Skillful Boldness

By Gary Brown

Pastor, First Church of God, Winchester, Kentucky

I’m sure most us have heard the following statement or something very much the equivalent to it; "The Truth of God will either be a scalpel in the hand of a skillful surgeon or a meat cleaver used by a butcher."  We who dispense the truth of God should prayerfully long to skillfully use a scalpel surgically removing the cancer of sin and successfully implanting a means of access for the coming of the Holy Spirit.

I confess to you there have been those Sundays that I have been more a butcher than a surgeon.  If I remember correctly (I’m really trying to forget) there was even an occasion that a small child asked their parents after listening to me preach, ‘mommy what he was mad about’?  Probably one of those times I was more mad than glad about whom I was speaking to.  Sometimes I wonder if I haven’t confused spiritual boldness with carnal madness.

The writings of Paul clearly define himself as one who was bold.  He asks in First Corinthians 4:21, ‘Shall I come to you with a rod?’  In Romans 15:15; He declares himself to have written very bold on some points.  Yet there should be no question in any of our minds that the apostle used truth as a skillful surgeon cutting away and trimming off that which hindered people from following Christ, and at the same time adding to them precepts that help them in following Christ.

There are some things in the 15^th chapter of Romans that suggest how he might have so competently accomplished such a difficult task. 

      (1), His objective: v, 16! ‘To be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, ministering as a priest the gospel of God, so that my offering of the Gentiles may become acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.’  Paul uses language that indicates that he sees himself as a priest preparing people at the high altars of God to be accepted.  Simply, his aim in dispensing truth is so their lives will be acceptable unto God.

       That concisely clarifies our target as handlers of truth!  We want people who hear us to be convicted, challenged and encouraged to allow the Holy Spirit to transform their life so they will be an acceptable offering, a sweet aroma offered up to God.  And when that happens our God shall supply all our needs according to His riches in glory. (Phillipians 4:18-19) 

       (2), His diplomacy: v, 14! ‘And concerning you, my brethren I myself also am convinced that you yourselves are full of goodness filled with all knowledge and able also to admonish one another.’  Paul was not only an ambassador for Christ but he was a discreet representative for Christ. In Romans 1:12: ‘I may be encouraged together with you while among you, each of us by the other’s faith, both yours and mine.’

There should be no shortage of straight talk about God’s truth, but it is not necessary that we talk down to people while speaking to them.  The truth really does need to be spoken in love!  In my opinion being tactful in no way suggests that we are making concessions for truth!  It just means we see the need to be surgeons rather than butchers.

      (3), His example: v, 18! ‘For I will not presume to speak anything except what Christ has accomplished through me.’  Paul assures them while I am going to talk straight to you on some points I will say nothing that Christ has not already done in me.  Paul not only gave the world sacred writing to read, he gave those who knew him truth to see.

     I heard someone says, "People are far more impressed with the power of our example, than they are the example of our power."  While both are very important, we might say the people who listen to us Sunday after Sunday are more impressed with seeing the truth lived out in us than they are hearing from us.  People must hear truth, but people need to see truth!

     (4), His philosophy: v, 27! ‘Yes, they were pleased to do so and they were indebted to them.  For if the Gentiles have shared in their spiritual things, they are indebted to minister to them also in material things.’  As Paul writes this he is planning to take an offering from mostly Gentile Christians to the church in Jerusalem.  He insists that the Gentiles should give this offering to the Jews because they (Gentiles) have reaped from their (Jews) spiritual heritage.

Paul served the church and encouraged others to serve the church with the attitude of indebtedness, versus entitlement.  While his credentials certainly entitled him to enormous benefits from the churches he served, it seems to me he was more focused on his indebtedness to the church than he was to his entitlements from the church.

This may be one of the most profound differences in whether we are surgeons or butchers. Those of us in shepherding ministry who are influenced by the attitude of entitlement are sometimes impetuous, calloused, and even unforgiving (butchers).  While those in shepherding ministry, who are influenced by the attitude of indebtedness, are often gentle, tactful, and peaceful (surgeons).  I know the New Testament gives us the right to certain things from the church we lead and feed.  For me it has been better to continue serving with the attitude of being indebted to the church and letting God provide those things for me, in His time, rather than me demanding them at my time and declaring I’m entitled to them.  GOD HAS BEEN FAITHFUL!

(5), His need: v, 30 ‘Now I urge you my brethren, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive (struggle) together with me in your prayers to God for me.’  Paul pleads for the believers in Rome to form a prayer alliance on his behalf, and as you continue to read he gives you at least two reasons why he was requesting such fervent prayer.

To ask people to ally with you and form a prayer front is saying to the people we serve I need your help; it is saying to the people we openly confess we cannot go it alone, it is saying to the people I need a team.  And above all it is saying to God how much we desperately need Him to pull off what has piled up before us.