We are putting no obstacle in anyone's way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, but as servants of God we have commended ourselves in every way: through great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labours, sleepless nights, hunger; by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, holiness of spirit, genuine love, truthful speech and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; in honour and dishonour, in ill repute and good repute. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; as unknown, and yet are well known; as dying, and see - we are alive; as punished, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing everything. (2 Corinthians 6:3-10, NRSV)
On Monday, a new book by Philip Pullman The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ was published. I think the hype around Pullman is a bit over the top; I managed to read His Dark Materials without realising he was meant to be an atheist. So I welcomed news of this new book. However, my rapture was somewhat modified when I heard on the radio that the person responsible for the scoundrel Christ is none other than Paul. At this stage, I have not read the book but the idea that Paul was somehow singlehandedly responsible for the misrepresentation of Christ does not stand up to scrutiny. For one thing, only six of the letters ascribed to him were actually written by Paul. This Paul is sometimes known as radical Paul. The New Testament includes several letters which were written after Paul's death and significantly modify radical Paul's theology. Furthermore, I'm sure the problems started much later than Paul, in the fourth and fifth centuries. Constantine reinforced trends already present in the contemporary church.
Another thing in the news is a nurse who is taking her employers to court for discrimination against her faith because she is not permitted to wear a cross whilst on duty. Good for her! She should be standing up to such pettiness, which, contrary to popular belief, is not enshrined in legislation. But does it really require a letter in the Sunday Telegraph from several bishops and ex-bishops, lamenting this attack upon the Christian faith? Look at this passage from Paul and get some perspective!
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