Spiritual Rivalry: 2 Corinthians 10:7-18, especially vs. 18:
"For not he who commends himself is approved, but whom the Lord commends."
Terrible evils of all sorts can break out in the Church, a fact which centuries of history document "ad nauseam." One of the worst sins, so often repeated through the ages of the Church, is spiritual rivalry. The fuel that feeds rivalry, like a fire from hell, lies both in the egos of those who resort to slander and boasting to advance their position, and in the immaturity and worldliness that crouches in the souls of believers, inducing them to accept favoritism and decision by popularity. Today's reading gives us a glimpse into the eruption of a spiritual rivalry right in the midst of St. Paul's own mission field, "within the limits of the sphere which God appointed us" (vs. 13).
Reading this passage with attention to implications, one quickly detects three tactics that were being used by the rivals of the great Apostle: misuse of piety, presumption of authority, and display of associations. Let us read prayerfully, that God would illumine us to avoid being drawn into rivalries, and to conduct ourselves to His glory when confronting such evils.
The Apostle apparently was being slandered by rivals, who came to Corinth and questioned the very foundation of his claim to be a Christian. They seem to have suggested that St. Paul's spiritual life had little depth or power based on actual knowledge of the Lord, and they did not hesitate to present themselves as true, pious representatives of Christ (vs. 7). To these insinuations, the Apostle simply said, "If anyone is convinced in himself that he is Christ's, let him again consider this in himself, that just as he is Christ's, even so we are Christ's" (vs. 7).
It is very dangerous to question another's heart in relationship to Christ, to slander the piety of another. St. Paul had earlier warned the Corinthians of this very thing: "...with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man's judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self...but he that judgeth me is the Lord" (1 Cor. 4:3,4). Avoid those who promote their own piety and degrade or belittle the faith and spiritual life of others. Such is not of the Lord.
Second, the Apostle's rivals scorned his authority. When he was not present, they sought to undermine his authority in the minds of the Corinthian congregation by suggesting, "His letters are weighty and strong, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech of no account" (vs. 10). A person given to rivalry uses such remarks implying that he has the weight and power even as he recruits supporters among the weak and foolish who do not "Look at what is before your eyes" (vs. 7). Such behavior is no more than backbiting.
There is a perversity that can overtake us to forget the truth about genuine authority. God sets true authority before us plainly and humbly. St. Paul simply warned his disciples in Corinth, "Let such people understand that what we say by letter when absent, we do when present" (vs. 11). Had they forgotten that he was the first to come to them in the power of the gospel (vs. 14)? Discernment comes to us from God; let us be very careful about appearances and claims.
Finally, these rivals of St. Paul were commending themselves on the basis of "knowing the right people." They insinuated that they were connected with the "well-known" Apostles. St. Paul responds with two points: the Corinthians became Christians because of his ministry (vss. 14-16); and the only secure basis for assurance is knowledge of Christ - "Let him who boasts, boast of the Lord" (vs. 17). Always pay attention to the deep source of a person's spiritual stature, whether it is "of the Lord," or self-styled, or dependent on others.
Give us Thy grace, O Christ, seriously to lay to heart the great dangers of unhappy divisions and spurious rivalries and always to celebrate that unity that comes from Thee alone.
