Given that the Cubs have drastically underperformed expectations this year, leaving them currently in last place, I’ve been pretty disgusted and disappointed. I don’t see any shock on your faces …

Anyway, the situation made me think about an interview one time with the Cubs’ former manager. The Cubs were in last place in their division then, too, having lost twelve in a row to start the season. (Maybe you sense a theme emerging.) Actually, last place feels kind of like home if you’re a Cubs fan. We get nervous when we can’t see the cellar.

In the interview, the former manager mentioned that people weren’t surprised that the Cubs were in last place. Instead, people were disgusted that the Cubs kept making mental mistakes—mistakes everyone assumed the new manager would have remedied. When asked why the Cubs kept making so many stupid mistakes on the base paths, the manager replied that the players were making bad decisions about when to run (implying that as a nine-year-old he wouldn’t have made those same mistakes—i.e., the players are kind of stupid), he complained that the fans nowadays want more runs scored (i.e., players are running more to please the rapacious desires of greedy baseball fans), and then he said that all the teams in baseball are experiencing similar difficulties (i.e., the Cubs are not unique in their dunderheadedness).

All of which, I suppose, is true, but then he went on to say something that we’ve all become accustomed to expecting leaders to say, “I’m not making excuses." At which point, I thought, “Man, I’d hate to hear the kind of tap-dancing this guy could come up with if he ever tried to make excuses.”

Or, have you ever noticed that people who begin a sentence with “I don’t mean to brag … ” usually continue by adding a “but ” to the sentence and conclude it by completely contradicting the initial statement about not wanting to brag?

“I don’t mean to brag ... but my little junior has the I.Q. of Albert Einstein, the grace of Baryshnikov, and the face of Wilford Brimley ... ok, so we’re hoping he grows out of that last one.”

I get some of this vibe for rhetorical sleight-of-hand when it comes to Paul. For example, I’ve always had trouble with our Scripture text for today. Sort of. Actually, our Scripture text for today is one of my all-time favorites, but it’s the context that gives me fits.

What do I mean when I say that?

Well, starting in chapter 10, Paul addresses a particular problem he’s having with the Corinthian church. It seems that in Paul’s absence, the Corinthian church has come under the influence of some other teachers.

Paul refers to them in chapter 11 as “super-apostles.” We don’t know who they are. They may be true apostles like Peter, James, or John, or they may be fly-by-night religious hucksters presenting themselves to the Corinthian church as “super-apostles.” We don’t know.

All we do know is that, either directly or indirectly, these “super-apostles” have caused the church at Corinth to question Paul’s authority.

We get the impression that these super-apostles cut fairly impressive figures because, by comparison, Paul’s reputation suffers. It seems they were mesmerizing speakers, enthralling the Corinthians. Consequently, we find Paul saying things like, “Now wait a minute, just because I happen to cut a less than impressive figure in the pulpit doesn’t mean I don’t have anything worth saying.”

Bad situation. Whether these “super-apostles” meant to discredit Paul or not, they’ve caused him an awful lot of grief with the church in Corinth. And so Paul finds himself defending against the Corinthian criticism.

Now, this is where I’ve traditionally run into trouble. I understand that Paul is trying to reestablish his authority—if I were in his position, I’d probably do the same thing—but in doing so, he seems awfully ... well ... boastful, which feels just as boorish as your uncle Kevin—the family’s standout Sean Hannity wannabe. But the problem is that Paul peppers the two chapters leading up to our Scripture text today with assertions that he doesn’t want to … wait for it … boast. He goes so far as to say that we ought to be extra suspicious of people who brag.

He makes comments in chapter 10 like, “We do not dare to classify ourselves or compare ourselves with some of those who commend themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another, and compare themselves with one another, they do not show good sense” (2 Cor. 10:12).

Or, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord. For it is not those who commend themselves that are approved, but those whom the Lord commends” (2 Cor. 10:17-18). He then immediately follows that verse by saying, “I wish you would bear with me in a little foolishness” (2 Cor. 11:1a)—which is Paul’s way of introducing the back of his own Apostolic baseball card because Paul then takes off and begins talking about all of his experiences as an Apostle—in an attempt to establish his credibility.

In chapter 11, he goes on to say, “I repeat, let no one think that I am a fool; but if you do, then accept me as a fool, so that I too may boast a little” (2 Cor. 11:16).

All of which sounds to me like Paul is saying, “You shouldn’t listen to people who brag about themselves. It’s God, and not us, who raises people up ... but as long as we’re on the subject, let me tell you about a few things … ”

In other words, “I don’t mean to brag, but ...