MANAGERS OF THE MYSTERIES OF GOD

“A person should think of us in this way: as servants of Christ and managers of the mysteries of God.” I Corinthians 4:1

     Christians are sometimes thought of as legalistic tyrants—or killjoys—or dull people. One politician stated not too long ago about working-class Midwesterners in the face of adversity: He said, “They cling to their guns and religion or antipathy to people who aren’t like them. . .” In other words, he was saying that Christians are very staid and unbending, and they very much dislike or even hate people who aren't exactly like them.

     From the Bible recently I’ve been getting a very different picture of Christians and Christianity. I’m not naïve enough to think there aren’t problems in Christianity and within some Christian people. But it would be like casting all police officers as evil for the evil of a very, very few.

     When I read the verse in I Corinthians 4:1 it was reaffirmed to me that we as Christians are on wonderful adventures—full of great mystery. Paul in the verse was referring to himself, Peter, who Jesus named Cephas--or rock, and Apollos as the managers of the many mysteries of God.

     Their job was to “ be found faithful” (vs. 2) under God’s command to lovingly inspire the people under them to take part in the great adventures and mysteries of God that lie ahead of them. They do this with the guidance and care of Jesus, of His Holy Spirit that lives in each of us, and of His Holy Scriptures.

     Shepherds, or pastors today are also engaged as managers to be like Paul and his cohorts, inspiring the people in their flocks to engage in the exciting adventures and mysteries that God has set before them. They are today’s “managers of mysteries of God”.