Test of Authentic Ministry

2 Corinthians 4:1-3

"Therefore, since through God's mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. 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 every man's conscience in the sight of God."

I have a very personal experience with this first part of 2 Corinthians 4. It was a time when I, having been convinced of Christianity, had been really seeking where (Church, doctrine) I can find and relate to God which is most consistent with the bible. During those years I have been attending a 'church' where my parents go to, it was a sect/cult, that teaches Christ is not God Himself, but only the Son, there is no trinity, they are the one tue church, and to get saved you have to trust in Jesus AND be a member of that church. There are many more doctrines that I found to be shaky although they presented it as biblical (always with a supporting bible verse), but as I studied and 'did my homework', I found it rather unbiblical and decided that by virtue of 2 Corinthians 4:2, that "we do not use deception nor do we distort the Word of God" I was in the wrong place. I always look back to that time that I decided to walk into a nearby local church not knowing anyone there at all, only Jesus. Looking also at the context of my difficult circumstances then — mom and stepdad were away to take care of my untimely pregnant sister in another place, graduating from college doing my thesis, and so I was left home alone, in hindsight, everything that happened to me then all pointed to that moment to walk out of that sect and walk into Biblical Christianity. It was that opportunity to walk out of the darkness and into the light of the true biblical Church of Jesus Christ. Another side to it is that it's not only about one's response to the truth of God's Word, but also our response to its implications, that "we renounce secret, shameful ways", measuring up to the standards of Christian Living both in our public and private life. How wonderful, how beautiful that around that time that I gave my life to Jesus, I had lived alone for about two years henceforth and never felt lonely but that I had a friend Whose Presence was and is enough to sustain me.

2 Peter 1:16

"For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty."

~07.12.2013