Skeptics accused Paul of manipulating his preaching for personal gain. Which seems a stretch, since the man tramped from town to town, endured beatings, and lived off the goodwill of the those he served. Still, a charge of deceitful behavior hung in the air. Paul shot back:

We have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God…for what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord…

No whispers in the dark, no insider knowledge, no sleight of hand accompanied Paul’s teaching. Rather, he and his team preached Jesus Christ as Lord. Out loud—in synagogues, in homes, in the backwoods and the marketplaces.

These early evangelists refused to twist their message to suit the culture of the day. Quite opposite of the charges addressed here, they pushed one Lord, one faith, and one baptism. Make a decision, accept or reject, choose your adventure for eternity.

I’m tempted to soften the challenge Jesus brings. But distortion serves no one. Jesus Christ is Lord. The sooner we recognize it, the better off we’ll be.

2 Corinthians 4 in Through the Bible in 2024

Photo by Jon Tyson