Coram Deo
Scripture Reading: 2 Corinthians 4:2
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.
This verse ends with the words, “In the sight of God.” A Latin expression for that phrase is “Coram Deo,” or “before the face of God.”
The Latin “Coram Deo” corresponds with Paul’s words here. Paul is writing about his motives for ministry, but the idea has a broader application. Paul is doing ministry before men. He is commending himself to everyone’s conscience.
It does matter what people think of us to a degree. This is necessary for effective ministry. It only becomes a problem when we become people-pleasers. When that happens, we start to change what we do and say in order to keep people happy with us. We start to compromise the truth. Convictions give way to compromise for the sake of personal acceptance.
The way to keep that in check is to live Coram Deo. Paul ends this verse with that idea. He was simultaneously living in a way that commended his life to others, but he did so in the sight of God. He took into consideration what other people thought, but that was secondary to what God thought.
We are guarded against living for the praise of man when we live with an eye on heaven, living Coram Deo.
