May 6, 2018Sunday

2 Corinthians 4:5-10 What is wrong with the Church?

All those cracked pots!

“5 For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. 7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 8 ¶ We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 10 We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.” (2Corinthians 4:5-10 NIV)

There are hundreds of books that tell you what is wrong with the Church.  We are too liberal, too conservative, and too ingrown, too out there, too too many things!  We know our weaknesses very well, or at least the weaknesses of others.

But there is a deeper answer to this question.  The very real answer that is the source of all the above answers.  What is wrong with the Church is it is made up of people like us! The treasure of God is in broken vessels or cracked-pots!  The power of God is found in the all too human beings that make up the Church.  We fall, we fail, we hurt and we hurt others.  Over and over we see strong Christians fall and fail. 

But there is another side to this.  The very thing that is wrong with the Church is also what is right with the Church.  It is made up of broken vessels!  For in the lives of people changed by God is the glory of God shown.  What a lesson when a person who struggled with a sin is able to help and bless someone struggling with that same sin!

Paul is right when he declares that in our weaknesses and failings God’s strength, grace and blessing is more clearly seen. (2 Corinthians 12:9-10)

Recently there was an interview with a couple who had suffered tough times.  He had been a strong Church leader and had been caught with a male prostitute. When asked about his plight he declared he was terribly sorry for the pain caused his wife and family but also to the Church.  “I hurt everyone who is a Christian.”

Yet God is using him to reach out and help others suffering where he was find hope and redemption.  He truly is a broken vessel holding God’s richest grace.  Maybe that is why a cracked pot or broken vessel works best.  It leaks grace to all those around it as God continuously pours it in!

What are you leaking on all those around you?

Listen to the words of scripture.

We are hard pressed on every side,          but not crushed;

perplexed,                                                   but not in despair;

persecuted,                                                    but not abandoned;

struck down,                                                  but not destroyed.

Life at its worst merely makes room for the best of God in our lives!  This doesn’t naturally happen!  We must turn to, and trust in God and then the miracles can happen in our lives and in those around us!