What makes you
weak? Overwhelming grief? Chronic physical pain? Emotional turmoil? Anxiety?
Consistent disappointment? The weighty memory of tragedy? I have been thinking
quite a bit about weakness lately, because frankly I have not been feeling as
strong as I’d like. This got me to thinking about how the Bible addresses
weakness. The Apostle Paul wrestled with what Marva Dawn calls, “A Theology of
Weakness.” Here are a few things I’ve learned from Paul in 2 Corinthians 11-12
and especially from Marva Dawn who has helped me read him well.
1) Be bold
in confessing your weakness.
“The work of restoration cannot begin until a problem is fully
faced.”
“Too often we think sharing our weaknesses will cause us to lose
respect. We think making our weaknesses known will cause us to lose the honor
to be able to proclaim the Word of God in our congregations or our businesses.
I no longer believe that is true … The more you tell of your own failure of
character, the more God will use that for His purposes.”
Dan B. Allender
These words from a writer I greatly admire square well with the
inspired words of the Apostle in 2 Corinthians 11-12. Paul understood the value
of declaring boldly what is wrong with you. False teachers had derided Paul to the Corinthians as
foolish and weak and whose speaking ability left a lot to be desired. Guess how
Paul responded to their criticism.
“I wish that you would bear with me in a little foolishness but
indeed you are bearing with me” (2 Cor 11.1, NASB).
“To my shame I must say that we have been weak by comparison. But
in whatever respect anyone else is bold – I speak in foolishness – I am just as
bold myself” (2 Cor 11.21, NASB).
Paul responded to the contempt of his opponents with a hearty –
Amen! He boldly declared a certain measure of worldly foolishness and he
boasted in his weakness. As Dan Allender reminds us, the initial step toward
healing is to face completely the real problem. Sadly, religious leaders often
only encourage what Ed Friedman calls “skin deep healing.” When a physical
wound occurs two kinds of healing must take place, the connective tissue below
the skin and the protective tissue, the skin itself. If, however, the
protective tissue heals before the connective tissue, the healing of the latter
will not be complete causing more serious issues to arise later. The wound, in
its entirety must be “faced fully” for healing to occur. Just because the wound
is no longer visible, does not mean it is no longer there. For reasons I am
still seeking to understand Pastors sometimes facilitate skin-deep healing by
working to only make symptoms disappear. What we are doing is just “kicking the
ball downfield” so someone else will have to pick up the pieces at a later
date. This often results in further and unnecessary pain for the “wounded.”
Jeremiah confronted this poor leadership more than 2,500 years ago.
“They have healed the brokenness of my people superficially,
saying, “Peace, peace,” but there is no peace” (Jer 6.14, NASB).
As those in
need of healing and as those who are dressing others’ wounds, may we have the
wisdom to face all problems in their fullness.
2) Be eager
to receive power through weakness.
Why
does Paul encourage such a positive posture toward weakness? He offers at least
two reasons. 1) Weakness pushes us toward true power. Paul says this.
“And He has said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for
[your] power is [brought to its end] in weakness, so that the power of Christ
may tabernacle in me (2 Cor 12.9).
Paul has just described
three times God denied his request to end Satanic torment in his life. The
reason God said no is because God’s power is most vividly displayed when our
power is exhausted. This tells us that one of the reasons God allows us to be
weakened is so that he can display his power. God’s power shows up when our
power runs out. This
is why Paul can boast about his weaknesses, because weakness can become a
catalyst for the “tabernacling” of the power of Christ within him (12.9). Don’t
run from weakness. Absorb it as a way to receive Christ’s power.
Furthermore,
Paul has a positive attitude toward weakness because 2) the Cross redefines
weakness. Paul is explaining to the Corinthians why Christ has proved powerful
within their midst and the reason is because of Paul’s weakness. Did you catch
that? There’s a connection between the power of Christ within a local church
and the weakness of its leader.
“For indeed [Christ] was crucified because of weakness, yet He
lives because of the power of God. For we also are weak in Him, yet we will live with
Him because of the power of God directed toward you (2 Cor 13.4, NASB).
Paul
endeavored to know nothing among the Corinthians except Christ and him
crucified (1 Cor 2.2). The cross of Christ shaped how Paul understood his own
suffering and weakness. He understood all of life through a cross-shaped lens.
The suffering of Christ revealed the power and glory of God. Moreover the
suffering of Jesus’ followers will necessarily reveal the power and glory of
God. This reality is what made Paul comfortable with his own weakness and
suffering. Paul was not eager to pursue comfort. He was eager to make much of
Christ among the Gentiles and this would be accomplished the same way Christ
accomplished his mission, through weakness and suffering.
The world most of us inhabit teaches us to flee suffering and
chase comfort. This world leads us to believe that the comfortable have all the
power and the weak can accomplish nothing. The world in which Jesus and Paul
dwell, however, proclaims that the greatest power of all is demonstrated when
our power comes to its end and then the power of Christ dwells within us. When
we have been emptied through weakness, the gospel promises to fill us with the
power of Christ. When I am weak, God’s Word teaches me to be bold in confessing
my weakness. When I am weak, I can be eager to receive God’s power through the
very weakness this world teaches me to fear. What is making you weak? Don’t be
too hasty in running away from it. Face it. Press on toward it. And may the
power of Christ rest on and within you through weakness.
