I am reading 2 Corinthians right now and love this passage:
For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing; to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things? For we are not peddlers of God's word like so many; but in Christ we speak as persons of sincerity, as persons sent from God and standing in God's presence.
Questions:
1) How exactly do we go about smelling of Christ? Really this is such a weird notion: being the aroma of Christ. But perhaps it's pretty cool too. Smell is the greatest trigger for memory. If we can be the aroma of Christ, do we in our spirit, actions and words bring others to the memory of themselves as Imago Dei (made in the image of God)?
2) Who is sufficient for these things? Me? (perhaps) You? (perhaps) Pat Robertson? (no fu**ing way) Does hate, whether it is from Pat Robertson against gays, or from myself against Pat Robertson carry the aroma of Christ? Not so much, huh? It's amazing how vitriolic I can be about the religious right's vitriol. I'm a big fat hypocrite, of course this qualifies me to be a Christian, so there you go.
I'm kind of digging the word sufficient. Not perfect, not ideal, but sufficient. Kind of an easier mark to aim for.
3) I'm also digging the distinction between being peddlers of God's word and being sincere in Christ and standing in God's presence. Here is a distinction that I always look for in theology: does it point to me, or does it point to God?
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