Think of us in this way,
as servants of Christ
and stewards of the mysteries
of God. (First Corinthians 4:1)
The “us” is the Apostles and those of us, like Apollos, who proclaim the gospel that the Apostles’ proclaimed. In the Corinthian church, the congregation quarreled over who was the best preacher: “One of you says ‘I follow Paul’; another, ‘I follow Apollos’; another, ‘I follow Peter’” (1Cor 1:12). The congregation rallied around its favorite personalities rather than the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is still a problem today; especially in the Evangelical Church which centers on the personality of the pastor.
Paul bows out of the competition and reminds the congregation that their various leaders are “servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries.” When we are faithful to our calling, “then you will not take pride in one man over against another” (1Cor 4:1&6). It caused me to reflect on my own vocation. There is a certain sinful competitive pride. I want our church to be the biggest church in town. That’s why I honor the Christian Calendar. Following the Calendar gives the congregation something bigger and more real than my own ideas and personality.
What has God called pastors to do? Well, to be “stewards of
the mysteries of God.” To oversee the
“mysteries of God” is to guard the mystery and wonder of Christmas. I have not
been called to explain the mystery of Christmas; but rather, to guard and
protect the mystery of how “the Holy Spirit comes upon [the virgin Mary], and
the power of the Most High overshadows [her]” (Lk
1:35). The mystery I guard remains a mystery. To demystify Christmas
would ruin everything.
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