2 Corinthians 12:5-6

5 I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses. 6 Even if I should choose to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say.”

Apostle Paul could have boasted about his spiritual experiences, the visions he saw, the supernatural experience of being “caught up” to heaven, and there hearing “inexpressible things.” But he says that he will not boast about any of that. Why not? Because he did not want anyone to think more of him than is warranted by what he does or says. “What I do or say.” Apostle Paul wanted to be evaluated by those two criteria.

Often religious leaders can create a certain spiritual mystique around themselves. This can be done by reference to ordination—“I am the anointed of God, so people must listen to me”—or by mention of special spiritual experiences, or even of extraordinary spiritual disciplines like a 40-day fast–as odd as that might be given Jesus clear strictures in Matt. 6 regarding broadcasting your fasting. This kind of spiritual mystique can, in turn, lead to a heightened sense of spiritual authority. I think this is why some charismatic circles can sometimes have spiritual leaders who are “powerfully anointed,” who have an authority over those they lead that seems out of bounds.

Apostle Paul refrained from “boasting” about his supernatural experiences so that people will think of him only as much as his words and deeds warranted. Things that I say and do–these are publicly observable, objective and verifiable. I must be careful to not speak of special spiritual experiences in order to provide me an extra cloak of legitimacy as a spiritual leader. Nor, the fact of my title as a pastor. Like Apostle Paul, I must be sure that “no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say.”