Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me – to keep me from exalting myself! Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me. And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.

There are few believers I know who would not welcome the idea of being strong and being a conduit for the perfected power of Christ in the earth. Unfortunately, there are probably fewer yet who would accept suffering and weakness, as Paul did, as conditions for that power. Let’s be honest. The idea of suffering for a child of God just does not preach well. When was the last time you heard a speaker identify Job or Paul as examples of Christian living? If we were so fortunate this voice in the wilderness, many would protest……

“Messengers from Satan? No, no, no!  We are covenant people therefore we are to be a blessed not a cursed people. Insults, distresses, persecutions and difficulties? No Sir. We will not confess this. We are called to be the head and not the tail! Get thee behind me!”

Were Job and Paul anomalies; exceptions that we can just sweep under the rug? Or, do their stories reveal truths (perhaps badly needed ones) that western christianity, in our prosperity and independence simply cannot swallow? Does a kingdom that requires one to take up his cross daily dovetail neatly with a national mindset that lauds the individual’s right to pursue personal happiness? Or, is the Spirit of Jesus Christ at cross-purposes with the spirit of the age that is so deeply rooted in our national psyche?  Is it possible, as the prophets slept, that the father of lies has subtly westernized the Gospel of Jesus Christ with the American Dream? 

I just finished reading Bonhoffer, Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy by Eric Metaxas. It is a superb account of the rise to prominence of Adolph Hitler, a megalomaniac, and Dietrich Bonhoffer, a saint. It is not only fascinating history, it is has a sobering subplot involving the church. Germany  was the birthing place of the protestant reformation. The church and germany were tied at the hip. If ever there was a Christian nation, Germany was it, yet where were they as the Nazis harassed, persecuted and ultimatley destroyed the weak, the undesirable and the non-Aryan citizens of their own country? They were silent with the exception of a a very few voices crying in the wilderness, Dietrich Bonhoffer being one. 

The religious gatekeepers of Germany were some of the world’s most elite theologians. They recognized Bonhoffer as brilliant but also as one drifting from their pack. He had begun to think of the Christian life as this all or nothing affair and teaching on the very hard sayings of Jesus. As time passed, his commitment to his national German religion faded in light of his ever deepening personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

In his capacity as prophet, Bonhoffer dug even deeper. With his (now classic) The Cost of Discipleship , he introduced the phrase cheap grace. He also coined another phrase that drew fire; religionless christianity.  He had found the bad roots of the great German religious tree that was felled without a sound by the ingenious Nazi propaganda machine. But it was too late. Bonhoffer was executed by Hitler, who took his own life three weeks later as the war ended in Europe. 

The sobering aspect of this story involves the larger spiritual warfare over Germany. What lies had the dark principalities and powers sown into that nation that would allow them to be taken in by a madman? Where our American DNA is composed of independence and the personal right to pursue liberty and happiness, the Germans were driven by a wounded and offended national pride. Their national self-image was that of a noble and good people, capable of much self sacrifice for their nation (of which Lutheranism was inseparable). These were the lyrics to the piper’s song. Using these national themes, Hitler duped the church into thinking he was one of them. By the time they discovered the masquarade it was too late, they had surrendered their freedoms to the wrong master and the wrong kingdom.

A few questions. If Bonhoffer could have published the Cost of Discipleship earlier, would the church have embraced it and this gospel he was preaching where grace had a cost associated with it; where following him would require one to hate his mother and father and sell all?  What would it have taken for the German church to have resisted the ancient foe who sought to work them woe?  Why did they not see the right man on their side, that man of God’s own choosing? How did a world of devils undo Germany?  Sadly, Luther’s hymn gives the answer as well… Germany, in her own (theological and national) strength did not confide in the right man and therefore her striving was her loosing.

So, what is the difference between the church of mid 20the century Germany and the church in America today? Is it our superior theological foundation and religious resume that has kept our judgement at bay? Or, is it just that we have not been backed into a national economic corner yet as Germany had been, where it becomes too late to exercise our powers to choose righteousness? I am inclined to think its the latter. This is why….

While Paul has grown content with his very un-blessed looking life, satisfied that, in light of the prize, there is really no cost, relatively speaking of following Jesus, most of us are still busy fine- tuning our rights to comfort and blessing. Paying the price of surrendering title to his national Jewish identity and his reputation; forfeiting his right to pursue independence and personal happiness; none of these things would even register as a cost to Paul in light of the surpassing value of knowing Jesus Christ. This was Paul. What about us?  We really need to decide for ourselves if Paul was an anomaly or an example?

Father, may we in the west expose the principalities and powers who, with cruel hate, manipulate the masses and even the church with customized deceit.  Where mortal ills prevail and a flood of evil threatens may grace prevail all the more. May we recall that you have willed that your truth will triumph through us. Helps us to let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also. Help us to always remember that Jesus, it is you, Lord from age to age the same, and that you shall win the battle. May our hearts faithfully note that Satan’s doom is sure and that one little word shall fell him.

Help us to cede title to you of these mortal lives we so overvalue so that we too like Paul might be messengers of revelation. Help us to become those who can say, “Your grace is sufficient for us” so that we might be those who demonstrate that Satan was never your equal. Help us to recover the Spirit and the  gifts which are ours and vindicate you as our Mighty Fortress and a bulwark never failing; that your truth abides still and that your kingdom is forever. Amen

Megalomania is a psychopathological disorder characterized by delusional fantasies of power, relevance, or omnipotence. “Megalomania is characterized by an inflated sense of self-esteem and overestimation by persons of their powers and beliefs.