in chapter 13.

Go with me to verse 5. What is it?

5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

The solution is to look inward. To examine and prove ourselves. To pull the beam out of our own eye first, before we try to pull the motes of our leaders eyes. And I believe that if we examine ourselves, we’re going to find that we’re human, that we’re flawed, and that we need mercy and understanding from others. Then, hopefully we can afford our leaders and others the same mercy and understanding that we desire.

TRUTH

Instead of criticizing my church leaders, I should sustain them, and examine myself instead. When I do, I will help the Church to be built up, not torn down.

LIKEN THE SCRIPTURES

A Case Study Activity. With the following handout, invite your students to choose just one of the following three case studies to respond to. What would be a “constructive” way to respond to following situations.

Your quorum or organization leader (Relief Society President, Elder’s Quorum President, Young Women’s President, etc.) has an authoritarian leadership style that rubs you the wrong way. How do you respond?

Your family is facing a particularly difficult circumstance, but you feel that your Bishop isn’t responding with adequate love, understanding, or help. How do you respond?

Somebody says to you: The First Presidency and Apostles are way out of touch. Their policies are outdated, they’re unqualified to teach on certain issues, and they are simply too old to really understand our times . All they really want is to control people and take their money. How do you respond?

Now give your students adequate time to write down their responses and then invite some of them to share their answers with the class

CONCLUSION

Well, my friends, I know that it’s hard sometimes not to be critical of other members of the Church or Church leaders. Having served as a Bishop myself, I can tell you that I did not get things 100% correct. I made mistakes. Things that when I look back on them with hindsight, I can honestly admit, was not the best way to handle that situation. That was not the right thing to say. I could have served better in that circumstance. I neglected that area of responsibility. I was not sufficiently compassionate to that member. I could have done more to help. But, I still feel that I was inspired on many occasions, that I did a lot of good, that I made a positive difference and impact on people, and that I served with love and a desire to do my best. And I’m grateful for the understanding nature of the members of my ward. I’m happy to tell you that I did not sense a general critical spirit from them. They built me up and were forgiving of my weaknesses. I don’t think I could have shouldered that responsibility without their love, tolerance, and compassion. I needed that, and all our church leaders need that as well. I do believe that it’s possible to recognize the faults and weaknesses of others without becoming critical and destructive. We can grant those who have been called to lead us mercy and support, even with all their frailties and fallibilities. We can love them, pray for them, support their decisions even when we disagree, and we can look for the Lord’s hand in their leadership rather than focusing on the human hand that is sure to be evident as well. Better that we use that critical energy to look inward instead, to examine ourselves, as Paul suggests here. If we do, I believe that we can build ourselves, build others, and build the church as a whole.