Clarity not Craftiness

2 Corinthians 4:2 But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.

This verse cuts to the heart of the church growth movement in all its forms and manifestations. Many Christians try to package, dress up, or tweak the gospel in order for the gospel itself to be more effective or attractive. So much of modern Christian thinking is devoted to packaging of the gospel rather than the gospel itself.

Our job as Christians is not craftiness but clearly articulating the gospel to those who are perishing. The goal of craftiness is seeing people accept the message while the goal of clarity is seeing people understand the message. Craftiness trusts in the presentation of the message to win converts while clarity trusts in the clear message itself to transform lives.

2 Corinthians 3:12 Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech

Clarity is no easy task. First we must be committed to a complete understanding of the gospel. We must understand justification, propitiation, sanctification, redemption, etc. This means that we must be committed to doctrine. How can we clearly articulate to a dying world something we ourselves do not understand? After we understand the fundamental truths of salvation, we can begin the arduous task of clearly articulating that truth to the world.

Clarity is hard work! People are bombarded with false views of religions that distort the very definitions of the words used to convey the gospel. False teachers and false prophets have had two thousand years to distort and corrupt the clear teachings of the gospel. It is lunacy and the epitome of arrogance to think that through our own craftiness we can shine light into spiritual darkness. It is only the power of God through the gospel that breaks through to the hearts of men.

2 Corinthians 4:3-6 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus' sake. For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.