God's Mighty Weapons
"People are difficult to govern because they have too much knowledge." Lao-tzu, The Way of Lao-tzu, Chinese philosopher, founder of Taoism
Information leads to knowledge, and knowledge is power.
I was perplexed when I first heard the term "Information Age." Now I get it. The Internet has been the greatest weapon against ignorance in the history of mankind. (By the way, the inventor of the Internet was Tim Berners-Lee.)
When I was first elected in 1996, there weren't many ways for constituents to know what was going on in the Capitol. In fact, the only way was reading articles in the local papers written by the Tallahassee press corps. Having seen how the print media reporters and editorial boards 'filtered' the news during my campaign, I knew that direct communication with constituents was going to be essential.
I began to spend about half of my monthly House expense allotment on postage for the thousands of letters and updates mailed to the folks in my District. At one point the House administration cut off my allotment of House letterhead and envelopes!
When I became Speaker, I reassigned a number of House staffers to form a communications department to assist the House Members in communicating directly with their constituents through TV, radio, direct mail and email. Of course, the Tallahassee print media corps went ballistic when they realized I was doing an ‘end run’ around their ability to ‘filter’ what news got out of Tallahassee. In fact, that was the old print media’s main source of power – controlling what information came out of Tallahassee. Until this day, when I run into former legislators they thank me for the ability to speak unfiltered to their constituents.
Today, I am pleased to see that the information age has completely washed the foundation from under the heretofore powerful, and biased, print media. Suffice it to say that the advent of the information age confirms the age-old notion that power needs to control information.
The art of communicating ideas is no new thing. In 2 Corinthians 10, Paul continues to defend his ministry with the church he started in Corinth by clearly addressing the ancient Greeks’ ingrained acceptance of the art of rhetoric as an end unto itself. To the Greeks the medium was the measage. The Greeks at Corinth knew Paul’s oratorical skills were lacking, but as usual Paul moves his listeners toward substance, not style. Paul tells the Corinthians about his ‘secret weapon’ that transcends style.
3 We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do. 4 We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. 5 We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ. 6 And after you have become fully obedient, we will punish everyone who remains disobedient. 2 Corinthians 10:3-6
Other preachers who were trained in the oratorical arts were undermining Paul’s authority over the church at Corinth. Paul sarcastically refers to these preachers as ‘super apostles.’ The Corinthian were steeped in the Greek culture with its elevated appreciation for the art of rhetoric. Apparently, some of the Corinthians had succumbed to those preachers merely because of their art of persuasion. A modern analogy would be the effect of the popular TV series, American Idol, in elevating the average American’s ability to critique singing skills. As a result of American Idol the average American can distinguish those singers who are more accomplished than others. The ancient Greeks had the same ability to judge public speaking, so they naturally gravitated toward those who were more accomplished speakers.
And, Paul was definitely not gifted in the art of rhetoric. So, Paul lets the Corinthians know that he doesn’t plan to compete with the ‘super apostles’ on their playing field. Through God’s power, Paul competes on a different level; he is enabled to communicate his passion for the risen Lord by his actions and fervor for Christ. Paul’s witness was his proven tenacity for Christ, regardless of his lack of rhetorical skills. Paul was beaten, stoned, shipwrecked, whipped, robbed and left for dead, but he never gave up.
I have worked harder, been put in prison more often, been whipped times without number, and faced death again and again. 24 Five different times the Jewish leaders gave me thirty-nine lashes. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea. 26 I have traveled on many long journeys. I have faced danger from rivers and from robbers. I have faced danger from my own people, the Jews, as well as from the Gentiles. I have faced danger in the cities, in the deserts, and on the seas. And I have faced danger from men who claim to be believers but are not. 27 I have worked hard and long, enduring many sleepless nights. I have been hungry and thirsty and have often gone without food. I have shivered in the cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm. 28 Then, besides all this, I have the daily burden of my concern for all the churches. 29 Who is weak without my feeling that weakness? Who is led astray, and I do not burn with anger? 2 Corinthians 11:23-29
It is hard to fathom Paul’s physical and emotional hardships. Paul’s testimony is more powerful than any ‘empty suit’ giving fine speeches in the Corinthian church.
Although many of the Corinthians were returning to Paul, he was somewhat dismayed by the Corinthians’ naiveté and openness to listening to all sorts of way out ideas from false teachers. Yet, modern society is no different. Today, modern culture is such that people readily listen to propaganda from every known cult from Scientology to Taoism. Paul would be worried about us, too.
I promised you as a pure bride to one husband—Christ. 3 But I fear that somehow your pure and undivided devotion to Christ will be corrupted, just as Eve was deceived by the cunning ways of the serpent. 4 You happily put up with whatever anyone tells you, even if they preach a different Jesus than the one we preach, or a different kind of Spirit than the one you received, or a different kind of gospel than the one you believed. 5 But I don’t consider myself inferior in any way to these “super apostles” who teach such things. 6 I may be unskilled as a speaker, but I’m not lacking in knowledge. We have made this clear to you in every possible way. 2 Corinthians 11:3-6
Just as with the Corinthians, human reasoning and false arguments will always abound and attract people who are searching for ways to save themselves. But, it can’t be done. These folks need Jesus.
And for those of us whose job is to witness to the unsaved, there is no more powerful weapon than the Holy Spirit that dwells within each Christian. Each Christian is armed with at least one gift that can be used as a powerful weapon ‘knock down’ every obstacle hurting people put up to avoid surrendering to God. Whether it is teaching, preaching, singing, or ministering, we each have gifts powered by the Holy Spirit that are more powerful than any rhetoric or self-help concept that has been or ever will be conceived by man.
Just as Paul did, each of us can communicate the story of God’s power in our life. Just tell someone what God has done for you. You don’t have to be a skilled orator either.
Christians are the foot soldiers; God is the power. Let’s take some prisoners!
