IF OUR GOSPEL BE HID
#054 “IF OUR GOSPEL BE HID”
Scripture II Corinthians 4:1-7 Orig. Date 4/19/64 (8/75)
Rewr. Dates 7/22/87
Passage: Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. 2 Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. 3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For what we preach is not 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,”[a] made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed 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.
Purpose: To remind my people of the need to be openly assertive of our faith in Christ as Lord of life.
Keywords: Christian Life Gospel Revival Special Influence
Introduction
Margaret Sangster, the social worker, writer, and editor, shared an all-too personal experience from one of the tenement areas where she worked. The point of her life work had always been to reach out to the people around her and help them meet their own needs through private donations when government help was not available.
She saw a need for a gymnasium for the youth of the district. A place was secured, and because other help did not materialize, she began to supervise this activity. A lad of about twelve came to the gym one day on crutches. The leg was badly twisted, and Mrs. Sangster discovered that the boy had been run over, the leg badly broken, and no medical help was sought.
She made arrangements to carry the boy to an orthopedic surgeon who had provided his services before. She was told that the leg could be straightened, but it would take several operations. A wealthy benefactor was found who would pay the hospital costs. With parental approval, the transformation was begun. As Mrs. Sangster tells the story, about eighteen months later she joyously looked up in the gym one day to see the lad stroll in, pick up a basketball, dribble down the floor, and send it spinning through the hoop. What a happy moment that was.
Years later, she would tell the story, and ask, “Do you know what that boy is doing today?” Of course, no one did. “No, he’s not an attorney, or judge. No, he didn’t become a preacher or professor. No, he’s not in social work.” She would hide the sob trying to surface. “He is serving three concurrent life terms in the state penitentiary for murder and robbery.” After a pause, she continued, “I was so busy teaching him how to walk, I forgot to teach him where to walk.”
How careful are we as Christians to teach the really important things about our faith in Christ? What if “our gospel be hid”?
I. What If the Gospel Be Hid Socially? II Corinthians 4:3 “It is hid to them that are lost.” How hard is it, today, to tell who the Christians around us really are? Some estimates run as high as 90%. That would be all active church members, and all the 50% of church members who never attend. There are millions of others who happen to believe freedom to worship means freedom not to.
I have seen too many of them coming out of the quick-order store with a cross around their neck, a six pack in their hand, a foul message on their tee shirt. The answer is clearly not in one-day-a-week faith. It is too easy to dress in religious togs and be satisfied we are convincing. If I work, or work out, I wear something for sweating. If I am playing golf, it certainly won’t be in my black suit. I have a friend who occasionally wears overalls to prayer meeting; he has not time to change.
Paul here reminds us that our faith is a “treasure” bound up “in earthen vessels.” People take pride in their treasures. They want their friends to share in their good fortune. II Corinthians 5:17 “. . . if any be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away, all things are become new.” You see, the Vessel can be spoiled, the spirit within the vessel, never.
And beyond this, God calls us to share in His vision. Amy Carmichael was an Irish missionary who served in India for 56 years without furlough, and died there. II Corinthians 5:18 “. . . He hath reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation.” That means let your light shine socially.
II. What If the Gospel Be Hid Politically? II Corinthians 4:3-4 “. . . It is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not.” We are watching the gospel being slowly divested from the arena of politics. This week USA Today (July 22) reported “Over 50% of those interviewed would take all preachers off television.”
In our earlier history, politicians were considered statesmen. They had an obligation to a higher law, God’s law. Now, those who are men of faith often hope that it will not be used against them. What had we really rather have, a character to entertain, or, with character to inspire?
It is a good way to judge our TV preachers, and others. We are not out of line to want to know about the genuineness of a person’s religion. Oliver North’s wife was presented as a born-again Christian. Admiral Poindexter’s wife wore the frock of an Episcopal rector.
III. What If the Gospel Be Hid Intellectually? II Corinthians 4:3-4 “. . . it is hid to them that are lost: . . . lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, . . . should shine unto them.” The genius of human intellect is clear. Evidence of it appears in every age. It is asserting itself in this 20th Century as never before, through airplanes, atomic fission, electronic wizardry. Many learned men and women exemplify a strong Christian witness in Congress, in the Statehouse, as University Presidents, as coaches and artisans and athletes and entertainers.
What if we fail to make such faith clear? Youth grow to physical adulthood, enter college, participate, graduate with honors, but face the future unsure about their faith. With their own souls in jeopardy, their commitment to intellect may also be compromised.
The need intellectually is to assert our faith. We are creatures of intellect. Our society would crumble without it. Caesar came to the Rubicon with his armies. He had the ships that transported them burned. Retreat would not be an option open to them.
IV. What If We Hide the Gospel Culturally? II Corinthians 4:3,5 “. . . It is hid to them that are lost: . . . For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus our Lord: and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake.”
America has much to offer a needy world today. There is intense physical hardship, in the third world and some even here at home. We have the wherewithal to help. Nothing lends itself to compassion like religious faith, particularly Christian faith. It has the potential of worthy example. Following the Civil War, the world saw a super power emerge. Inclusion of ethnic groups has proven the worth of our culture.
But our greatest treasure is our faith. In the day when many are surrendering theirs, we who look to Christ must continue to share Him with a searching world. Hosea 4:1 “Hear the word of the Lord, . . . for the Lord hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land.”
It is incumbent upon us as believers to keep our gospel exposed to the light of day, to share our faith, to share our wealth to expedite missions, and to live obediently so that what we say matches the way we live.
Conclusion
Albert McClellan tells us of the time when he and other convention personnel were having lunch at the Hermitage Hotel in Nashville. Soup was brought to the table, and one of the group was reminded of a story.
It seems that three men were having a meal together in London. When the soup was served, all three noticed a bug swimming around on the surface of each of their portions. The Englishman, acting discreetly, fastidiously pushed his bowl aside while claiming not to be hungry. The American plunged his spoon under the still swimming bug and raked him into his plate, saying aloud, “I’ll take care of you!”
The third man was a Scot He carefully slid the blade of his knife under the bug, balanced him carefully, then picked him off the knife blade with his fingers. Next, he shook the soup gathered on the knife blade back in the bowl, then squeezed the bug, saying, “Spit it out, little laddie.”
Dr. McClellan said that his group laughed so loudly at the story that others in the restaurant were attracted to their conversation just in time to hear one of the men say with a laugh, “bugs in the soup.” As you might expect, all over the restaurant, soup spoons were placed aside, but the real problem was for all of the people who had finished theirs.
We have a message to deliver, and it must be clear, because people are depending on us for the truth.