Final Exam

Final Examinations have always been a part of my educational experience. Final Examinations have usually raised my level of anxiety. Usually. Here’s a fun fact: I’ve never been a good test taker, as I’ve often seen multiple choice as nothing more than multiple guess.

In college I had a professor who acknowledged the dilemma of testing students, wondering if tests were the best way to measure a student’s mastery of the subject. To combat the bad press on tests, he called them, “Learning Experiences.” Every week we were to have a “Minor Learning Experience” over assigned reading material. Then, three times throughout the semester, we were to have a “Major Learning Experience” over class material. And then, at the end of the semester, we were to have a “Final Learning Experience.” As much as I appreciated his attempt at rebranding, it still felt like it was nothing more than quizzes, tests, and final exams. So much for relieving my anxiety.

Looking back on those days, the professor was onto something about the nature of exams. The student won’t master the material unless he/she is held accountable for the material. Love em or hate em, testing students forced them to master the material.

Paul offers the Corinthians a shot at “mastering the material” in the form of a final exam. In 2 Corinthains 13:5-7 Paul drops the word “test” four times: “test yourselves” (v. 5), “unless you fail the test” (v. 5), “we have not failed the test” (v. 6), and “we have stood the test” (v. 7). More importantly, Paul leads off with the command to “examine yourselves.” With the end of this letter approaching comes a final exam for the Corinthians. The church will be expected to pass, and despite all their troubles, Paul is optimistic. He holds out hope that they will pass the test (v.6), and I might add, he believes they will pass it with flying colors.

Now Paul is not handing out papers with doctrinal questions jam-packed with fill-in the blank, true or false, multiple choice, and essays. Far from it. This test is all on them. For instance, when Paul tells them to “Examine themselves” and to “test themselves,” the emphasis is on “themselves,” not on “examine” or “test.” Paul is not hovering over them, hoping they fail; he’s not even grading the test. He will lead them, but he will not judge them. Actually, Paul is encouraging them to be introspective in their dealings with him, with each other, and with the gospel. Paul is not judging them but getting them to judge themselves. Using the gospel as a rubric for their lives and their church, he’s asking them to honestly evaluate where they stand. Trust holds this together as Paul hands out the test, to which they take the test, and then they themselves grade the test.

Let’s be honest for a moment. We’re not really good at being introspective, are we? We really don’t want a good look in the mirror because if we did, we’d probably not like what we find. I’d rather talk about someone else’s sin or shortcomings than my own. And if I did probe deep into my soul, I might have to confess and repent of the things we’ve done. And who wants to change?

A friend of mine told me about a report presented to the company where he is employed. A review board came in and performed a quality analysis of product and services rendered. The review board interviewed employees and surveyed customers, then presented the results to the company. While they scored high on their product, they scored embarrassingly low on customer service. The review board warned the company that no matter the quality of the product, if they did not improve their customer service, the company would tank.

As the representative of the review board presented their findings, the company got defensive. They pushed back, denying and questioning their findings. They made excuses. They discarded the advice offered them. My friend told me that the company was acting like deck hands rearranging chairs on the Titanic. He was getting out before it sank.

We’ve seen this before. People never realize how their comments, traits, and idiosyncrasy disrupt their interaction with people. Schools fail to provide a quality education, so people leave the district. Marriages struggle in the day to day, and without special attention, soon spiral out of control. Churches believe they are friendly and evangelistic, representing Jesus to the world, until they are not friendly, un-evangelistic, and whatever Jesus is represented it’s not the one Paul represents. Meanwhile, filters are placed at the front doors new-comers from entering, while the back doors are wide open for members to exit, leaving the rest to wonder they their church is not growing.

Ultimately, because we are blinded to our own slip-ups, shortcomings, and sins, we are not very effective at introspection, the very thing Paul is calling the Corinthians to do.

For just a moment, let’s imagine that Paul is handing out a final exam, and on it has at least three questions. Since these questions are rhetorical, they are intended for the Corinthians to contemplate, to wrestle with, and to probe deeper into their own conscience.

Question One: Jesus is in who (v. 5b)? The opening question explores both their faith and relationship in Jesus. No doubt the Corinthians will believe they are in the faith and that Jesus Christ lives in them. And they should believe that. Paul is not questioning their salvation or their eternal destiny. Nevertheless, Paul has given them cause to pause, as just a few verses before, he calls them out for a slew of sins still gripping their lives: quarrelling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, factions, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder, impurity, sexual sin, and debauchery (12:20b-21), a carry-over from 1 Corinthians. Such indictment sounds like the church haven’t just struggled with these sins but have thrown caution to the wind. In abandoning Paul, who kept the guardrails of their faith intact, they rejected a gospel of humility, suffering, reconciliation, generosity, and self-discipline. They opted to follow leaders who manipulated them, shamed them, and, we might say, gaslighted them all while promoting a gospel of success. A definition of success based on the world’s standard and not one defined by the cross.

Once they answer the question about themselves, which they will confess that Christ lives in them, the real struggle is admitting that Christ lives in Paul (v. 6). The domino effect begins as they realize that the one they reject is one whom Christ resides. And herein lies the rub with us as we struggle to answer the question of “Jesus is in who?” It’s easy to say “Christ lives in me, but I don’t believe Christ lives in them.” Sounds a little arrogant, but the lure of drawing the circle of fellowship smaller and smaller eventually leads to a circle that includes only you and me. And I’m not too sure of you.

Question Two: What is truth (v. 8)? Pilot once asked that question of Jesus (Jn. 18:38), and centuries later we struggle to form or articulate an answer. For most of my life the greying of truth has permeated society. Where once we spoke with clarity and precision, much of life today is nuanced. Not all of that is bad. Sometimes the clarity was hateful, judgmental, and even racist. On the other hand, when people cannot agree on right and wrong, problems will arise. We will struggle within our churches, society, and in our courtrooms to determine what is true. What are the ground rules, and whose personal truth are we going to follow? Paul is not wanting to bend truth to his will or his personal narrative, but trusts that when the truth, or the gospel, is revealed, the Corinthians will find him in line with it.

Question Three is a two-part question: “What is the source of Paul’s authority” and “What does he have the authority to do” (v. 10)? Throughout this Corinthian letter, Paul has been defending his apostleship. Opening his letter, Paul declares his apostleship is by the will of God (1:1), and now he is forcing the issue with the Corinthians. Is the claim he’s making true? Was it true when he brought them the gospel, and if so, what happen for him to be stripped of his authority? It’s time for the Corinthians put up or shut up. If they recognize his authority, and Paul is hoping they do, what does he have the authority to do? Whatever punishment Paul has in mind for his next visit, he prefers not to use drastic measures. Paul believes his authority should be used to nurture and strengthen the church, not to divide, demoralize, or to demolish the church. He will discipline, but he will not destroy. He’d rather enjoy the people by edifying the church.

Final exams may be part of our educational system. Some may say they’re a necessary evil as students won’t learn the material until they are made accountable for the material. Paul is administering an exam, though the only thing “final” about it is that it’s at the end of this letter before his third visit. The real challenge is not if they pass or fail. The real challenge is whether or not we can be honestly introspective enough about our own thoughts, motives, and behavior to lead to meaningful change. 

Soli Deo Gloria!
(i.e., only God is glorified!)