Verse: 1 Corinthians 1:18-25
For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.” Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know Him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.
Thoughts
The Bible comes right out and says what we all feel at times: the message of the cross seems like foolishness to the people around us. Have you felt like this? Have you felt different? Have you felt like people don't understand why you live the way you do?
For those who don't believe it does seem like foolishness. How can we really believe Jesus was God and he rose from the dead??? I read a facebook post from someone yesterday who left Christianity for secular humanism. He was very happy and sure of himself. He said, in essence, that Christianity is foolishness. That it makes ridiculous claims that it can't prove.
This is nothing new. It's not like people are all of the sudden getting really smart and figuring out God. This has been happening since the very beginning. Paul said the Jews wanted to see miracles and the Greeks wanted to hear fine sounding arguments, but all we have is Christ.
We aren't trying to win people over with amazing signs (although God does use miracles) or incredible arguments (all though God does use intellectual evidence), but we win people over with Christ. "The message of the cross" is what we have. Christ himself is the "power" and the "wisdom" of God.
So yes, we will seem different. Yes, our lives will look different. Yes, people won't understand us. Yes, people will think we are foolish. That's the choice though isn't it? John Wimber once said "I'm a fool for Christ, who's fool are you?" This guy I referenced is now secular humanism's fool. He serves that cause now.
So, who's fool are you?
Prayer
I ask that you would strengthen my resolve to be confident in you God, even when those around me are so different.