By Mark Grace, CCCNZ Ambassador
Ae ra, e tohe ana ahau ki a koutou, kia kaua ahau ina tae atu e maro ki te whakaputa i te maia, pera me taku e mea nei kia maia ki etahi, e whakaaro nei ki a matou, ano ko ta matou whakahere no te kikokiko.
‘Ou te ‘ai‘oi atu ‘iā te ‘outou, ‘ina ‘ia lē fa‘amalosia lo‘u tautala atu ma le lototele pe a ‘ou i ai ‘iā te ‘outou, i le fa‘aali atu o le fa‘amalosi ‘ou te iloa e tatau ‘ona fa‘amalosi atu ai i nisi, o ē o lo‘o manatu o lo‘o matou ola fa‘aletino.
I beg you that when I come I may not have to be as bold as I expect to be toward some people who think that we live by the standards of this world.
2 Corinthians 10:2
About 15 years ago, I heard a church leader from the US speak in New Zealand. Throughout his 30 years pastoring, he had a rule for personal conflict across the very large church he’d planted and then led. Never avoid it, always face into it, and always take the high road through it.
When I preached from 2 Corinthians 10 last Sunday, I was struck by how Paul did the same thing. He faced into the Corinthian “super apostles”, but he took the high road in his conflict with them.
In verses 1–6, I’m amazed by how much Paul fights for the Corinthians. He fought for their flourishing, for their freedom and maturity in Christ. He didn’t fight against them. Taking the high roads involves fighting for those we are in conflict with.
In verse 1, Paul appeals to Christ’s gentleness and humility. You can’t fight from Christ’s corner of the ring and not reflect his character. Taking the high road involves imitating Christ’s gentle and lowly character.
In verses 3–5 Paul shows how he fights. He fights with the “weapons” of the gospel: prayer, the Holy Spirit, preaching and teaching, sacrificial service, care of the poor, and hospitality. God uses these “weak” actions to defend Paul’s ministry and to shame his opponents. Taking the high road involves using weapons with divine power.
What does winning the fight look like? The answer is found in verse five: it looks like greater obedience to Jesus. This happens not by fear, not by force, but by faith in Christ. Taking the high road means we want people to be better disciples of Jesus.
The Apostle Paul never avoided conflict that needed to happen. He always faced into it, and he always took the high road through it. How can you and I do the same this week?
