But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God.
2 Corinthians 4:2
Read: 2 Corinthians 4:1-6
Have you ever been tempted to think that if you soften the edges of the gospel message—maybe by not mentioning sin or God’s wrath or even Jesus’ need to die—then your friend or family member will listen to you longer and maybe even believe that part of the gospel? And then when they’ve believed that, you can start introducing the “other” parts of the gospel that might have offended them earlier?
There are many today who think of evangelism—or even the church service itself—in terms of “How much can I cut from the gospel where it will still be about Christ, but where it will attract the most amount of people while offending the least amount of people?” This sounds good. This sounds like a noble and winning strategy. After all, as the old saying goes, you attract more with honey than vinegar. But in reality, this is hellish thinking. It turns the gospel from the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes into a weak and impotent message that can’t save an amoeba.
As Paul says, modifying or omitting the contents of the gospel for any reason is disgraceful and underhanded (v. 2). “But my intention is to have as many people hear about Christ as possible! How is that disgraceful?” The intention isn’t disgraceful, but the method is.
First of all, think about how presumptuous it is to change the gospel message to try and reach more people. Christ has entrusted us with his good news—that we are all guilty before a holy God for our sin but that he has made a way of reconciliation for us through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ—and we think, “Well, I know Jesus said this is the message through which his sheep will hear his voice, but in my expert opinion people will be offended by hearing about how they are sinners. So I’ll cut that out and people won’t have a problem with Jesus!”
Do you think you know better than God? The gospel is offensive to the natural mind (1 Cor 2:11-14; Rom 9:33; 1 Pet 2:8). Jesus said he came to divide as he calls out his people from the darkness of the world (Matt 10:34-39). If the message that you are preaching does not find any push back from the unbelievers you are sharing it with, you may not be preaching the message of the cross (1 Cor 1:18).
Second, this tactic is utterly deceitful. Not only is it a total misrepresentation of the true Christ and his gospel, but it is also a bait and switch. Saying, “This is the gospel,” to then later say, “Oh, yeah, and actually you are guilty before a holy God and need to repent,” is deceptive. They thought the good news was a completely different message than the one you are now presenting. They believed in a different Christ than the one you truly believe in and are now presenting. And when you finally show them the true Christ, what do you think will happen? Christ’s sheep will believe, not because you fooled them into the kingdom, but because Christ’s sheep hear his voice. The goats will reject the true Christ and continue believing the false gospel you’ve fed them with, or they’ll just abandon their new “faith” and return to their former beliefs. All you’ve really done is kicked the rock of offense down the road.
If we truly wish to see our unbelieving friends and family saved, we cannot water down the gospel.
If we truly wish to see our unbelieving friends and family saved, we cannot water down the gospel. That is the language that Paul uses in v. 2. He says, “We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s word.” The word “tamper” is translated from a Greek word that was used to describe those who watered down the wine they were selling so that they could deceive their customers and sell more. We must refuse to water down the gospel message, which is deceitful and destroys its potency.
Let us renounce disgraceful and underhanded ways. Instead, as Paul did, let us not lose heart but share the full gospel with all boldness, trusting in God’s sovereignty to draw his people to himself (see 2 Cor 4:3-6).
Ponder and Pray: Consider how diluting the gospel message destroys its power to save. Finish by praying for the salvation of unbelieving people you know, by name.
