AP

2 Corinthians 10:12  We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves.  When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise.

This is a good verse for serious meditation in this age of advanced technology and high-powered aggressive marketting.

Even in ancient Corinth without these harmful forces at work there was the problem of an ingrained culture of trying to outdo one another.  In his first letter to the Church in Corinth Paul had to address this dangerous tendency among the believers: “Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly – mere infants in Christ.  I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it.  Indeed, you are still not ready.  You are still worldly.  For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly?  Are you not acting like mere humans?  For when one says, ‘I follow Paul,’ and another, ‘I follow Apollos,’ are you not mere human beings?” (1 Corinthians 3:1-4)

We are all aware of the damage being done to young people, and not so young people, through the use of social media to broadcast our achievements, our attractive appearance (with the help of careful ‘photoshoppping’), our lifestyle, our (hopefully) enviable social life and status, etc.  I am amazed at the pressure being put on a vulnerable public through unsolicited advertising that constantly pops up on my screen to purchase products that promise ‘proven’ self-enhancement (for 30% off, provided I sign up today because the offer won’t last – even though the same ad has been popping up for months!).

Here, and in 1 Corinthians, Paul refers to the aspect of our fallen nature that this plays on as ‘not wise’, ‘lacking understanding’, ‘worldly’, ‘mere infants’ (immature), ‘acting like mere humans’ instead of the ‘new creation’ God intends us to be in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17).

There are many aspects of the Gospel we proclaim that are counter-cultural, and today’s verse certainly addresses one of them.  Those of us who are in positions of influence, especially among vulnerable young people, have a God-given responsibility to be aware of the warning signs, and to draw attention to the dangerous influences endemic to our culture today, both by word and example.  “May the mind of Christ, my Saviour, live in me from day to day, by his love and power controlling all I do and say.  May the Word of God dwell richly in my heart from hour to hour, so that all may see I triumph only through his power.  May the peace of God, my Father, rule my life in everything, that I may be calm to comfort sick and sorrowing.  May the love of Jesus fill me as the waters fill the sea; him exalting, self abasing, this is victory.  May I run the race before me, strong and brave to face the foe, looking only unto Jesus as I onward go.  May his beauty rest upon me, as I seek the lost to win, and may they forget the channel, seeing only him.” (Katie B. Wilkinson)

– Bruce Christian