MINISTRY SUCCESS THROUGH HIDDEN METHODS

Pragmatism makes a poor foundation for success in ministry. Doing whatever works may produce impressive results in the short term but leads to disillusionment in the end. Ministries built on the latest marketing methods and persuasive techniques - style without substance - produce temporal, not eternal results. Paul wrote: "We do not lose heart, but we have renounced the things hidden because of shame, not walking in craftiness or adulterating the word of God, but by the manifestation of truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God" (2 Corinthians 4:2).

Paul is defending himself against his critics in the church who were impressed with the self-promotion of what he calls the "super-apostles" (2 Cor. 11:5; 12:11). These marketing wizards of the first century church used sophistry to grow their ministries by manipulating people and boasting about their success. Paul will defend himself later in 2 Corinthians with what was known as "inoffensive self-praise," an ethical response to sophistic self-promotion. Paul will boast about his weaknesses to give glory to God, not man while defending his integrity against his critics (Witherington, Conflict & Community, p. 385).

Paul has renounced (ἀπειπάμεθα) the pragmatism of the super apostles. The verb is best understood as an indirect middle indicating that true Christian leaders renounced these methods for themselves (Hanna, Grammatical Aid, p.319); Robertson, Grammar, p.810). It is a timeless Aorist tense, so Paul was not saying that they had practiced these methods in the past (Rienecker & Rogers, Linguistic Key, p.462). True Christian leaders disown such methods as the means to grow a church in any age.

We must renounce "the hidden things" (τὰ κρυπτὰ) "of shame" (τῆς αἰσχύνης). Paul refers to secret things or places (BAGD, p.454). The word translated "shame" (αἰσχύνης) can mean either something shameful or disgraceful (BAGD, p.25). The genitive can be used with either an objective or subjective sense. Used in the objective sense, Paul would be saying "the hidden things that bring disgrace" upon someone. Used in the subjective sense, Paul would be saying "the shame that causes honorable people to hide things." It is best to take it as a subjective genitive (Meyer, 2 Corinthians, p.487, fn 1). True Christian leaders renounce the things that honest people hide because they would be ashamed if others knew about those things.

What are the hidden things that embarrass honorable Christian leaders? The hidden things are the secret plans, deceptive methods and dishonest motives that others use to accomplish their goals. Hidden things include any disguising of the truth to make it more palatable to the audience. Just because it works does not mean we should use it. The verse goes on to describe some of these hidden methods as "walking in craftiness" (πανουργία) and "adulterating or distorting (δολοῦντες) the Word of God." The word translated craftiness comes from two Greek words (πᾶν and ἔργον) which literally means "every work." The word refers to cunning pragmatism - a willingness to do whatever it takes to accomplish success (Rienecker & Roger, Linguistic Key, p.462).

We must be unwilling to do whatever it takes to achieve success in the ministry. There are moral limits on our methods even if our goals are laudable. We must renounce the use of persuasive techniques that trick and manipulate people into making professions of faith. We must avoid distorting the truth to gain a hearing with people. We must never compromise the Word of God to grow successful churches.